Page 44 of Forever Fickle

“Very,” she hissed, smiling at him. “I don’t know why or how, but it’s almost smothering.”

“I’m glad. They’ll watch out for you while I’m gone,” he began and then hesitated. “Tell me about your schedule when school starts back up – Monday through Fridays? What time would be safest to call you in the evening or should we set up a specific day?”

“I don’t know, any day after five or six should be good. Maybe Saturdays? How about Sunday evenings?”

“I like that.”

“I actually just got the school schedule online and I go back to start setting up my classroom in three weeks – and then I have a holiday here and there…”

“When’s your next break?”

“My next break? Like vacation?”

“Yeah,” he smiled, and she realized he was up to something. “When are you off for a few days in a row?”

“Why Mr. Sorensen, are you trying to plan something?” she smiled, feeling a shot of joy run through her. “I’m off for Thanksgiving – they call it ‘fall break’ here and I’ll have five days off in a row.”

“Would you like to see the leaves change colors in Massachusetts?”

Karen looked at him shocked – realizing what that meant. He wanted to introduce her to his family… and they had barely crossed the line between friendship and dating.

“Don’t you think this is a little fast?”

“Maybe…” he shrugged, but his eyes were watching her. “Maybe I want to see how you handle meeting a whole group of Sorensens at once. It might be too much…”

“Or they could get the wrong idea,” she mumbled, trying to keep her voice down as she heard Alpo talking in the other room.

“You don’t have to answer now, but I didn’t want to put that on your calendar in your mind,” Jace smiled. “You never know – I might freak out tomorrow meeting your family and call the whole thing off.”

“Now that’s not funny,” she said grimly – as he smiled widely.

“I’m kidding, Karen.”

“This is me – not laughing.”

“Wow…” he chuckled. “We are going to talk more about this later – but I came to give you my phone number because I had my phone on the charger and dug it out… and I’m already getting text messages from the guys telling me to leave you alone.”

“Oh gosh,” she sighed, rolling her eyes, before smiling. Getting out her phone, she keyed in the number – called and hung up. “There, now you can save me to your phone.”

She saw him typing… and realized it was a whole lot longer than the five letters of her first name – and her last name combined. Raising an eyebrow, she didn’t say a thing and saw Jace actually blush as he shot to his feet, shoving his phone in his pocket.

“Back to work,” he mumbled and took off, looking distinctly nervous… as Alpo suddenly appeared in the doorway, watching her.

“Don’t get too involved with him,” Alpo said gently, watching her. “I don’t mean to be pushy, but we really like you and he’s a great guy… but the moment he’s bored – he’ll be done. Hot Cakes is fickle, and I really don’t want to see you hurt, Karen.”

“He’s a good guy…”

“He’s agreatguy…” Alpo stressed, “but just play the slow game and try to take it easy – and for my sake? Please don’t drop some bomb that you’re pregnant next month… like the rest of the women around here. I’d hate to have to maim my friend – and find a replacement for my current favorite replacement.”

“I’m not pregnant, not planning on getting that way, and we need to talk about my schedule anyhow,” Karen said flatly, feeling peeved that they thought she would actually just toss up her skirts the moment Jace said ‘hello’ to her. Did they think so little of her – or him?

Was it really that bad?

“What about your schedule?”

“When does Harley come back?”

“In three weeks – why?”

---