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“Oh for--I don’t know how accurate this is,” she cautioned.
“Sure, sure,” he said, grinning because this meant it had to be good. “But you heard.”
“From a very reliable source,” she answered.
“So, Abigail, probably,” he guessed, “I imagine she would know, she sees most of the mothers at the preschool on a daily basis.”
“You’re good,” Shoshana said, and he was pleased that she sounded mildly impressed, “Actually I got it from Leah who got it from Abigail.”
“So, it’s technically third-hand information,” David said, his amusement deepening, “You really know how to sell this, Shoshana.”
“I was trying to get out of telling you,” she said. She was laughing now. “God, I feel like an asshole.”
“You’re not an asshole for relaying information. Also, I asked. So out with it,” he said, throwing his arm up over the pillow he was leaning against, “What’s worse than Hot Rabbi?”
She muttered something so fast it was almost unintelligible. Almost.
“Did you just say--”
“Yes. Yes, I did. They call you Rabbi Sexy-Pants.”
Six
“I really do not know how to respond to that,” David said, sounding genuinely gobsmacked, “They don’t. Really?”
“That’s the rumor. It’s mostly the moms, I think. And some of the bubbes. It’s a compliment. I mean--I think it’s supposed to be,” Shoshana said, feeling wretched. It was one thing to cackle with Abi and Leah about the nickname, but telling the guy felt… she wasn’t sure. If she were told something like this she would be livid, but he seemed to be taking it in stride. Or at least he had until he actually heard what they called him.
He was quiet. After a long moment she sat up in bed, wondering if he was really offended. She lifted the phone away from her ear to check the connection. The timer was still helpfully ticking away, and the call was still engaged.
“David? Could you say something?” she said, hoping the desperation wasn’t too obvious in her voice.
She heard a sound like a balloon deflating on the other end of the line and her brow furrowed in concern.
“Are you alright?”
He was laughing.
He was laughing so hard that he couldn’t make noise. She wasn’t sure how she knew this, but she felt his humor. She felt it in the way her cheeks burned and her lips pulled into a grin in spite of herself. She rolled her eyes, feeling a little ridiculous in her bed, but trying to give him the courtesy of letting him talk before she joined him in his laughter. After a moment she chuckled because she couldn’t help herself.
“Okay, I suppose it is a little funny.”
“Oh my God,” he wheezed, and in her mind she could see him waving a hand to show he wanted to speak. “It is fucking hilarious, Shoshana.”
“You’re not worried they don’t take you seriously?”
“Why should I be taken seriously when I can be eye candy,” he said, and then he was laughing again. “I hope your intelligence is one hundred percent accurate.”
“What? Why?” she said, wondering if he’d lost his mind. “I really can’t believe you’re taking it this well.”
“Are you kidding? If that’s the case, I’m never going to have a problem getting volunteers for anythingever again. This is going to be great.”
“You’re not upset about being objectified?” Shoshana said, shocked. Thought maybe not that shocked. Men never had that at the forefront of their minds the way women did.
“I’m sure it’s not the only reason I was offered a contract,” he mused, then snorted. “Although I guess it could be.”
“You’re not serious,” she said, because there was absolutely no way Beth Elohim had hired someone this laid back. “You’re still processing or something.”
“Oh, I am absolutely serious.”
