Page 82 of Ancient History

“Not as much as you think.”

Reading over the requirements the other day was overwhelming. “It’s been a long time since I had to study for a test. I’m rusty.”

“I can coach you. I’m a great coach,” Raleigh said, sorta cocky and sorta jokey. It could be hard to tell with him. I appreciated the support, though.

I happened to know another great tutor. One with a very cute butt.

I snorted. “I’d officially be a gym teacher.”

We used to make fun of gym teachers when I was in school. Life was ironic.

“I know people don’t consider us real teachers.” Raleigh let out a little smirk at his comment, but I could tell it steamed him. “But there is work involved. And I’ve seen you these past few weeks. You have a real skill with kids. You like working with them. You’re a kick-ass coach. Being a teacher is worth it, man. Not just for the summers off.”

I ran a hand over my head. “You really think I’ll be a good teacher?”

If someone had told me when I graduated high school that I’d come back willingly to teach for the rest of my days, I'd have called them crazy.

“Definitely. It’d be great to call you an official coworker. You can’t leave me to be surrounded by a bunch of eggheads. We need more jocks on staff.” Raleigh sounded like he was kidding, but also not. “The certification isn’t that arduous. And you’ll have it for life. You’ll be able to keep teaching and coaching.”

“People who are teachers usually do it, like, forever right? Until they retire.”

“That’s the plan. Then you get a pension.”

I was going to be a teacher forever. That was a long-ass time. “I could probably get an office job, make about the same. No cramming for a test.”

“You could.” Raleigh turned to me, instantly cutting through my bullshit. “But do you really want that?”

The answer crystallized for me as a big, fat nope. I had friends at South Rock. I got to joke around with students. I spent my days coaching my favorite sport. And now I was dating the most adorkable guy in school. I loved it here!

“Well, fuck. Looks like I have a certification test I gotta start studying for.”

“There you go.” Raleigh gave me a hard slap on the back. “Yikes.”

He nodded at one of our students, who was trying to hit his golf ball but only succeeded in bringing up chunks of grass.

I gave him a confident nod. “I got this.”

* * *

During seventh period,I sat in my office working through strategies for the soccer team before our next game. We were facing the top-ranked school in the district. There was a lot riding on this win, for the team and for me. I wanted to preserve Coach Legrand’s legacy.

Since this office had no windows, except the small square one in the door, it could sometimes feel like solitary confinement, and it was easy to lose track of time. A knock at the door startled me from my work. Amos waved at me through the window.

“Hey!” I gave him a kiss without thinking of who could see us. There were no gym classes and an empty locker room at the moment. Raleigh was on his cafeteria duty. “It’s been too long.”

“It’s been a few hours.”

“A few hours too long.” Man, I was gushing. But after last night, I wasn’t telling any lies. Waking up without Amos in my bed gave me serious withdrawal.

My hands clamped on his slim hips and ran up his sides.

“Hutch.” He tried to squirm out of my grip, but his beaming smile told me loved it.

“What are you doing here? Came to surprise me?”

Amos pulled away from my grasp and checked out my office. There wasn’t much to see. I hadn’t decorated or put up any personal items on the desk, and the cinder block walls were painted in the ugliest shade of industrial yellow that Home Depot offered.

“I like what you’ve done with the place.”

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