Page 32 of Color of You
“Back it the fuck up,” Scarlet stated.
I held my breath.
“You’re dating theparentof yourstudent?”
“In my defense, I met Felix before I began teaching.”
“Bowen.”
“Why do I bother calling my flesh-and-blood mom when you mother hen me so well?”
“Don’t be an ass,” Scarlet replied. “You know how situations like this end, don’t you?”
“Can’t say I’m well versed in the subject.”
“Teachers usually get fired.”
“Come on,” I protested. “That’s not going to happen.”
“No? Remind me again why your predecessor was canned?”
“She was having an affair with astudent, Scarlet. I had a nice dinner and saw a movie with a consenting adult.”
I could just imagine Scarlet—sitting on the kitchen counter because we’d never invested in a table, and smoking inside now that I wasn’t there to yell at her. She was probably shaking that cotton candy head of hers.
“I’m telling you,” she said. “This is way dangerous. I know you’re taken with the guy, but come on, Bowen. A kid? How exactly are you supposed to date around a suspicious teenager?”
“Felix is telling him.”
“Don’t pursue this—”
“What the hell, Scarlet?” I asked. “This isn’t a big deal. Why can’t you be happy? He’s suspiciouslyperfectfor me, and you’re saying not to touch him with a ten-foot pole.”
“I’m trying to protect—”
“No, you’re not,” I interrupted. “You can’t negate telling me to pursue him only after I say he has a kid.”
“I can so. It’s drama you don’t need in your life, Bowen.”
“I think I can make that decision on my own.”
“Look, it’s great you’ve met a guy who’s sexually compatible with you. But a single parent? You deal with little shits all day.”
“I like kids,” I countered. “Maybe not enough to have my own, but I’m not bothered by him having a son. I don’t know why you’re so uptight about it—you’re not dating Felix,” I retorted.
“Because I know you, Bowen!” Scarlet exclaimed. “I know that all the bar-hopping we did, all the dating sites you signed up for, it was to meet someone to settle down with.”
“That—that’s not true,” I protested, my voice failing. “I like meeting new people.”
“Don’t bullshit me. You’ve never found the right guy. I get that. And Felix sounds like a real catch. But dude. Getting involved with someone else’s family drama? Come on, don’t be an idiot. It was fun to joke around and prod you into giving it a go with him, but there are plenty of fish in the ocean who arechildlessand looking for someone like you.”
“I don’t need your fucking permission,” I said suddenly, a flare of anger burning away the pink of Scarlet’s voice. “Jesus Christ!”
She was silent for an excruciatingly long minute. “Fine.” Her tone was wooden. “Have fun. And when it blows up in your face, I’m going to say, ‘told you so.’”
“Get bent,” I answered before hitting the End Call button. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as slamming a receiver, but c’est la vie.
Chapter Six
