Always You(27)

“Then where? Tonight? Meet me.”

“I can’t. I have a meeting,” I lied. I gathered up my things and walked over to the door. “I’m sorry, Wrenn.”

She held my gaze and then nodded, her lips pressed tightly together. “You know, in three weeks, you won’t be my teacher anymore,” she muttered sullenly. And just like that, she’d reverted back to the eighteen-year-old child she was.

“No, but I still would have been someone you trusted who abused his power. And think about it. How’s it going to look? That we ‘suddenly’ decide to date as soon as my contract is over? Come on, Wrenn. Nobody is stupid enough to believe that bullshit.” I was being harsh, but she just wasn’t getting it.

“I don’t give a damn what everyone thinks,” she retorted, her voice rising.

“Really? Not even your aunt?”

She shut her mouth and glared at me for a moment.

“I have to go, Wrenn. This is for the best. You’ll see.”

***

Throwing myself down on the sofa, I groaned as I realized I’d forgotten to talk to Mark about canceling the “date.” I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall above the fridge; it was already past seven.

Too late now.

I didn’t have a choice. Getting up, I threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, not taking too much care in my appearance. A quick run though my hair with my fingers and I was done. Grabbing my keys, I headed for my car, already wanting the night to be over.

***

Mark’s text said to meet them outside the steakhouse in town. It was pretty busy for a Monday night. The place was as corny as you could get, with stuffed animal heads adorning the walls and the waitresses dressed up as cowgirls, but they apparently did the best steak in the county. I spotted Mark and Shelly at a booth, with them an attractive blonde woman who looked around my age.

“Hi guys,” I said, sliding into the booth next to the woman who could only be Julie. She gave me a smile. She was very pretty. Her blonde hair fell down her back. She wore a black pleated skirt and an aqua-colored sweater that looked striking against her porcelain white skin.

“Julie, this is Dalton. Dalton, Julie,” Mark introduced us.

“Nice to meet you,” I murmured, taking her outstretched hand. She smiled at me. “And lovely to see you again, Shelly.”

Shelly smiled at me, her hand casually draped over Mark’s.

“So, you’re a teacher too?” Julie asked.

I nodded.

“I don’t know how you handle all the hormones,” she chuckled. “And being so attractive, I bet all your students have crushes on you.”

“Maybe one or two,” I admitted awkwardly, trying to laugh off the uncomfortable weight sitting on my chest.

“I don’t know what’s so special about him,” grumbled Mark, which earned him a smack across the ear from Shelly. “What?” he protested.

Mark was right: Julie was funny, friendly, and very attractive. She would have been perfect if I was interested in dating.

And if I wasn’t already in love with someone else.

Holy shit, where did that come from? I was in love with her? Not that it changed anything. We couldn’t happen. Not now, not in a month. Not ever.

***

I went through the motions of the date, from pretending to listen to asking questions to laughing when she made a joke. At one point I saw Mark and Shelly exchange a look, one that read ‘this is going really well!’

By that point I was already planning on what I’d say to Mark. I’d just come out of a long-term relationship. She’d hurt me pretty bad, and I wasn’t ready to move on...Blah, blah, blah.

Glancing at my watch, I was surprised to see it was only eight. Fuck. It felt like I’d been sitting here for hours. My mind drifted to Wrenn. What was she doing right now? Probably lying down on the sofa watching a horror movie. I smiled at the thought. That was exactly where I’d rather be right now; curled up with Wrenn, watching movies while moving her hair aside and kissing her neck.

Why did my head always wander back to her?





Chapter Eighteen


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Wrenn

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“Come on, it’ll do you good.” Kass grabbed hold of my arm and dragged me inside the restaurant. The place was packed. The last thing I felt like doing was going out, but Kass had insisted. I stood next to her while she organized a table for us. I scanned the faces, hoping there wasn’t anyone from school there. That was all this day needed. Then I spotted him.

You’ve got to be kidding me. He was on a f*cking date. I studied the blonde, picking out every negative thing I could find about her, which didn’t amount to much. She was pretty, well-dressed, and she laughed a lot. I hated her already.

“I can’t be here,” I mumbled to Kass, trying to push my way past her. She followed my gaze, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. She stopped me as I went to walk out.

“No,” she said, a smile twitching on her lips. “I have an idea.” She whipped out her phone and sent a text. “Can you make that a table for four please? Preferably over there.” She pointed in the direction of Dalton.

What the hell was she doing? My expression must have been uneasy, because she touched my arm, her eyes softening.