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“Though, we would need something stronger than this weak substitute for champagne.” Her sultry gaze lifted to his. “Perhaps we could meet tonight. Let me finally buy you that drink and congratulate you.” Martin’s stare remained locked to her as she ran her finger into his pocket.
Martin allowed his lips to curl into a sideways smirk; Brenda had always been the forward one. He brought his free hand to her wrist and wrapped his fingers around it as the woman stepped closer. Brenda, a woman who had been two classes behind him in school. “You know, this can’t happen.” He explained.
“Nobody has to know,” Brenda added. “You know we would be great together. We would have all those years ago if you weren’t with that cheerleader.” Martin chuckled at her comment. Brenda, with a quick move against him, their bodies crashed together. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder; her fingers pushed up the back of his hair.
“Oh…” The sudden sound of another woman brought Martin’s attention to the door. “I didn’t know you were…” Rose quickly said as she backed up.
“NO!” Martin shouted with a step from Brenda. He pulled her arm from his shoulders, his attention entirely on Rose as she paused.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Brenda scoffed. “Well, you did. So be a good little delivery girl and take your cupcakes somewhere else. He’s busy.”
Martin placed the cup on his desk and started to move across the room. “I was hoping you’d be here.” He said to Rose with a grin.
“Um, Martin?” Brenda cleared her throat as he moved from her, her arms lifted to her side as she chuckled. No man had ever ignored her advances, let alone left her hanging for someone like Rose.
He turned back to Brenda, who remained on his desk. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to take a pass. Thanks for the drink, though.” He turned; his lips curled to a grin as he looked at Rose standing in the open archway.
For two days, Martin had wondered if she would be the one to deliver the cupcakes, and as she stood before him, he felt joy come over him. Her perfume hit him as he approached her, their bodies only separated by a small gap in the doorway. “I…um, the boxes are just over there.” Martin smiled wider with a nod at the stutter of her words.
“Sorry about that.”
Rose glanced back at Brenda briefly. “No worries, I’m used to it.”
Martin stood before her in silence, just taking in the soft features of her face. She had the most beautiful eyes, bright. Had she always been so beautiful? He asked himself the question, confused about how he could have been so blind.
“Well, let’s get them where they need to go.” He placed his hand lightly on the small of her back, his other hand moving forward. Something different in her eyes ignited a feeling he had never felt before.
* * *
“So, Rose, tell me about yourself. What have you been up to?” Martin asked as they walked side by side down the empty hall, Martin with two of the cupcake boxes in his hands.
“I don’t typically give out my life details to customers.” She replied, Martin with a nervous chuckle.
“I’d like to think I’m not just a customer.” Her gaze snapped in his direction with his statement.
“Really? What would you call yourself then?” she asked, Martin picking up a hint of attitude in her voice.
“A blast from the past.” He answered. Rose with a laugh as she pulled her gaze from his.
“Not sure that works in your favor, Martin.” It was the first time she had spoken his name, and although it was said with a hint of disgust, he couldn’t help but love how it sounded. Had he been so bad in his younger years this woman had never gotten over what he did? The realization of this he knew he would have to face as they grew closer to the lounge. How could he make it up to her? How could he get her to trust him at least a small amount? Could he get her to see he wasn’t the person who had been so cruel toward her?
“How does it feel being back at the school?” He asked as they walked up the stairs.
“Honestly, I never thought I would step through the doors again. It still smells the same.” She answered softly, his lips curled to another grin.
“You should hear it when the halls are filled with kids.”
“I never in my wildest dream thought you’d become a teacher.” She admitted with a light smile.
“I wanted Summer’s off.” His admission caused Rose to laugh. “You have a beautiful laugh.” Both came to a stop, their gazes locked onto one another. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to hear it when we were here the first time.”
Rose scoffed. “I have a beautiful laugh. You’re sorry you didn’t get to hear it. What are you playing here, Martin? What game is this?” Rose’s voice lifted. “What, you didn’t torment me enough when we were younger. Thought you’d get a little more in as adults?” Martin shook his head with her accusation.
“No. Course not. I was an ass, I know that.”
“No, no, you don’t know anything.” She blurted out. He could see the tears in her eyes. This hadn’t gone how he hoped. He knew then his apology wasn’t good enough. Showing her he was kinder than his younger safe wasn’t good enough. She needed more, and Martin knew she deserved it.
