“Family can be complicated,” she said softly.
“It’s fine. They’re busy. And anyway, the year will be hectic with all the bands I’m running. From here on out, I’m focusing on my students and Cath’s audition.”
I thought of Cath’s parents, of the pride in their eyes. Despite their long shifts at The Mill and Donner Lodge, at least one of them made it to every show. They made it work for Cath, no matter what, so I refused to let her down. I was weirdly relieved to feel my anger for Leo returning. Spite was the ultimate motivator, no matter what any philosopher said.
Clara made a sound of acknowledgment.
“I’m at my best when I’m focused on my work. I don’t need anybody else...” I trailed off before I could be accused of protesting too much.
A sudden image popped into my head. My finger pressed against Leo’s mouth. The soft lips pressed between my fingers. The surprising jolt of electricity.
That must be what happened when you hadn’t been intimate in a while.Any sort of physical contact could get your motor revving. Didn’t matter. Hardly the point.
Though, Leo’s bedhead was cute, and his voice was a lot more gentle and soft-spoken than I’d expected. Not that he talked much. And what was with that weird fabric shift he’d been wearing? Was that a celebrity thing? It hinted at the drummer’s muscular chest. His dark curls were long enough that he constantly tugged them out of his eyes just to blink when they fell back in. Of course, he was cute. He was a rock star. There was a sort of optical illusion that made even the scruffiest of men become hot when proficient at an instrument.
He was a great drummer, and people with that level of skill should share it with the world, or at least pay it forward. It was their duty. Wasn’t anybody with extreme privilege responsible for giving back? Wasn’t that how community and humanity worked? What got us this far? My frustration bubbled back up.
“What has needing other people ever done for anybody?” Clara asked with a touch of sarcasm.
“Nothing but taint that couch.” I gestured to the cursed teachers’ lounge couch.
“Is that why nobody sits on it?” Clara leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Supposedly, it’s where our previous principal had several indiscreet...fits of passion,” I whispered.
“Really? I thought it was because a raccoon made a nest in there, and the couch will break if anybody sits on it.”
I shrugged. “Well, whatever the story, do not ever sit on it.”
“Noted.”
Just then, the hunky substitute walked with pep into the teachers’ lounge. He wasn’t around very often, so when he was, everybody took notice. He also worked at the local car wash. The women of Green Valley had very clean cars.
“Hey,” Clara and I said in tandem, dragging out the word.
He grabbed an apple from the fridge, washed it, and took a large crisp bite, devouring half the apple in one go. Clara and I watched unabashedly until he tipped a pretend hat, winked a blue eye, and left again.
We shared a look. “I know,” I said.
“Whoever gets his attention?—”
“I know. I heard he might be on some show, like an adventure thing.” Clara leaned closer to whisper.
“What? No way.”
“We’ll see. As long as the producers make him lose his shirt once or twice.”
“Oh, we shouldn’t objectify him.” My words were half-hearted at best.
“I’m trying to feel bad about it.”
“You should. Also, I need to get my car washed. I just remembered.”
We cackled.
For the rest of lunch, as we chatted, my mind wandered to the homecoming game tomorrow. If Leo would show up or if I would be let down by somebody else in my life.
CHAPTER 6
