Her Imaginary Husband (Contemporary Romance) (19 page)

Robert~

Thanks for keeping me sane this year. Congrats on getting an 800 on the PSAT English portion as a freshman. Next year, you can take over my job!

              Ms. F

Sammi~

You have no idea what a blessing you’ve been to me this year. Thanks for tutoring our mutual friend. He actually got a B in the class, and it’s all your doing! Be sure to keep Robert in line this summer and visit me next year between classes.

              Ms. F

David~

I am so proud of you! What can I say more? Don’t be a stranger when you’re a big senior next year.

              Ms. F

Josh~

You’re as nice as you are smart, Mr. Scholar Athlete Award Winner! I will definitely always remember you!

              Ms. F

Adam~

Enjoy your summer and get in at least a little play time. I’ll be sure to come see you compete at the State Fair in August.

              Ms. F

Justin~

I hardly recognized you this week without the facial hardware and the pink hair, but I think it looks great. Have a fantastic time working with your dad this summer. I have a feeling things are going to keep getting better for you.

              Ms. F

Amanda~

You may have taught me more this year than I ever could have taught you. Thanks for giving me a second chance. You take care of yourself (and Justin, too)!

              Ms. F

On the blackboard, she wrote a note that caused quite a stir:

Dear students!

I could not have asked for more awesome students during my first year of teaching. You made this a wonderful experience for me, and I hope you all know how much I love you. I also hope you won’t be too disappointed when “Ms. F” does not return to teach next year. You’ll have to call her something else…

              Mrs. Ross-to-be

Will stared at the board. “That Mike Ross is a lucky man.”

Nikki glanced up from clearing out her desk drawers and smiled. “Yes, he is.”

He strode over and held out his hand, which she took and shook. “Thanks for the invite to the wedding, Nikki.”

“Of course. You’re our friend.”

Will raked his fingers through his hair. “Thanks for that, too.”

“Ancient history, Will. Forget about it.” She nudged the bottom drawer shut with her knee and stood. “Got plans for the summer?”

“Believe it or not, my ex is coming into town next week.”

“Oh?” Nikki arched a brow as she assembled the stack of things she was taking home in a cardboard box. “Do tell.”

“Turns out her pilot was seeing a few stewardesses on the side.”

“Ah.” Nikki grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “And she’s coming back down from the clouds.”

“We’ll see.” He shrugged. “We’re going to head up to the mountains for a few days and talk things through. Time has passed. We’ve both been through a bit.”

Nikki smiled, noting the changes in Will.
Still attractive, still confident, but less full of swagger and smooth-talk. Maybe he’ll get back together with his wife. If she’s good enough for him.
“You’ve come a long way, Will.”

He followed her out. “So what plans have you got for today? Any celebrations?”

“My brother Charlie is coming down to take Mike, Janna and me out for dinner. He just landed his dream job.”

Will sighed and bade her good-bye.

In the office, Nikki said warm good-byes to Katie as she turned in her keys.

“Thanks for the salsa!” called Mr. Geoffreys from his office door. “See you in July for the wedding.”

Katie winked up at Nikki. “I’ve got something for you.” She dug under her desk and pulled out a long tube mailer.

Studying Katie curiously, she tapped the strange gift. “Do I open it now?”

“Unless you want to wait for—oh, there he is.”

Mike Ross swept up behind Nikki. He removed his hat and kissed her cheek in greeting. “What have we here?”

“Katie’s got something for me.”

“It’s for both of you. I think you should use it for your reception maybe.”

Nikki eagerly popped open the tube, and she and Mike rolled open an almost life-size poster of the two of them on Homecoming night looking like gorillas at the dance.

Mike burst out laughing. “Is it too late to change the picture we send out with the invitations?”

Nikki rolled the poster back up and bopped him on the head with it. “Given that we’ve already mailed them out, you think?”

He crossed his arms and pouted like the picture. Chuckling, Nikki slipped her fingers into the curls on either side of his head and pulled his gorilla lips into a kiss.

“No public displays of affection on campus, please,” said Katie with a nasal tone.

Mike glanced at his watch. “4:05pm—off duty! All right. We’ll take this elsewhere!” He scooped Nikki off her feet and headed towards the door. Nikki squealed and Katie laughed.

“My box of stuff!” cried Nikki, pointing back to the counter.

“I’ll bring it to the wedding, all wrapped up with a bow,” said Katie.

“Deal!”

And with that, Nikki’s exceptionally real husband-to-be carried her over the threshold of the school and off to their very own Happily Ever After.

To Victorine Lieske, a fellow author, who took pity on my pitiful attempts to design a cover for this book. She created the beauty that you hold in your hands, and it actually inspired some changes to the story line that I ended up really enjoying—most significantly, the whole apple bit. (I was trying to get salsa onto the cover.)

To my beta readers, Tamie, Vicky, Cynthia, Dina, Marianne, Valerie, Debbie and Victorine, who took time during the holiday season to read the roughest draft and help me figure out the whole romantic comedy genre. They were candid and wise—and all talented writers in their own right.

To the amazing students and staff I knew back at Dallas High School in the 1990’s who inspired many of the more poignant moments in this story.

Lia London was a high school English teacher. She really did hug a kid with a pink Mohawk, wear mismatched shoes to school, and work in the supermarket deli making jo-jos. The cowboys really did beat the jocks at the pep assembly (though not
quite
as gloriously), and a wasp really did fly up into the lights while the principal peeked in. Many of the other events were also based on real happenings she either experienced or witnessed. However, there was neither a lecherous, hunky coach nor a campus cop.

When her son was born, London came home to stay, and has since written several books in a variety of genres. In addition to writing, she is the creator and curator of Clean Indie Reads, a book blog featuring “Flinch-Free” fiction by her esteemed peers. She lives happily with her real live husband (a teacher), two children (teens), a dog and a cat. She loves jazz music, Taekwondo, and milk chocolate.

For more information on her books, please go to
www.LiaLondonBooks.com