Page 15 of Class Act

I tucked a piece of hair behind my ears and let out a breath. “Nothing, really. People get sweaty at the gym.”

“So you're saying it wouldn’t have automatically thrown your mind into the gutter?” she prodded.

I’d reached the end of the border and motioned for her to let go so I could staple it in place. “I don’t usually struggle with my mind going there.” Admittedly, it came off a little haughty, and I hurried to backpedal. “I just mean . . .”

She put a hand on my shoulder as she grinned. “I know you, Hailey. I know you’re not the type to entertain those kinds of . . .”

“But I am,” I interrupted, my face dropping into my hands. Unfortunately, one of those hands was still holding a stapler, which cracked against my forehead.

It was silent for a second before Aryn reached over and took the stapler from me. Then she took my arm and guided me over to my desk before plopping me into the desk chair. We looked at each other for a few moments. Aryn, with her long, curly red hair, hands propped on her lean hips, head tilted to the side while her green eyes tried to pry into my soul. I ran my sweaty palms over my slacks, grateful they were dark today, before tugging down the hem of my blouse and then smoothing my hair down.

“Okay,” she said. “You’ve now completely adjusted both clothing and hair. Something’s up.” She grabbed one of the tiny chairs from a desk and carried it over to sit in front of me. Aryn was tall enough that even sitting on the little chair, we were practically eye to eye. “Tell me everything, from the start.”

I shook my head and wiggled my toes around in my shoes. “The thing is, this is really private and incredibly embarrassing, so you can’t tell anyone else.” She nodded. “I’ve been . . . um . . . thinking about Ford a lot.” Aryn’s face remained passive, and her open, curious expression eased me into spilling it all. “After I looked him up a few months ago, I sort of didn’t stop looking him up.”

Aryn patted my knee. “Don’t sweat it, in this digital age everyone internet stalks other people. What do you think the point of social media is?”

I managed to get one side of my mouth to lift but shook my head. “If I’d kept it to internet stalking, it would be understandable. The problem is that he started popping up in my dreams.”

When I hesitated, she smiled. “Again, not strange. The other night I was reading about different types of mental health therapies because a student of mine is struggling. All night I dreamed I was in therapy sessions. I didn’t sleep well at all.”

I took a deep breath. “But then I sort of let it morph into daydreams, and I started pretending we were dating.” My voice dropped off at the end until it was barely a whisper.

Aryn watched me in the stillness, processing and doing a fine job of keeping her face completely expressionless. I ducked my head, prepared for her to tell me I was being super strange. Instead, she surprised me with a giggle.

“I’ve so done that.”

My head popped up, my hair tickling at my jawline. “What?”

She nodded. “Totally. Remember a few years ago when that really cute, funny guy substituted for Lizzie while she was sick with strep for a week?”

I thought back, coming up with a fuzzy image of a blond man with big teeth. “I think so.”

“After he left he starred in some pretty great daydreams of mine. We went snorkeling and hiking and had lots of snuggle time on the couch.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Oh yeah?”

“Sure. The thing is, Hailey, we’re allowed to daydream a little. It’s not wrong. You’re not in a relationship daydreaming about another man. He’s not in a relationship. You’re a single woman daydreaming about a single guy. No biggie.”

I relaxed back into my seat and let my head fall back. “You truly believe that this doesn’t make me creepy?”

“Nah. Don’t worry too much about it.”

“At least the object of your fantasy life didn’t suddenly appear,” I moaned. “It’s been so awkward. Like, I feel like I made up this entire story line in my head, and he should know it but in reality he has no idea that we’re pretend in love with each other. And I’d given him a personality that has nothing to do with who he actually is, so my heart and head are totally confused when I’m around him. I’d decided to keep my distance, at his request, but now I’m running in to him everywhere, and I can’t keep walking on by without him noticing me. I promised myself I’d stop thinking about him, but how can I when his perfectly healthy male body is so close to me and I can smell the . . .” My eyes grew large, and I slapped my hand over my mouth.

Aryn’s own eyes were big but filled with laughter. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you say that much that quickly.” She tilted her head. “So you like how he looks when he works out?”

I closed my eyes. “Oh my gosh. Aryn, this has grown out of control.”

“You’re one of the most properly behaved people I know, and I’m really excited to find out you’re as human as the rest of us.”

I moaned. “I’m not properly behaved; I’m shy, which keeps me from acting on the things that happen in my head. You have no idea how much goes on up here.” I tapped my forehead with one fingertip.

“Apparently. But I’m kind of enjoying the tour of your twisted little mind.”

I sat up, my mouth flopping open. “You really think it’s twisted?”

She laughed loudly and leaned forward to grab my hands. “I don’t. I’m trying to make a point here. It’s normal to be attracted to a man and then think about him a lot. You’ve done nothing wrong. If it makes you feel better to stop thinking about him, then try to do it. Just stop beating yourself up about it.”

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