“You didn’t notice her walking in earlier? Tall, gorgeous, pretty hair, dresses like she belongs in a magazine? And,” she adds, holding up a finger, “not white.”
My eyebrows go up. “Really?”
“Yep. Finally, someone else in this building who can understand why I side-eye half the PTA.”
“You saying I don’t count?”
“You’re Mississippi white, Nate.” I open my mouth to protest before she adds, already laughing at her own joke, “You’re unseasoned oatmeal.”
I run a hand through my brown hair.
She ain’t wrong.
“Yeah, yeah. So what’s her name?”
“Didn’t catch it. She looked new. Maybe not even from around here. But I’m calling dibs on being her best friend.”
“Already?”
“She had the vibe,” Layla says with a shrug. “Nervous, but grounded. And I don’t know… she seemed nice. I liked her.” She pauses, then adds in a sing-song voice, “Plus, she’s pretty.”
I nod, going along with it. I’ve learned not to question Layla’s instincts.
“I’ll have to keep an eye out.”
“Not too close an eye.”
I hold up both hands. “Relax. I’m reformed.”
“Please. When was the last time you got any? You’re retired.”
“Hey!” I shout, but she’s already peeling away from the wall and heading toward her classroom.
The final bell rings, so I head into the gym, muttering under my breath,“I’m not retired.”
I’m halfway down the hall, on my way to practice, when I spot her.
The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
She’s tall, in a green dress that makes her brown skin glow. Her dark hair falls around her shoulders in these perfect wavesthat don’t even look like they took her hours to style.
Effortless.
And damn beautiful.
Layla’s words echo in my head, tall, gorgeous, dresses like she belongs in a magazine.
She wasn’t kidding.
This must be her.
I glance up at the clock, then back at her. I should be at practice by now, after all my complaining about the guys being late, but screw it.
I’m introducing myself.
She still hasn’t seen me, flipping through a stack of papers, chewing on her bottom lip. She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, still reading, like she doesn’t know my whole world is narrowed down to her.
I don’t know what I’m planning to say.
