Page 35 of Tinder Embrace
"It was a good conference," Jo said, "but now I want to buy new equipment. Our fermenter needs an upgrade."
I winced. We'd sunk most of our money into Pinkney Brewing, trying to expand. Slowly, we were building up an emergency fund to replace our aging fermenter, but we weren't there yet.
Was it better to talk to her about Sophie before or after she convinced me the expense was worth it?
Jo made her case for the fermenter, and, grudgingly, I agreed to dip into our savings. When it came to business, Jo had a good head on her shoulders.
"Hey," I said when I couldn't delay any longer. "Would it be okay with you if Sophie and I started dating?"
Jo frowned, and I amended my request to a statement. "Scratch that. What I'm saying is that I've asked Sophie out. I wanted to give you a heads-up so you didn't find out from someone else."
"Gee, thanks."
Jo's tone was dry as dust, and I shifted, uncomfortable with the implied censure. She was the one person I never wanted to disappoint.
"Relax, Davis. The writing has been on the wall since she bid on you at the bachelor auction."
"Really?"
Jo nodded. "I'm only surprised it took her this long to win you over."
"How do you knowIdidn't do the winning?" I asked.
Jo pursed her lips, staring me down.
"Fine," I huffed, secretly pleased by her approval, even if she attributed most of the work to Sophie.
At least now I could pursue Sophie with a clear conscience.
There was nothing standing in our way.
Chapter 15
Sophie
I mooned about at the end of class, not eager to lug my bag of papers home for grading. My apartment would be extra-lonely after my days at the Pruitt Farm. I should have kept a roommate instead of getting a one-bedroom place. I missed being around other people. Even my small apartment echoed eerily when I was on my own.
"Knock, knock," Juanita called, sticking her head around the door to my room. "We're putting together a curriculum meeting at Sing-along to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Want to come?"
"You're a lifesaver, Juanita," I said.
She scratched her head. "Sure you don't mean a bad influence?"
I grinned. "That too. But I'll take any excuse to avoid grading papers alone over a grilled cheese sandwich tonight."
Juanita tutted gently. "I keep telling you, only suckers grade as many assignments as you do. This is what parent volunteers are for, to help with some of the heavy lifting."
I rolled my eyes, used to Juanita's teaching philosophy. "Yeah, yeah. I have to know how they're doing, if they're getting it. Having someone else grade them isn't the same."
"Honey, they're eight. They've got time on their side. You, however donot."
"Who all is coming tonight?" I asked instead of carrying on the old argument about how I should be allocating my time.
"Sahar and Tom are in."
I grabbed my bag and keys. "Okay, let me stow these papers in my car, then I'm ready if you are."
Juanita followed me to the parking lot. We met Sahar, who taught third grade, and Tom, who taught fourth, and walked to Sing-along together.
