Page 33 of The Lineman

He exhaled, looking relieved but still deeply embarrassed.

“Night, Professor,” I said, smirking as I turned for the door.

“Night, Lineman,” he mumbled.

I made it down the steps, shook my head at the sheer ridiculousness of my life, and climbed into my truck. As I drove off, I could see Mike still standing in the doorway, holding his shame of a dog, looking like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

I chuckled to myself.

We’d try again.

And next time, I was getting my damn kiss.

Chapter ten

Mike

Ifsomeonehadtoldme last week that I’d be voluntarily eating in the faculty break room instead of hiding in my classroom like a normal, socially avoidant teacher, I would have laughed in their face. And yet, there I was, sitting across from Mateo, eating what I suspected was supposed to be pizza but more closely resembled a school cafeteria crime against humanity.

“So,” Mateo said, eyeing my plate like it might bite him, “you’re really going for it, huh?”

I sighed, poking at the questionable cheese layer. “I made my choices. I will live with them.”

Mateo smirked. “Brave. Foolish, but brave.”

I shrugged and took a very tentative bite. It wasn’t the worst thing I’d ever eaten, but it was definitely in the top five.

Mateo, because he was a smart man, had brought his own lunch: some kind of grilled chicken and rice that actually looked edible—and annoyingly healthy. He watched as I suffered through mine, taking entirely too much pleasure from my pain.

“So, Mike,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “How’s your new school treating you? Still getting bullied by your students?”

I scoffed. “You say that like they would ever stop.”

Mateo grinned. “Jessica still hitting on you?”

“Relentlessly.”

“Did she upgrade to actual marriage proposals yet?”

“Not yet,” I said, sighing. “But we’re on day four, so honestly? It’s only a matter of time.”

Mateo chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re handling it well, though. Gotta say, I expected you to be a little more flustered.”

“Oh, I’m flustered,” I admitted. “I just hide it better now. I’ve accepted my fate. This is my life now. Constant teenage judgment and the occasional mild harassment.”

Mateo saluted with a forkful of chicken. “Welcome back to high school, my friend.”

After popping the piece of chicken into his mouth, he went on. “So, you always been a teacher, or did you fall into this job by accident?”

“Always wanted to do it.” I exhaled, leaning back. “I was one of those weird kids who actually liked reading and thought convincing other people to like it too sounded like a fun challenge.”

Mateo raised an eyebrow. “And how’s that working out for you?”

I snorted. “So far? Not great. They’re very resistant to my charm.”

“You gotta ease them in, man. Sneak attack the learning.”

“Oh, trust me,” I said. “I have plans. This year, I’m determined to make at least one jock cry overOf Mice and Men.”

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