Page 33 of O Goalie Night
There are a couple of teachers standing at the top of the steps in front of the main entryway. One is a guy around my age who definitely takes notice of our arrival. I track his movements as he steps forward smiling. He halts in his tracks when he notices there are two people in the car.
“Thank you for driving me on your day off.”
“Hey, what are fake boyfriends for?”
“Like I said, no one would ever buy that,” she laughs, unbuckling her seat belt and getting ready to leave.
“If you want to be really convincing, you could kiss me goodbye,” I smirk at her from behind my sunglasses. Yup. Definitely a masochist.
Her mouth forms a perfect “o” shape as her eyes fall to my mouth. “That seems like overkill. I, um…I’ll probably be home late tonight.”
“Let me know if you need me to pick you up.”
“That won’t be necessary, but thank you. Don’t wait up.” Giving me a departing grin, Beth hops out and shuts the door. She quickly scurries across the pathway and up the stone steps.
The fuck I won’t.
CHAPTER 15
BETH
Here’s the thing: when people start drinking at four o’clock, they’re usually trashed by seven. And tonight is no exception.
I’ve made a conscious effort to pace myself, slowly sipping my wine over the evening. The last thing I want is to wind up sloppy drunk and dancing on a table.
When school teachers let their hair down, they let it all the way down.
The VP’s home is a lovely two-story, modern but very tastefully decorated. When I arrived, the first thing I saw was a towering Christmas tree adorned in shimmering silver and navy ornaments, twinkling lights, and delicate snowflake garland. After handing my coat to my gracious host, I was directed to the sleek kitchen where the scent of freshly baked gingerbread cookies immediately brought me back to my annual cookie baking days with my mom and grandmother.
Now, sitting in the spacious living room with a crackling fireplace that casts a warm glow over the room, I’mdrunk on nostalgia rather than rum and eggnog and very homesick for my family.
But I have gotten to know some of the staff better and made some new connections. I met a Kindergarten teacher originally from Nova Scotia who invited me to join her book club and I made plans with a sixth grade teacher to go to a Christmas craft fair next weekend.
As the night goes on, however, the room keeps getting louder as my colleagues get rowdier. I narrowly avoid getting dragged into a conga line and am hiding near the fireplace when Jacob finds me.
“Hey,” he opens with as he sidles up to me. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a plaid shirt. There’s a necklace of flashing Christmas lights around his neck.
“Hey. You look festive.”
Jacob laughs, lifting the blinking lights from his chest before dropping them again. “When Principal LeBlanc gives you lights, you wear them.”
“Well, you’re pulling them off.”
“Thank you. Are you having fun?” He moves a bit closer and suddenly our arms are touching as we stand leaning against the wall.
“Definitely, but,” I have to pause to yawn, “it’s getting a bit late.” It’s only nine o’clock, but the party seems to be trending from festive to feral and I think it would be in my best interest to leave sooner rather than later.
“Yeah,” Jacob agrees as he straightens and looks at his watch. “I could drive you home if you’re ready to leave.”
“Tamara is driving me home, remember?”
He looks around doubtfully. “Are you sure about that?”
Before I can answer, Tamara appears. She’s lookingvery…merry. She staggers towards me throwing her arms around me and spilling her drink on my dress.
“Sorry!” she slurs before looking into her now empty red plastic cup. “How did that happen?”
“That’s okay. I, uh, thought you were going to give me a drive home?” I’m not sure why I even say it. Right now she’s not fit to operate a mechanical pencil, let alone heavy machinery.
