Tugging my skirt down, I suddenly realized how stupid it was to be dressed like a promiscuous teen, especially when it made me feel awkward and not at all sexy.
Michael’s head tilted as his familiar crooked smile crowded his handsome face. Despite my attire, his eyes never strayed below my face. And why should they? He was an adult man who had women like Betty ready to be with him. Not a silly teenager whose mom still enforced an eight p.m. curfew on a school night. Ten p.m. on weekends.
“I just needed some fresh air,” I whispered.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, I understand. I swear there’s about fifty more people here than last year.”
I smirked and covered my mouth with a giggle. We lived in a tiny town, so the likelihood that our little annual summer party had grown was laughable. Michael always made me laugh.
He came up beside me, mimicking my stance. My breath drew in at his proximity, but then I got a whiff of that delicious cologne I loved so much. I straightened my posture, my eyes wide in the night. I was afraid to move in case he shifted away.
“Hey, a shooting star.” He pointed up, and my gaze followed his long finger. I saw a light fly across the sky. “Quick, make a wish.”
I closed my eyes, instantly knowing what wish to make. As futile as I knew it would be.
I wish, I wish, I wish.
I opened my eyes, and a million stars winked back at me. Even though I'd watched these skies hundreds of times, I was still in awe of the universe and how immense it was; how billions of people roamed this planet, yet we were probably just a dot in it.
Michael glanced down at me with an amused look. “That must’ve been some wish. You were concentrating hard.’’
I didn’t know whether it was because I got a hit of existentialism at how insignificant we were in this spinning planet and it could all end tomorrow, or whether it was the Screwdriver I had sneakily drunk an hour earlier, but I was feeling bold.
“Wanna know what I wished for?” I turned my body towards his, glancing at him below my long lashes.
Okay, he was visibly recoiling and moving away from me, but I still held firm to my resolve.
“Uh…sure.”
“I wished I could have my first kiss.” My voice was low as I tried to imitate the movies I’d seen when a woman was attempting to seduce a man.
“Ah…” Michael’s face paled under the glow of the porch light. His throat bobbed, and he stuffed his hand in the back pocket of his jeans before moving a step back.
“Don’t you wanna know who I want my first kiss to be with?” I ignored all warning signs that pointed towards this being a bad idea. Ignored Michael’s obvious discomfort as I powered through my seductive routine.
“Tell it to Lucy.” His tone was firm. Still, I ignored it.
“It’s you.” Without warning, I moved closer just as he grimaced and moved back, his hands briefly touching my shoulder in a gentle push.
“Dina…I know you think you have a crush on me –”
I let out a frustrated snort. “I don’tthinkI have a crush on you. IknowI do. I want you to be my first kiss.”
I leaned closer again, but he’d already anticipated my move. He immediately, but gently, held me back, inching his body away so there was a great distance between us. Embarrassed heat stained my cheeks at his rebuff.
His face hardened, and his brow furrowed in that little gesture he did when he meant business. Like when he was about to tell Lucy off for forgetting to do her chores. Gone was the easy-going smile and the amused twinkle in his eyes. Their blue depths were filled with regret and anger.
“Dina, no. I don’t want to hurt you, but not only are you just a kid and my daughter’s friend, but I’m also a teacher at your school. This is inappropriate, and I’m sorry to do this, but I’m going to have to speak with your mom.”
My stomach dropped, and I fell back in shock. “Wha-what? Why?”
His eyes eased from their anger slightly as he released my shoulders and stepped back. “I’m a person of authority, Dina. This is for your safety as well. If someone found out about what you told me, they could misconstrue the situation.”
“B-but-”
“Dina. I understand what you’re going through. I was sixteen once upon a time. I remember having a crush on my eighth grade math teacher.”
I shook my head wildly, wanting to refute his words, but they caught in my throat. He didn’t get it. I didn’t just have a crush on him. I was inlovewith him.
