Page 40 of Meet the Teacher

“Hi Liam. Sorry I hadn’t responded to your text yet. I’ve had a busy day,” I say staring at Zayn with a smile.

“Oh, it’s not a big deal. I’ll make it quick. Just wanted you to hear it from me first, but . . . well, I’m engaged.”

I begin to choke. “I’m sorry—what? Did I mishear you?” My eyebrows make their way up my forehead as I look at Zayn like I can’t believe what I just heard. He mouths a “what?” but I just shake my head in response, signaling he’s never going to believe it either.

“Uh, no. I’m engaged. To a woman named Leah actually. I realize it seems pretty quick, but as they say, when ya know, ya know, right?”

I freeze as I’m brought back to awareness, feeling completely sober. What a literal buzzkill Liam continues to be, even after our marriage. I realize I should probably respond so I exhale and say, “Wow, that’s awesome. Congratulations. Wishing you both the best of luck.” All these years in customer service and teaching, I’ve definitely learned how to feign happiness. Internally though, I can’t help but think,sorry, what? How could you? What an asshole!

“Uh, thank you, Autumn. I really felt it best that you’d hear it from me first,” he says.

“Understandable. I appreciate that,” I tell him.Do I, though?

“Cool. Well, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Sounds good. Bye,” I say and hang up right before the floodgates of my eyes open to release all the pent-up tears. I let them flow and place my head in my hands.

As I start to ugly cry, I feel Zayn’s hand on my back. “Rough call, huh?” I hear him ask me.

My tears continue to rain down on my hands for a few seconds longer before I finally wipe them away. A shaky, deep breath escapes my lips. “Yeah, it was Liam.” I pause to swallow before adding on, “He called to tell me he’s getting married.” More tears try to break through the dam, but I force them back and look up at Zayn.

He leans in and gives me a big squeeze, his arms feeling like a weighted blanket. Closing my eyes, I allow myself to breathe in his dark, woodsy scent.He smells so good.

Zayn interrupts my thoughts when he clears his throat and says, “Shit, Autumn. I’m so sorry. I don’t really know what to say.” He slowly releases me. I want to tell him—beg him—not to let go, but I stay silent. I lunge forward a bit, longing to feel his arms again. Fortunately, my mind resists the urges my body keeps having.

I shrug. “It’s fine.”

“Autumn, don’t be silly. It’s not fine. You two just got divorced a few months ago and he’s already engaged to someone else? What a dick move! That’s unbelievable.” Zayn stands up, his brows furrowed. He puts his hands in the pockets of his hoodie.

“I—I just don’t even have the words. He clearly cheated on me or at least moves on super fast. Screw him. He’s such a jerk!” I allow the anger in me to come out through my words.

I pick up my last bit of taco from the plate next to me. “What you don’t know though is . . .” I leave him on a mini cliffhanger to take a bite of the taco. “Liam and I have really been going through the motions for quite some time. Even if he didn’t cheat on me, I can see why he’s moved on so quickly. For the past two and a half or three years, we were basically nothing more than roommates who argued all the time and sometimes went out together.” It shocks me that I finally admitted those feelings after all this time of suppressing them.

“Oh, really? I had no idea things were that bad with you guys,” he says.

“Well, how could you know? How could anyone? I’ve been living all the way out in Greenwich for quite some time now,” I say. Then it hits me. My sister must’ve told him about us. A debate of whether or not to ask him about it starts playing in my head. I cave in. “Did Summer ever talk to you about me and Liam?”

He looks away for a moment and runs his hand through his hair. “Um, yeah . . . she did. I asked about you a few times since you left. Never wanted to pry, since I knew if you ever found out I was asking about you, you’d probably hire a hitman.” His eyes meet mine and we both smile. This simple exchange between the two of us sends a tingle through my body. “Anyway, why don’t we get you back home?”

I nod in agreement, reaching for the final bite of the taco and savor it. I rise to my feet and bring my paper basket over to the trash can. When I head back to Zayn, I realize I’m not yet ready to go home.

“Would it actually be alright with you if we keep walking a bit more? I want to clear my head and stay outside for now,” I explain.

Zayn looks a bit surprised but doesn’t question me. “Sure. Let’s head this way,” he says, gesturing toward the right of us.

I agree and we start to walk side-by-side along the sidewalk. Our hands occasionally brush against each other’s, and I find myself wishing he’d reach out and grab mine. The news of Liam must be affecting me pretty bad if I’m even considering allowing Zayn to touch me. Again.

He starts to ask, “So, what do you . . .” but his voice trails off. I follow his gaze forward to a fountain in the middle of Sand Dune Park. How have I forgotten about Fish Fountain? It’s been a landmark here since before I was born, and Summer and I with our friends used to come down here and hang out on the park benches near it all the time. In fact, it dawns on me that Zayn and I once walked past it on a date in high school. We both tossed pennies into the fountain and made wishes. Mine wasI wish to be with Zayn forever.Hah. That one clearly didn’t come true.

I shake my head, trying to escape the memory and notice Zayn looking at me. “Hmm, instead, I’d love to offer you the chance to complete one more item from the WOLO list for the night. You game?”

I contemplate it for a moment. I am getting tired, but I’m enjoying Zayn’s company more, and now I’m about to be able to check off yet another item on the list. “Why not,” I agree with a smile. “Let’s do it.”

We both start to run towards the fountain at the same time. “Last one there is a rotten egg!” I yell out to him as if I’m one of my students. He pauses and flashes me a goofy grin. My heart beats faster, and it’s not just from the running.

As we approach the fountain, he looks at me while whipping off his socks and shoes. I do the same. “You meant last oneinthe fountain is a rotten egg, right?”

“Sure did,” I say, stripping off my socks and rolling up my pants to my knees. Zayn does the same. I take off my sweater as he his hoodie off, tossing it on a bench nearby. Despite the chill in the air, the adrenaline that pumps through my body warms me. As we continue to race, my eyes squint at him and he does the same. Reaching the fountain simultaneously, we both put one foot in the water. It’s freezing cold.

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