Page 86 of Love and Other Chances

AMAYA

Well that’s a good thing

I’m fairly obsessed myself

Chapter thirty-three

If our text message thread is any indication, Brooks and I are both riding the high of reintroducing the truth of “I love you” into our relationship. However, I know that despite the rush of our trip to D.C. and our newly-professed feelings, Brooks is still experiencing the lows of grief. I know becauseIam still feeling those “I can’t breathe” moments any time I think about our time by his mom’s bench at the lake.

I decide to surprise Brooks with lunch at school. Even though he only has thirty minutes, I’m hoping it will be a bright spot to his day.

After scanning my driver’s license to check in at the school office, a passing teacher offers to show me to Brooks’ classroom on her way back to her own.

“We’ve heard lots about you around here. I recognized you from the videos that Brooks posts, but it’s fun to meet you in person!” she says.

“Oh no, I did not think about a social media reputation preceding me,” I respond with a laugh.

“Don’t worry. Your preceding reputation is glowing,” she replies, a twinkle in her eye.

“What subject do you teach?” I ask as we wind through the building. Thank goodness I have a guide—I absolutely would have spent half of Brooks’ lunch period trying to find his classroom.

“Seventh grade science. Never a dull moment!” she says right as the bell rings and students spill into the hallways. “You might want to wait a minute for the students to clear out, but we’ve reached your destination,” she adds, pointing to the room across from us. “It was great to meet you, Teegan. Hope to see you around again.”

“Thank you for the help!” I call after her as she walks away. I hear her switch to her “teacher voice” as she scolds a couple of boys who are roughhousing. It reminds me of Brooks’ voice when he rescued me at the silent disco, which I can now openly embrace as “sexy.”

I need to practice my teacher voice.

The certainty of that thought feels at peace in my heart, and I smile to myself as I walk into Brooks’ classroom. There are two students still inside, huddled around a desk as Brooks points to something on a worksheet.

“You need a little more explanation of how the branches of government keep power in check. Tell me a specific example,” he says to one student. I linger in the doorway to continue observing without revealing my presence yet.

“Um, like how the President can’t pass laws, only Congress can?” she says, uncertainty in her voice.

“Exactly!” Brooks responds. “List out at least one example for each branch on your bullet list so you can use it in your final essay.”

“Okay. Thanks, Mr. Murphy,” she replies as she stuffs the paper in her backpack. She and her friend turn just as Brooks looks up and notices me. All three of their faces break into smiles.

“Hey!” I say, stepping forward.

“Ooo, who’s this?” one of the girls asks.

Brooks grins and declares, “This is my girlfriend, Teegan.”

“Nice to meet you, girls!” I greet with a wave as I reach them.

“You’re so pretty!” one of them remarks, and I remember how much I loved the unfiltered conversations I had with students during student teaching.

“Gorgeous is the word I think you’re looking for,” Brooks chimes in, his smile impish.

The girls look as though they’ve been handed a pot full of tea ready to spill at lunch. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Teegan. See you tomorrow, Mr. Murphy,” they say as they exit the room.

Once they’re gone, Brooks pulls me to him and quickly kisses me. “Mr. Murphy, how extremely unprofessional of you,” I tease.

“They can fire me if necessary,” he teases back before planting a longer kiss on my lips. “Now, what are you doing here?”

I hold up the Taco Lucha bag in my hand. “I brought lunch!”

“I love you forever,” Brooks says with mock solemnity.

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