Page 44 of Meet the Teacher

My hands fold delicately in front of me, awaiting her response. I peek through the door to make sure the classroom hasn’t escalated into a brawl or caught fire. It sure sounds like it has, but that’s the case no matter who I’m speaking with. The president or a famous celebrity could come talk to me and the class would still go buck wild in the middle of our conversation.

Riley exhales loudly. “Yeah, Ms. Parker. That’s true. I really want it, but—”

“Then don’t let anxiety and nerves get in the way. Riley, I believe in you. You are brilliant, talented, and from what I’ve learned through similarities with me, prepared. Let’s take some more deep breaths and get you back out there, hmm?”

“Okay. You’re right. And yeah, I’ve been planning out my speech for a while,” she says.

I smile. “You can do this, Riley. Give it your best shot. And remember, I’m here for support.”

Riley flashes me a big grin before hugging me tightly. “Thank you, Ms. Parker.”

We both head back into the classroom and the students fall silent.

“Alright everyone, Riley’s up next and she’s ready to go!”

The class cheers. I watch as she heads up to the front of the room for her speech. I notice she’s taking in some deep breaths. When she’s done, she looks right at me and smiles.

I gather my notepad and take a seat. My phone vibrates next to me, so I peek at the screen quickly. It’s a message from Zayn.

Zayn

Don’t forget about me on your blind date this week.

Oh wow, I totally forgot I’m supposed to do that this week. I stare at the message a second longer. My heart does a back flip and a butterfly flutters around in my stomach. I turn my phone over and glance back up to Riley, reminding myself to not get distracted. I give her a thumbs up and she begins.

“We’re coming over,” Mason says to me on our FaceTime call with Natalie.

“Definitely,” Natalie agrees.

I glance in the mirror, scoping out the dark jeans and black top I have on. “You guys can just meet me there; I think I look fine”

“Honey, absolutely not. No questions asked. We’ll see you in fifteen,” Mason says.

“Alright, fine.” I hang up the phone and head back over to my closet to see if anything new jumps out at me. I haven’t been on a real date in years. Hell, since I first dated Liam. And now here I am about to go to dinner with a guy I have never met before. My breathing begins to shorten, and I feel my chest tighten. “Go away, anxiety!” I yell out to myself in the mirror from the closet.Deep breaths.. It’s fine. It’s one date.

I decide to check on Quinton while I wait for them to arrive. Picking him up, I bring him over to my chest. Sure, he’s not a cuddly pet, but he’s low-maintenance and chill. While petting him, I hear a knock on the door. Before I have the chance to set him down, Natalie and Mason have already let themselves in. My lips form a smile as I shake my head at how comfortable they both are with me even with all this time apart.

Natalie sets down her bag on the kitchen counter and spots me in the living room holding Quinton. “Oh my god, Autumn, I can’t believe you’re going on a date tonight!”

Mason laughs as he plops himself down onto the couch. “I mean, she’s kind of already been on dates . . . with Zayn.”

“Zayn and I aren’t dating though. Well, honestly, I don’t know what we are right now.”

“Oh yeah?” Natalie asks. “Give us the deets, girl!”

“Not too many deets,” I admit. “But we’ve kissed twice now.”

“Oh wow, I for sure saw this coming. Zayn has always been your kryptonite,” Mason says.

“No, he hasn’t! Anyway, I think he’s really changed so we’re just sort of friends for now,” I explain.

“Yeah, friends with benefits,” Natalie adds. “Although, Mace, let’s give our girl more credit. She’s changed, too. I mean, Autumn when you left for NYU, you said you’dnevermove back here, you’dneverget divorced, and that you’dnevergive Zayn the time of day again,” she says.

“Yeah, I was super resistant to everything at first because, well . . . I despise change. Okay, despise is a strong word, but I’d say it definitely makes me feel uncomfortable. I like plans and predictability.”

“We know,” Natalie and Mason say in unison. We all laugh, and it feels like old times. It’s funny how with true friends, so much time can pass and yet it feels like no time has passed at all.

“So, why are you going on this blind date tonight?” Natalie asks grabbing my hand.

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