Page 5 of Heart of a Hero

“Now imagine having that almost every single day. At this age, those revelation happen all the time. These kids are soaking things in like a sponge. Do you know what I’d love to do more than anything? Teach the class and just switch to French all the time. Within a month, these kids would be speaking it right along with me. That’s how fast they learn, especially when you make it fun.” He was so excited he’d almost forgotten where he was. After swallowing hard and drinking some more water, he figured it was time to get out.

Forrest left the steam room after saying good-bye to Conrad and went back to his locker, where he got his shower stuff and then headed for an empty stall. After he pulled the curtain closed, he heard the steam room door open and close, and he couldn’t help peering out to watch Conrad pad toward his locker. He let the curtain drop back into place as soon as Conrad was out of sight and stepped under the hot water. His mind wandered to Conrad and the way he drew Forrest’s attention every time he saw him. There was something about the man that pulled at him. This needed to stop somehow. He was the parent of one of the kids in his class. It was hard enough being a male kindergarten teacher, but being attracted to one of his kid’s parents, and another man, well, that was a recipe for trouble, and he had to make it stop. But he wasn’t sure how to make that happen.

Chapter 3

CONRAD GOT home just in time to put Lizzie to bed. He sat on the edge of her bed and began reading a story, but Lizzie stopped him. “You have to do the voices.”

“What voices?” he asked.

Lizzie sighed dramatically. “Mr. Scoville does all the voices when he reads stories.” She looked up at him as if he was supposed to suddenly develop that same magic ability.

“You know, I could just go downstairs and you could go to sleep without a story.” He cocked his eyebrows.

“O-kay,” she said, “you can just read the story.” She sighed as though it was a consolation prize.

“I’m glad you approve.” He continued reading and finished the story before kissing Lizzie good night and leaving the room. He went downstairs to get something to drink. His mom had already left, and the house was quiet when he grabbed a beer and went out back onto the patio. He sank into a chair and looked up at the stars, sipping his beer and enjoying the quiet, until his phone rang.

“Hey, Derek,” he said softly. “How’s it going?” Derek was the executive director of the library downtown. He and Derek had gone to school together and stayed on the same floor in the dorms. They’d both quickly sussed each other out, and for a while were the two gay guys on the floor. They watched each other’s backs, and Derek developed a sharp tongue that could cut deep and fast. Conrad was quieter but much more devious. “Is everything all right at the library?”

“Oh, yes. Look, I volunteer for Carlisle Arts, and there’s a gallery show opening this Friday. We’re making calls to members and people we thought might be interested, and I saw your name on the list and thought I’d call. It gives me a chance to see how you’re doing and to ask about the opening. So a twofer.” Conrad could almost see Derek smiling.

“It’s good to hear from you, and I don’t have any plans, so I should be able to come. And you can see Lizzie. She’s getting big—she just started school.” They wouldn’t have to stay that long, and Lizzie knew how to behave. “So how’s life?”

“It’s really good. Harm is doing really well. The two of us have booked a cruise for January. A week of sun, fun… and absolutely no snow. I think by then I’ll definitely need a vacation. How about you? Anything or anyone special on the horizon?”

“Not really. I mean, my life revolves around work and Lizzie.” He snickered. “I have to tell you that one of the kids in Lizzie’s class was picking on the girls, pulling their hair and otherwise harassing them. Lizzie told me about it, and I said it was okay to stand up for herself. I figured she’d yell at him, but instead she punched him in the nose. Apparently my kid is going to be a boxer. Thankfully the teacher saw the instigation. But I had to sit her down and explain about using your words first. Though the bully has now been avoiding her like the plague.”

Derek cackled. “Serves him right. Remember what we did to Blake? That guy was a real pain in the ass and smart as a box of rocks. But God, he was mean.”

“He nearly pushed you down the stairs once.” Conrad got angry just thinking about it.

“Yeah, and I bet he’s still trying to figure out how his bed and dresser ended up on the roof without anyone seeing a thing.” It had been easy and a complete misdirection. They had gotten an extra dorm bed and dresser and put them on the roof. Then it was just a matter of hiding dipshit’s furniture, making up the bed, and sliding his drawers into the roof dresser. They even adorned it with rainbow flags. The actual switch didn’t take that long. Then all they needed to do was move the furniture so it could be seen… by everyone. They even managed to join the crowd of gawkers and made sure dipshit saw them. It was beautiful. Derek laughed once more, and that familiar sound was like soothing music to Conrad’s nerves. They had tried dating… for about a week, and realized they were much better as friends.

Conrad sipped his beer and sat back, finally relaxing.

“How is Lizzie liking school?”

“She loves it and thinks her teacher hung the moon.”

Derek didn’t say anything right away. “I sense some hesitancy. You don’t like him?”

“It isn’t that….” He sighed. “The guy scares the crap out of me most of the time. He reminds me of my mother’s boyfriend.”

“Uggggh, Rodney was a douchebag,”

“He was, and so much more. And… this guy is a miracle worker. Lizzie talks to him… like, nonstop. And yet he’s huge. He’s like six three, broad shoulders, and he’s bald. I’ve met him a few times, and he’s….”

Derek snickered. “Okay. What’s the issue? He isn’t Rodney, and Lizzie likes him. He’s her teacher, after all, and you aren’t going to see him all that often.” He paused a second. “Oh, I get it. You think he’s hot.”

“I do not,” Conrad answered way too fast, and he knew he was in trouble.

“You like Lizzie’s teacher.” Derek was cackling again. “You don’t have an issue with Harm.”

“No. He’s great.”

“Right. So yeah, Lizzie’s teacher is big and reminds you of Rodney the douchebag. But you like him.”

“Derek, please stop. Lizzie really likes the guy, and I was at the Y today and he was in the sauna, and….”