Page 26 of Meet the Teacher

“I mean, I’m not completely living under a rock,” he chuckles. “I just think what I have is totally fine.”

“Hmm okay. Where are your CDs?”

His hand lowers on the steering wheel and he glances my way. “I just cleaned out the truck for tonight, so I took them out and forget to put them back in.”

“Alrighty then,” I say. “Radio it is!” I lean forward and turn on the radio, determined to find a country music station. When I hear Jason Aldean’s voice coming through, I stop. “Got to set the right vibe for the bar.”

Zayn nods, flashing me a big, cheesy grin. A few moments later, and we’re both singing at the top of our lungs to Luke Bryan on the radio. Feels just like old times again.

He makes a final right turn, heading onto a dirt road. I decide to lower the volume to ask if we’ve made it.

As soon as he turns a final corner, I see the jam-packed bar. He nods and answers, “Yup. Here we are.”

The neon sign, reading ‘Daisy’s Roadhouse’ flashes above us. “If I had known we’d really be going to a country bar, I’d have worn my boots.” I hop out the truck and walk around to him.

“You own a pair of cowboy boots?” he asks.

I laugh and shake my head. “Fine, you caught me. I don’t, but I would’ve bought some.”

We walk up to the bar and the back of his hand brushes mine for a moment. Instant chills prickle down the back of my neck. Zayn flashes me a genuine smile, and I swear I’m going to melt into a puddle right here.

“After you,” he says while jokingly bowing down for me to enter.

Zayn follows behind me as we enter. I look around for a little before staring at him with wide eyes. “Um, what isthat?” I ask, pointing past the bar over to a giant mechanical bull.

He releases a chuckle and says, “Thatthere is the whole purpose we’re here.”

“Shit,” I say before blowing out a breath.

Zayn lifts his hands as to act like he’s getting pulled over by the cops. “Hey hey, no turning back now. It’s on the list.”

Without thinking, I grab his hand and lead us over to the bar. “I’m definitely going to need a drink first.”

“Another Four Horsemen?” he asks.

My eyes widen as I cover my hand with my mouth, pretending to feel sick. “Absolutely not. Been there, done that.”

Zayn stands by the bar with no attention from the bartender. I scoot next to him, and he’s suddenly paid attention to.Men.

He tosses up his hands to signal, ‘What the hell?’ I roll my eyes. “Right? It’s ridiculous it’s still like this,” I say.

The bartender stands there waiting for me to order, so I get an IPA for Zayn and the usual vodka soda with lime for me. The bartender grunts before turning around to grab our drinks.

Zayn pulls out his wallet, tossing his card on the bar top, indicating with a thumbs up to the ignorant bartender that he is cool with starting a tab.

The drinks appear in front of us, and we clink them together. I’m about to say cheers when I instead, opt for, “YOLO?!”

He responds with, “Nah, WOLO,” and we both slowly take a sip.

I pause, enjoying the fact that I’m once again able to let loose. I set my drink down and ask, “So how are things at the fire station lately? Rescue any more cats this week?” I tease.

He laughs. “Ha ha, I won’t lie, things are pretty quiet on the fire side in this small town. I’m much more of a pet-rescuer, it feels.”

“Wow, I was only joking. I guess it’s kind of nice that you don’t have to put out fires every second of the day, though, right?”

He nods, taking a sip of his IPA. “Yeah, it is nice. But I want to help more. I went into this job expecting to do more than rescue cats.”

“I understand that. I went into teaching expecting to do more than herding cats.”

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