Page 27 of Reluctant Chemistry

CeCe grinned. “Stop it. We agreed not to get too deep in the domestics of each other’s lives.”

“Makes sense. Keeps the mystery alive, at least for a while, anyway. Because, while I’ll never buy into that ‘all men are the same’ BS, they do all fart in their sleep and scratch their balls every chance they get.”

Suppressing a laugh, CeCe shook her head. It was hard to stay troubled when Molly was on form.

“What? It’s true.”

Their meals arrived, and they both ate several mouthfuls before resuming their conversation.

“Are you really okay?” CeCe asked. “You seem kinda down.”

Molly shrugged. Her long hair hung in a loose plait over one shoulder, and as she pulled at the bottom strands, her expressive eyes saddened. “You know that guy I met from the band? Jessie?”

“The drummer?” CeCe picked up a piece of sushi with her chopsticks and took a bite.

“Yeah. Anyway, he threw me the L-word, and I caught it with both hands.”

“Well, that’s good, isn’t it? A bit soon, but…”

“Yep. Except he woke up around five on Sunday morning, got out of bed, gathered my clothes, and told me to leave. It was weird—no explanation, no goodbye kiss, no nothing. I did my walk of shame with birds squawking obscenities at me, and now he won’t return my calls or texts.”

“Really? How did he seem, you know, after you got dressed?”

“I’ve never felt a cold shoulder like it. And as I walked to the door, he switched off the light and said nothing more.”

“Wow. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, me too.” Molly picked at her food. “Anyway, we’re supposed to be discussing you and Hot Chopper Guy, not my shitty love life. So, what are you going to do?”

“No clue. I’m loving the sex, but…what do you think?”

Molly sipped her beer. A deep thinker, her advice was usually spot-on. Pity she never took it herself. “He’s only here until Easter, correct?”

“Yes. And the permanent teacher starts after Easter, so that’s what”—CeCe counted the weeks in her head—“nine weeks away.”

“That’s a long time for a fling. Better to end it now than play teacher’s sexy pet. You know what this town’s like. He won’t get a fair deal if anyone finds out. You might, but you’re a local. He’ll end up looking like a grooming asshole while you’re the innocent student, swept off her feet by a predatory older man.”

CeCe glanced around the restaurant, which had filled up without her even noticing. Molly made a good point. Luka was leaving at Easter, so maybe it would be easier to deal with the separation now rather than waiting another nine weeks.

And yet…

“He’s only twenty-six. Hardly a predatory older man.”

“It’s happened before, that’s all I’m saying. Get out before you’re in too deep.”

CeCe thought for a moment. “You think?”

“This is not about protecting yourself—it’s about protecting Luka. His reputation.”

13

Mother’s Intuition

As CeCe turned left into the orchard’s driveway, thunder rumbled in the distance, drowning out the song on the radio.Despite the forecast for fine weather, the start of the week had been cold and wet, and as she pulled up outside the implement shed, large droplets of rain splattered onto the windshield.

Inside, the house was dark and still, a lone lamp awaiting her return. Her father often went to bed early, but she was surprised to find her mother had also retired for the night. CeCe longed to talk to her, to toss the words in her head around until theyslotted into order and made sense.

Clifton Falls seemed the only solution. If she went to school there, she and Luka could be together again when he returned home after Easter, and no one would be any the wiser. But the odds of her father agreeing to boarding school were zero to none. Her only chance was to convince her mother.

---