Page 111 of Class Clown

“That’s a pass on Hunk-of-Man. Can you just call me babe, or honey, or something?”

I shook my head. “You’re an original and you deserve an original pet name.” I sneaked another peck. “What has you wandering the school halls this morning?” I asked.

He held up the items he was carrying. “You weren’t in your office, and so I went looking for you. I brought bear claws the size of your face, and some tea.”

“The size of my face?” I gasped, stepping back. “I accept. Come on in, we’re talking biz before school starts.”

He followed me into the classroom where the others had fallen silent, waiting for me to return. When they saw Nico, they all smiled and greeted him. Meredith asked him about some statistic she’d read on children in warzones, Hailey patted his shoulder and asked him if he was sleeping better lately, Aryn made sure they were on for basketball at the rec center that weekend, and Wesley offered to help him with setting up the new laptop he’d bought for school.

They all spoke over one another, laughing and chatting, and it hit me in that moment how genuine they were with Nico. He was quiet in his responses – like always – but his expression was open and engaged.

I frowned, wondering why I hadn’t noticed how fake they had been with the guys I’d brought around before. I hadn’t dated many men long enough to have them meet my friends, but on the occasions when I had, they’d always been polite, and inclusive. Now, however, I saw the difference and, honestly, it kind of ticked me off for a second before I swung around to gratitude. Gratitude for Nico, and gratitude for friends who had tolerated the frogs I’d had to kiss before finding my prince.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Meredith saying, “You all need to go to your own rooms so I can emotionally prepare myself for the entitled parents that will be joining me at parent teacher conferences tonight.”

We all chuckled as we were dismissed, and Nico fell into step with me on the way back to my nurse’s room. It was nice walking down the hall with him, smelling his laundry scent and feeling his calm presence.

“It’s official, they love you,” I said as we turned into my small room near the front of the school. “Even when you don’t have donuts and tea with you.”

He set the bag and cup on my desk and took in the room like he did every time. Sometimes he seemed surprised to be sitting with me. I’d catch him looking at me, or our surroundings, like he was in a dream and couldn’t believe it was real.

I understood the feeling.

I sat on one of the desk chairs and smiled, asking “Aren’t you usually at work by now?” I picked up the pastry bag to peek inside. “Wow, this really is a giant bear claw.” I pulled out the glazed dough and gave it an appreciative sniff. “Where did you get this?”

He leaned against the exam table and crossed his arms. “A new bakery by Brooks’s neighborhood. He recommended it.”

“Give him my gratitude,” I smiled.

“I’ve been thinking a lot since our dinner out last week, about arguing or not arguing, and the marriage thing.”

I smiled. “Alright.”

“I also wanted to chat with you about my living situation.”

Oh. I sat up in my seat. “I thought it was going okay with Brooks. Meredith would tell me if he wanted you out. He seems to like having a roommate, and a little rent money on the side.”

“No, he’s great.”

“Is it the accommodations? His kitcheniskind of small.”

He shook his head. “I’m not picky. Military deployments broke me of the need to live high class.”

I nodded, chewing. “There have to be some perks to military life.”

He smiled. “I can kill a man with my bare hands.”

I grinned. “Will you teach me?”

He laughed. “No. You’re dangerous enough with the knowledge you already have.”

I wiggled in my seat. “And these hips, they’re dangerous too.” He nodded, still smiling, and I took another bite of the bear claw while studying him. “So, you’re looking for a new place to lay your head?”

He pushed up from the exam table and moved to where I was sitting. He took the pastry from my hand and put it back in the bag, before pulling me to stand. His fingertips traced along my forehead, down my nose, across my cheek and to my jaw, before tilting my head back.

“Ruby Lili Jenkins, let me tell you a story. It’s your favorite kind.” He pressed his lips to mine before leaning back again, but stayed close, his hands running down my arms to land on my hips. “Once upon a time, a very lonely young man with a boring and strict life met a boy who was all the things he wished he could be. This boy saw past the quiet shell and befriended him. After a few months, the boy invited the shy one to his house, and that was when our hero experienced sunshine for the first time. The friend had a sister, a bright, loud, laughing sister, who moved around the house like she had balloons tied to her wrists and would float away given the chance. The boy watched her, both intrigued and confused. How could she feel so much, see so much, and know so much about the world when all the boy saw was gray? When the sister would talk to him, he didn’t know how to engage with her. She was so foreign. She frightened him a little. She gave up trying, but the boy never gave up observing her whenever he could. Being around her made the boy feel like things would be okay.”

I slid my arms around his waist, my throat thickening, my hands tingling as I pressed them up against his back and hugged him tight.