Jeremiah by Kathi S. Barton

This school year was not starting out as Jeremiah had planned. He loved being a teacher, but so far, being the school’s new principal had left a lot to be desired. He had only been at it for a few weeks and had already let go of eleven people. He had to find new teachers, and fast.

“Ms. Lexy Turner?” She turned toward them and fell backward when the ladder she’d been standing on slipped. Barely catching her, nearly dropping her when she scrambled away from Mr. J, Richy told her that she was safe. Mr. J just kept holding her even after she told him three times to let her down. She was fine. Finally, he did and just looked at him like he wasn’t sure what had just happened. When she was steady on her feet, she and Mr. J seemed to stand really close to each other like he’d never seen a person of the opposite sex before. Then it hit him.

“Ah, crapola. She is your mate, isn’t she?”