Page 39 of XOXO, Yours

Payton closes his eyes.

I bite my lip.

He looks at me. "Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You're enjoying this."

Immensely.

"You wanted to be a teacher."

"I'm beginning to understand why the district is short on substitutes."

I laugh.

He looks at me.

And there it is again. That stupid expression. Soft. Warm. Like my laugh is something he genuinely loves.

The laughter dies in my throat. "You should go deal with the pencil."

He keeps looking at me.

"Payton."

"Going."

He reaches the door before glancing back. "Oh, and Miss Long?”

"What?"

"I'm here all week."

He winks.

I stare after him.

This is fine. Completely and totally fine.

Payton can be Mr. Blankenship at school. He can be Payton in my house.

Two entirely separate things. Two neat little boxes.

I am excellent at boxes.

From the hallway, a child's voice carries through the open door.

"Mr. Blankenship, do you have a girlfriend?"

There's a pause.

Then Payton says, "That's a very personal question, Jackson."

"So no?"

Another pause.