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GIBSON
I’ve ignored his texts for two days. But alas, I wake up Monday morning to more notifications from the bastard. I bypass his, glancing at an incoming text from my Greek Goddess. Hell, I’m excited by everything that’s Charis Andropolis. From her wavy blond hair, to her green jewel like eyes, to her olive complexion and the little dimple on her chin. The way she swayed her beautiful hips in that dress of hers at the barbeque still has my cock stirring with desire.
Before I closed my eyes last night, I typed out a text, asking when we could make plans for our first official date. I open up the thread, only for my wild eyes to dance with pleasure. And because there’s something about her, that makes me think of a forever, I’ve already given her a nickname.
Greek Goddess:Are you busy tonight? I’m off work and am spending the day just Meadow and me together, but I’m able to go out later this evening.
I think of the interaction of mother and daughter and long for that same relationship. It’s sweet but so basic, but also as pure as you can get.
Me:That’s so sweet. And yes, I’m free. Can I pick you up at your house?
Greek Goddess: I’d love to meet you somewhere if that’s okay with you.
Okay, so she’s not quite ready for me to pick her up. Maybe it has more to do with her and the questions her parents may pose. After all, who knows if they met Stone.
Me:Sure. Any ideas? I’m up for anything.
I leave it short and sweet. Does she want intimate? Would she like easygoing? Does she want dancing? Hell, where would someone my age take her dancing?
Greek Goddess:Do you mind? I have an idea, but I’d like to keep it a secret. It’s one of my favorite things to do. If you hate it, I promise not to hold it against you.
I could sit on a bench at a park with a cup of coffee and do nothing all night but chat, and I’d love it.
Me:Sure, but I just got an idea, too. How about we do yours and if there’s time, mine maybe?
I get a return text with the thumbs-up emoji, and my heart falters. First off, I hate that thing like I hate parent-teacher conferences. Before I can stew on it any longer, another text comes through.
Greek Goddess:So sorry. I accidentally sent it. I hate that thumbs-up with a passion. So impersonal. But all of that sounds great. I like this idea. I’ll text you the address, but you can’t look it up. I want it to be a surprise.
Now my heart is back to beating normal. I get another text before I can respond, and my heart does something similar at the name appearing on my screen. Son of a bitch. This man is relentless, and I’ve reprogrammed his name on my phone. I should just block his number. But something inside of me won’t allow me to do this.
Doctor Asshole:Morning, Teach. I wish you a happy Monday with twenty something crazy kindergarteners. Hopefully they all aren’t as out of control as my son. But I hope you have a great day. Talk to you soon. BTW, any plans with the sexy nurse yet? I’m not jealous, because the two of you together I can imagine are hot as hell.
I ignore his text, focusing on Charis with my return message.
Me:Sounds great. And I won’t peek ahead of time. I promise.
I think this is it from her, but when she responds with I’m looking forward to it in another text, I can’t help but smile at what most likely will be a typical Monday with my class. And as I think about Stone’s text, a thought hits me. Jett is the mini version of his dad. I can’t escape the man no matter how hard I try.
* * *
Car duty.It’s the bane of my existence. I switch this unpleasant task every other week with the teacher across the hall, who takes my kids for the morning when I have this dreaded teacherly undertaking. From afar, I recognize Stone’s tall and muscular stature as he escorts his son into the building. The arrogant SOB never has walked him inside before. But I won’t be there. Thank goodness. I can’t deal with him, not when my focus is to make Charis fall for me and me alone.
But why is it I watch his beautiful body that I know better than I should as he struts into the building? My focus should be helping kids out of cars without automatic doors. I never thought I’d covet the idea of a minivan with automatic sliding doors as I did before I became a teacher.
Five minutes must pass, and one of the teachers near me calls my name. “Mr. Smith, someone is trying to get your attention.” Yeah, without thought I twist to the main entrance, and there’s Stone in all his glory, arrogant as hell and beautiful as sin, waving at me. I return an agitated head gesture his way and begin to watch the line as the late parents speed into the school to avoid a tardy for their kids.
“He’s such a gorgeous man,” Anita Lee, a first-grade teacher, starts. “I wonder if he’s single.” Anita is a good-looking woman, maybe a couple years out of college. And why does the idea of him ending up with a good woman like Anita make me mad—like crazy mad?
“We have mutual friends, and he was at their house with someone the other day. Seems serious,” I return, I walk off and a thought occurs to me. If he’s with someone else, it opens the door for me with Charis. Somehow, I’m not sorry that Anita Lee won’t be pursuing Stone O’Leary because I realize he’s more embedded in my heart than I’d care to admit.
I don’t have more to say to the disappointed first grade teacher and mosey on off to my room, first booting up the smart board with our spelling words for the week, before I collect my student’s from the neighboring classroom. Something on my desk pulls at my attention. It’s an apple. A simple red apple with a card underneath it.
I pull it open, and my face reddens at the atrocity that one would call penmanship. But I make out the words anyway.
Dear Mr. Smith,
This is because you’re a good teacher. And good at many things. Have a great day.
Stone O’Leary
That son of a bitch. I should be pissed as hell, he’s done this in my place of business, my work space, but I’m not. I’m touched he’d go out of his way to show me I matter. He’s done that all weekend. And though I can’t have more with him, not in how he’s suggesting, maybe I’ll lay off ignoring the ass for now, because I can always use another friend. Right? Stone and I will just be friends. Friends vying for the same woman’s affection. Yeah, nothing about this sounds like an awful plan at all, right?
