Page 48 of Welcome to Forever
The look of sheer disappointment nearly made Kat spew her soda across the table in laughter. “It’s my night to volunteer. He said he’d love to go. He’s bringing Ben, too.”
Now Val looked like she might start crying. “You’re going on a date to play bingo with a bunch of old men and a child? I had much greater hopes for Micah Peterson than that.”
Kat laughed at her friend, and then took a sip from her soda. “He might’ve pressed me against the desk in my office yesterday and kissed me, too.”
Val was bouncing again. “Now we’re talking.”
Kat spared some of the details. Like the fact that she hadn’t been able to think of anything other than Micah’s hand on her breast in the last twenty-four hours. “You have to promise to keep this just between you and me. I don’t want it getting out that I’m seeing a student’s parent. Or someone that works for me, for that matter.”
Val held up two fingers. “Boy Scout’s honor.”
Kat lowered her brows. “You’re not a Boy Scout.”
“You know what I mean. Of course I promise. The last thing I need is for you to get fired and old Dora Burroughs to take your place.”
Kat reached for another chip. “You’d be in the unemployment line standing right next to me. Our current assistant principal would never keep you on.”
Val feigned insult. “I’d never give her a chance. I’d pack my stuff right along with you. We’re best friends, right?”
Kat nodded. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life. You’ve been with me through a lot of hard times these last few years.”
“Maybe I should come this Friday and be with you for some more good times. I could spy on you and your date.” Val used her fingers to place imaginary quotes around the word date, making Kat laugh.
It probably did sound lame, but the truth was, she’d be happy to go anywhere with Micah right about now. And keeping to a non-date kind of situation was less likely to gain unwanted attention from people who were looking to tear down her reputation. Like the mayor. Volunteering wasn’t date material. It was innocent.
No one had to know about the less than innocent thoughts tramping through her mind.
—
When dinner was over, they walked together to the parking lot.
“Thanks for buying dinner,” Val said, veering toward her car. “I’ll get yours next time. You might be unemployed by then, so…” She winked as she ducked inside her little coupe.
Kat waved. “See you tomorrow, bright and early.” She climbed into her own car, her body feeling like lead, and headed home to find Julie asleep on the couch with an old black-and-white classic playing on the television. Kat sat down beside her and turned off the TV.
Julie stirred as she did. “Hey, I was watching that.”
“Yeah. I can see that.” Kat smiled.
Julie’s eyes cracked and then her face scrunched as if the light was eating her alive. She flipped her body restlessly to face the back of the couch and pulled her blanket over her head.
Guilt gnawed at Kat’s stomach as she flipped the light switch. If Julie were going to be staying for an indefinite amount of time, she’d need a real bed. Maybe this weekend, Kat would finish cleaning out the master bedroom, change the sheets, and open it to Julie. Just the thought made her entire body tense, which pissed her off a little. It was just a room, no big deal. Or it shouldn’t have been.
Standing, Kat glanced back at her sister one more time and then headed down the hall. “Good night.”
But Julie was already breathing hard, sleeping like a log, the way she always had. It was nice to have someone else in the house—not quite so lonely. Not that she’d ever considered herself lonely. She had Val. And other friends. Her co-workers. And now a sister, who deserved better than a couch.
Kat nodded to herself as she passed the master bedroom, promising herself that this weekend she’d do better. It was time to make space for new things in her life, new people. Micah crossed her mind and her heart kicked hard. New beginnings.
