Page 16 of My Single Dad Biker

This is Holt. Got your number from the school directory. Can I call you later?

I stare at the message for thirty seconds. Then I type back.

Yes.

His response comes immediately.

After Louis is asleep. Around nine.

Okay.

I put my phone down and eat my sandwich without tasting it.

The afternoon passes slower than the morning. Fourth and fifth grade combined, then sixth grade, and by three o'clock when the last bus leaves I'm exhausted in a way that has nothing to do with teaching.

I stay until four organizing the sheet music that's been on the floor for three days.

By the time I'm done the floor is clean and my filing system is restored and the sun is already going down outside.

I drive home and make dinner I barely eat. Shower again even though I showered this morning. Change into yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. Sit on my couch with a book I don't read.

At nine o'clock my phone rings.

I answer on the second ring. "Hi."

"Hi." His voice sounds different on the phone, lower somehow. "Is this a good time?"

"Yes."

There's a pause. I hear background noise on his end that might be wind or might be nothing.

"I'm outside," he says.

I stand up from the couch. "Outside where?"

"Your house."

I walk to the front window and look out. His truck is parked at the curb. I can see him sitting in the driver's seat with his phone to his ear.

"Why are you outside?" I ask.

"Because I wanted to see you and I didn't want to wait until tomorrow."

My heart is pounding. "Where's Louis?"

"Ray's nephew is at my house. Louis knows him. He's safe."

I should tell him this is too fast. I should tell him we need to slow down. I walk to the front door and open it instead. "Come in."

He ends the call and gets out of the truck. I watch him walk up my front path and climb the three steps to my porch. He stops in the doorway and we look at each other.

"Hi," I say.

"Hi."

I step back and he comes in and I close the door behind him.

He's wearing the same jeans and t-shirt from this morning and he smells like leather and night air and I want to touch him so badly my hands are shaking.