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Nibbling on her lip, she tried to think of a good reason not to answer him, but they all sounded lame inside her head.
Jaxson entered his dining room, and she immediately put her cell phone away.
“Here we go. If you don’t mind, I haven’t had breakfast.” He had a couple of slices of toast on a plate.
“It’s fine.”
“Would you grab a coaster?”
She immediately grabbed one that was stacked to the side. Four dinner plate coasters.
She tried not to smile as she imagined Jaxson Rebel holding a dinner.
The shirt he wore had short sleeves, showing off the ink that the girls in her class had been curious about.
At school, he wore suits. Button-down shirts that closed at the wrist, but if he got close, you could see the merest hint of ink.
“Did you get the ink before you became a teacher?” she asked.
“I got it throughout high school, during college, and then as I learned to teach, and as a teacher. I like it.”
“And you haven’t found, er, difficulty with getting a job?”
“I’m good at what I do. I’m not going to sacrifice a part of who I am for my job. I’m both.”
She smiled. “Did it hurt?”
“Some of it did, but I like it.” He took a bite of his toast.
“I’ve always wanted to get some ink.” She pointed at her inner arm. “Down here maybe, or along my side.”
“You can when you’re ready. You’re eighteen.”
Teal chuckled. “And totally upset my parents. Like that is ever going to happen.” She already knew what it was like to disappoint them. Coming home with ink they hadn’t agreed to would seriously piss them off. Not what she wanted.
“It’s not going to be about what they want, Teal. You do know that.”
“They’re my parents.”
He finished chewing his mouthful of food. “What about if you fall for a guy they don’t agree with?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“It might. He could be a good guy, but they don’t think he’s appropriate. Would you throw all of that away because they told you not to?”
“That’s a little more complicated than getting some ink. Besides, I’m still their daughter and living under their roof. There will be time for that.” She shrugged. “Is that what you did?Did you seek your own path?”
“My dad was a mean drunk, and my mother came from money. My grandfather had an image to keep up. He didn’t want me around, and so he paid for my education.”
“Is your grandfather still alive?”
“Nah, he passed away nearly ten years ago.”
“Oh.”
Jaxson smiled. “I’ve confused you, haven’t I?”
“No, you haven’t confused me. Your mother was rich.”
