June's POV
Watching the tired yet satisfied looks on the kids' faces always warmed my heart. Today being no different had been the first day of the new school year, and the room had buzzed with excitement all through the day. The kids were happy to be back, and so was I.
Deciding to make the first day a little fun, we spent the entire day coloring welcome-back posters, a fun way to ease into the routine of schoolwork they'd be handling later on. They were happy and their little hands had worked diligently, crayons flying across the paper as they probably imagined all the wonderful things that made school fun again.
By the time the final bell rang, the posters were mostly finished, and I promised the kids that we'd hang them up later in the week. As I watched the last of my students grab their backpacks and run outside to meet their parents, I exhaled. As much as the first day was always the hardest, it was also the most rewarding. The room had emptied, leaving me with a moment of peace. I tidied up, putting away the crayons and papers, and then slipped into my coat.
I loved teaching, I did but I also loved the quiet moments after the chaos. Outside, my car sat in its usual spot, waiting patiently. The metallic gray color it originally was had faded, it looked small, old, and a bit temperamental, but it had been with me through a lot. I said a silent prayer as I turned the key, and thankfully, the engine came to life. With a sense of relief, I drove off, the radio playing soft pop tunes that filled the too-quiet car.
I was heading to Fluffy Dreams, the bakery my mom and I had run together since I was a child. It wasn't just a bakery—it was a piece of our family's history, something that I vowed to keep in my family for as long as I could. As I parked, and stepped out of the car the familiar sight of the sign greeted me, and like always, I reached out and touched it. It was something I started after Dad passed away, a small ritual that has kept me grounded, I could always feel my father's love from even outside the bakery. Shaking my thoughts away I stepped inside and the smell of fresh bread and pastries wrapped around me like a warm hug. I quickly glanced around and saw that Mom was at the counter, chatting with a customer, and I gave her a small wave before heading to the back. I kept a spare outfit there—tight jeans and a soft T-shirt—for the afternoons I spent helping out
Heading back into the main area, I saw that Mom had already finished with the customers.
The shop was quiet, not too quiet as a few customers were sitting at the tables. Walking over to her, I quickly hugged her.
"Hey, Mom," I said, the warmth of her arms making me feel relaxed after a long day.
"Hi, baby, how are you? I'm glad you could come in today," she smiled.
"How was school?"
"School was good. The kids and I made welcome-back signs, and we're going to hang them up later this week." I paused, studying her. "How about you?
How are things over here?
Have you had anything to eat?"
Mom gave me a knowing look, clearly expecting my question. "Yes ma'am, I had a burger and a smoothie a little while ago—and I nibbled on some cookies I baked. Happy?"
"Not happy, Mom. Just trying to make sure you're in good health," I started to say, but the sudden sound of a loud bang cut me off.
Both of us turned towards the window, and instantly my heart dropped. A car had bashed into the bakery's sign—not just any sign, Dad's sign, the one he designed himself. My throat went dry, and for a split second, I couldn't move.
The sight of the crooked sign made my stomach twist. What the hell was happening? Finally shaking off the shock, I bolted outside, Mom right behind me. Whoever did this had some serious explaining to do.
But as I approached the car, all my words caught in my throat again. This wasn't just some random clunker—it was an Aston Martin.
Mom, always the sweetest, quickly rushed over to the driverside to check on the driver, while I stood frozen, anger and disbelief swirling in my chest. My dad's sign—had been ruined by someone who had more money than sense. The recklessness made me want to scream.
Still gritting my teeth I heard Mom ask, "Are you okay in there?" The driver was hidden behind dark, heavily tinted windows, and I couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman. But whoever it was, I was ready to give them a piece of my mind.
I watched Mom take a step back, and my breath hitched, bracing myself for whoever was about to step out of the car.
Without giving it much thought, I blurted out, "You're aware this city has traffic rules, right? I'm pretty sure you just violated every single one of them..." But my words trailed off, sticking in my throat like glue. The man who stepped out wasn't just anyone.
He was striking—the kind of handsome that knocked the wind out of you. Tall, fit, with jet-black hair that looked like it had been styled effortlessly, and eyes so dark they seemed to pierce right through me. For a second, I forgot why I was even mad.
I shook my head, trying to pull myself back to reality. This man might have been gorgeous, but that didn't change the fact that he just wrecked my bakery's sign—my dad's sign. The anger bubbled back up, but now, tangled with something else, something that made my stomach flip. He met my gaze, his expression unreadable. Calm. How could someone look that calm after doing something so reckless? My pulse quickened, a confusing mix of anger and... something else."Well," I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest, "you've certainly made an entrance."