Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“You’ve heard about me?” I couldn’t help preening. Maybe I’d oversold the whole star thing to more than Principal Alana.
“Yep.” Merry’s tight nod deflated what was left of my ego. “You’re the fun uncle. What did they call you? The Funcle?”
Merry made it sound like a rash in a personal area rather than a cute inside joke between me and my favorite sister-in-law.
“I am the fun uncle. And the Guncle.” I adopted a proudly defiant tone. Might as well toss the gay uncle part out there right now. “And the little brother who can’t say no when his big, bad lieutenant colonel bro asks for a favor.”
As much as I liked being an uncle and adored my two nieces and new nephew, I was only in Hawaii because Craig had summoned me. And for all we were total opposites as adults, my heart still remembered him as the big brother who’d scared away all the monsters under my bed and defended me from school bullies.
“Bet you can’t wait to get back to Manhattan.” There was a challenge in Merry’s tone that I had to work to not take personally.
“I sublet my studio through the end of the year. I’m kind of stuck, but I’m not complaining.” More lies. I’d done nothing but complain in texts to my theater friends about the humidity, the sand in strange places, the lack of a social life, the unreliability of the public transit options, and more. But for Merry, I smiled serenely. “I’m happy to help with Craig and Cara’s new baby and the girls.”
“How is the baby?” Principal Alana jumped in before Merry could continue whatever this cross-examination was. “I heard Cara delivered him early.”
“Yes, that’s a big part of why Craig sent for me.” For all my excellent imagination, I didn’t harbor many illusions. Craig was deployed, leading some army mission, and if he’d had any chance of making it home before his wife had their surprise third baby, he wouldn’t have called on his flighty younger brother for help. “The baby came at thirty-four weeks in a dramatic fashion. Takes after his uncle.” Principal Alana laughed. Merry didn’t. Undeterred, I continued, “Noah Craig is out of the NICU now and home. He’s still teeny, but he’s doing great.”
“Wonderful. Love the name,” the principal enthused. It wasn’t exactly the same as having a namesake, and everyone kept calling Noah Craig “the baby,” but I was awfully proud of the little guy nonetheless. “And I know you will make the whole family proud of you with this task for the school as well.”
Way to lay the pressure on a little more. I grimaced, trying to figure out how to tell her to lower her expectations. Luckily, the ill-tempered Belinda saved me from a reply, shuffling her papers and various tote bags on her way out the door.
“I have to head out as well. At least try to have some of the elements our Anuenue community has come to expect.” Belinda’s glare was almost as poisonous as Merry’s. The school was named after the Hawaiian word for rainbow, but there was little sunny about my reception thus far.
“Sorry. Belinda’s…passionate about our history. I’m sure whatever you come up with will be perfect.” Principal Alana managed to never waver from her chipper tone as she stood up from the table. “And with that, I’m going to leave you and Merry to get to know each other and devise a plan while I make some phone calls.”
“More disciplinary issues?” Merry groaned. He stretched, long, lean swimmer’s build on full display. He had the sort of broad shoulders and narrow waist combo that made watching the Olympics such a pleasure. However, it didn’t matter how hot the guy was if he didn’t want to cooperate and work together. “Please tell me I’m not on the naughty list.”
“Not this time.” She laughed lightly. “Legend and Ryder managed to survive the entire day.”
“Legend and Ryder are yours?” I blinked. Those were the identical twin pranksters from first period. I knew I should have sent them to the office, but I hadn’t wanted to make a fuss fifteen minutes into my new job. “You’re a dad?”
Merry seemed way too young and carefree to be a dad, but he nodded. “Yep. I trust they weren’t too much trouble.”
“Perfect angels,” I lied through my best smile. Never let the audience see you sweat. And precisely how I would put together an entire holiday festival performance in six weeks with Merry, who seemed to hate me on sight, remained to be seen.
Two
As a reminder, ohana, drinking fountains are not water cannons! Additionally, Mr. Can-Do kindly requests any puddles be promptly reported to the school office. Let’s keep Anuenue Middle School beautiful!
MERRY
Nolan Bell, Broadway star, was clearly way out of his usual Ivy League territory as a middle school substitute. I already didn’t like him. Or rather, I didn’t like his type. Nothing personal, but I’d pegged him as a rich city slicker at first glance. Thanks to my ex, I knew far too much about designer brands, and Nolan was decked out in a whole ensemble—leather man bag with a gaudy gold label, loafers way better suited to a boardroom than a beach, high thread count short-sleeve button-up and a suit vest. A vest! As if we might be conducting vital banking business or playing billiards here instead of teaching overcrowded tweens and teens.