See Me After Class(81)

Walker nods. “He wants to claim you but won’t let himself.”

“Well, that’s bullshit, then,” I say, crossing my arms. “Why do I want to be involved in his emotional instability?”

“You don’t.” Walker tilts his drink back and sets the glass on the table. “You did the right thing, walking away, going on this date with me.”

“It’s not really a date.” I smile at him.

“He doesn’t know that. All he knows is that you’re out with another man. A man who could possibly encroach on his territory. If I were him, I’d be pacing my goddamn house right now, vibrating with anger.”

“He doesn’t have a right to be angry.”

“Nope, he doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be.” Walker shrugs. “Don’t try to think on it too much, because it won’t make sense to you. Unless you live inside our heads, it’ll never make sense.”

He’s not wrong. Guys are weird creatures. Walker is really sweet, and despite his tough-guy fa?ade, I like that he’s showing me inside his mind. Although, as he noted, I pose no threat.

“So what do I do, then?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” I ask as our food is delivered to our table. Walker went with the filet and a side of vegetables, while I chose the salmon on mango rice.

He picks up his fork and knife. “Yup. Nothing. From experience, I can tell you, pushing him for more will only push him away.”

“So what am I supposed to do? Just sit back and wait until he pulls his head out of his ass? What if he never does? I’d be wasting my time.”

Walker pauses mid-cut of his meat and looks up at me. “Is that how you feel? Like he’s wasting your time?”

“Is he not? Dragging me along with no thought of even exploring a relationship? That’s stringing someone along, Walker. Is that what you’re doing with your girl?”

He sets his silverware down on his plate and moves his hand over his jaw. “No, I don’t think so. If she was teasing me like this guy is teasing you, knowing it could go nowhere, I’d be pissed off. And I certainly wouldn’t do that to her. We haven’t done anything intimate. Just work side by side.”

“But you can’t stop thinking about her?”

“Yeah.”

“And you think there’s attraction on her side?”

“I believe there is.”

“So, you both are at an impasse right now.”

“Seems that way.”

Chuckling, I drive my fork through the salmon, scooping up some of the meat. “Aren’t we a pair?”

He shakes his head in laughter. “We are.”





“Chocolate makes all the worries temporarily go away,” I say, scooping up some of the fudge from the lava cake and bringing it directly to my mouth.

Even though he’s on a strict diet, Walker indulged tonight as well, splitting the lava cake with me. “So, what are you going to do?”

We spent the entire night talking through our options, discussing our different situations, how we could possibly make them work or not work. How we’d feel if they didn’t work out. Would we be upset walking away? Or would we get over it? I don’t know about Walker, but I have my answer.

“Walking,” I say, before pulling my fork past my lips again to collect any leftover chocolate.

“You’re not going to wait?”

I shake my head. “No. I’m glad you helped me understand his possible motives, but honestly, I’m not here for complicated. I came to Chicago to start a new chapter, to be the best teacher I can be, and to help my volleyball team win a state championship. Even though I think I could like Arlo, his mood swings are unpredictable. And . . . I’m not sure he’d ever offer a deep, emotional connection. I don’t think I’m ready to take on anything that’s going to reduce my emotional wellness.”

He nods.

“Does that answer scare you?”

He shakes his head. “I’m at a stalemate with my situation. She works for the Bobbies; I’m a player. The only way we can be together is if she gives up her job, and I’d never ask her to do that.”

“Is she willing to do that?”

“It’s not an option,” Walker says matter-of-factly, and I don’t argue.

“So, then . . . should we have given this a shot?”

He laughs and so do I. “I think we’re too far gone on emotional humiliation to even consider it.”

“I wouldn’t say what we went through was emotional humiliation. More like bonding.” I hold up my wine glass. “To new friends.”

He smirks. “To new friends.”

We clink our glasses and then finish our lava cake. Continuing the gentlemanly act, Walker pays for dinner even though I incessantly asked him to split it with me. He shut me up when he told me that he probably earns my entire paycheck for the year when he plays a single game. So . . . he paid.

We gather up our things and head out of the restaurant. Once outside, I turn to him and say, “Even though this isn’t how Jason hoped for things to go, I’m really glad we went out. It’s given me peace of mind. I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about this.”