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“She does? You do?” I’m salivating at the information.
“You honestly don’t remember her? She was also at my wedding.” I try to think back to her and Duke’s wedding. I was so tired from the nonstop flights and excited for them to get married while seeing my friends again, I don’t remember much of anything else. “I swear, you have the worst memory.” She shakes her head in disapproval. “So what else do you want to share about Angie?”
“She doesn’t like me.” I expect Patience to laugh at this bit of information, but she just stares slack-jawed at me.
“Imagine that, someone immune to your so-calledcharms.”
“Don’t air quote that shit. I do have charm.” I sneer.
“I’msorry, but I’m not going to say anything else. If you weren’t so absorbed in the need to find some piece of ass in high school, you would probably remember her. She’s sweet and kind, someone you should want, but instead, you always went for the vapid dipshits like Cera. Go home and look her up.”
“I don’t own any of our yearbooks,” I admit.
“Sucks to be you then.” No pity? What kind of friend is she?
“Come on, Patience. You won’t help your favorite person out?”
“Chase, as much as I love you, you aren’t my favorite person out of everyone. That honor goes to my husband, and very soon, he’ll be bumped to second place when this little one joins us.”
“So will you help me?” I plead.
She rolls her lips, thinking about it before she slowly shakes her head. “No, I think this will be a great lesson for you. For far too long, you’ve had your way with girls, then women, and now you need to dig deep to get something you want. Invest some time in the other person for once.” She waddles around the counter and reaches up on her tiptoes to kiss me on the cheek. “I wish you the best of luck, my friend. I know you can do it.”
I’m fucked.
Chapter Eight
Angelica
When the last pencil dropped yesterday afternoon, three minutes before the bell rang, I had been just as busy as my students who had studied for their midterms. While their young minds crammed everything they needed to know for their math tests, I worked away to give them the score they worked so hard to obtain.
Of course, I had time to get the papers graded over the long weekend and put their grades in later, but I couldn’t allow myself to get away with that. I have six periods of math throughout the day and manage to finish the previous class’s tests while the next work on theirs. I have several variations of the same tests to ensure none of my students cheat. I mix them up in the class and between different sessions.
It's a great way to keep the kids on their toes and their minds sharp.
But it means more work for me. I took a lunch break and returned to work during my planning period. I had a kink in my neck by the time I finished, but I had the weekend to rub it away and relax.
And that’s just what I did. After I had a late dinner with Lorelei that Mom and Grandma crashed, which never fails to be entertaining, I went home to my cozy little apartment and slept in.
I already have the next two weeks of planning done for my classes. I caught up on some of my shows before I got ready to head out with a few of the other teachers to unwind and celebrate being done with school assessment testing at Grizzly’s.
With a drink in my hand and liquor flowing through my body, I’m having a blast letting loose.
And the best thing about tonight is Cera wasn’t invited. I’m not the only teacher at the junior high who doesn’t care for the woman. She has rubbed several other teachers the wrong way and even tried getting others in trouble for something she lacked.
It’s really sad that things never changed for her, but what can I do? She isn’t my problem, and I avoid her like the plague.
My tousled brown waves bob around my head as I dance to the beat of some country song the live band is putting their own flavor to. While some teachers play pool or sit around the table we managed to get for ourselves, I dance out in a younger crowd with another new, young-ish teacher Jon, who teaches science a floor above me.
He’s cute, funny, and light-hearted. Everything Ishouldwant in a man. He’s flirted with me on several occasions outside of school, but for reasons I haven’t wanted to shine a light on, I can’t bring myself to go out on a single date with him.
But dancing is safe. It’s light and fun. We don’t dance too close to one another, and so far, there hasn’t been a single slow dance.
Finishing off my beer, I teeter on my heels to try to get off the dance floor to take care of the empty bottle.
“I’ll take that for you.” Jon leans in, coming a little too close into my space to take my beer bottle away from me.
“Thanks.” I smile up at him, but it’s strained. For a long time now, I don’t really care to have others too close to me. There’s a reason for it.
