Page 80 of Class Act

“I know how that can be, to feel lonely in a relationship.”

Oh. Okay. Talk about your stunning admissions. “I’m so sorry,” I replied, in a soft voice.

“Emotionally, she left me before she died. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if she’d lived. Where we’d be now.” I didn’t know how to respond, so I made a sympathetic noise and hoped he’d keep talking. “I didn’t even think about finding someone else. I didn’t want to risk it again, you know?”

“Yeah. You told me that the first time we met.”

He huffed out a breath. “I was a jerk.”

I chuckled. “A little bit. But, knowing you better now, I can understand why you said it.”

“The thing is, I’d never said that to anyone else. After I blurted it out to you, I was horrified about it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Definitely. Then I find out you know Leonard, and I’m at dinner with your parents, and all I kept thinking was how rude I was to you the first time we met.”

I smiled. “You really did jump to conclusions there. But Hillary wasn’t helping, the way she kept throwing us together.”

“Hillary really, really likes you.”

“I like her, too.”

“So, that blind date you went on . . .”

I laid my head back against the couch. “That mistake of an evening?”

“Does that mean you’re looking to date again?”

“Yeah,” I nearly whispered the word, my throat feeling thick, wondering what this meant.

“Most of the time I think I am, too, but then sometimes I’m not sure. There’s been a lot going on in my head these past months.”

The admission made my breath hitch. Oh. And yet, I could respect that, and was grateful for the honesty. I knew I needed to say something, but so many thoughts were running through my head. The way he’d kissed me, asked me to the fair, called me tonight to see about dinner. What was he doing if this wasn’t dating? Was he as mixed up as I’d been? It sure sounded that way.

“Are you there?” he asked.

“Yes, sorry.”

“Are you ready to tell me what happened today?”

I guess we were glossing over what he’d just told me, and oddly, I found that I was okay with that too. I didn’t need to go through another difficult conversation today, and there was no way I’d be pushing him or admitting to him that I’d developed feelings for him. Just like I didn’t want to be bullied, he deserved to move at a pace he was comfortable with. So . . . moving in a new conversational direction seemed best.

“I found out that I need to find a new job for the next school year,” I said on a deep breath.

“But you love where you teach. All your friends are there,” he sounded as shocked as I’d felt.

Tears welled again, and I pressed my hands to my eyes. “I know.” I did my best to tell him what my principal had told me while holding back the waterworks, but my voice was getting watery again.

“Do you need company tonight? I can come over.”

The offer was kind, but I knew if he came over to comfort me, I’d end up giving him my entire heart. Better to practice patience. I could give him the gift of time even though I would have given anything to have his arms around me and his strength giving me much-needed courage right now.

“No, thank you. My mom will be coming over.”

“Right,” he replied. I held my breath and waited to see what he’d say next. “I’m really sorry that happened.”

“Thanks.”

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