Love In Between(12)

“You’re welcome, and you were the perfect candidate. Not only have I known you for the past twenty years, but I know how much you love children. Gretchen told me about your situation, and I just want to tell you that I’m sorry.”

I looked away and started rearranging things on my desk. “Don’t be sorry, Chris. I’m moving on and starting over. Things worked out for the best.”

“They sure did,” she said as she hugged me again. “Your students will be here any minute. If you need anything at all, call me.”

“I will,” I smiled as the bell rang, and a flock of children entered the classroom.

***

I spent most of the day getting to know the children and having them get to know me. We all had lunch together in the classroom, which they thought was cool. I wanted them, not only to like me, but to trust me as well. I wanted them to feel safe every time they walked into the classroom. The end of the day approached, and the bell rang. In a matter of minutes, the classroom was empty again. I walked around the room and straightened the desks. I grabbed my things, turned off the light, and headed home. Once I arrived at the apartment building, I unlocked and opened the door, threw my bags onto the chair, and kicked off my heels. I sat down on the couch for a minute to relax when I heard a knock on the door. I got up, looked through the peephole, and saw Luke standing there. I opened it and motioned for him to come in.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hey,” he said without even looking at me and just walked down the hall.

I rolled my eyes. I was extremely tired, and I was in no mood for his attitude.

I put the kettle on the stove for some tea. All I wanted right now was the comfort of my plush bed. As I was waiting for the water to heat up, I heard Luke yell from the bathroom.

“Shit!” he yelled.

It sounded like a yell of pain, so I walked to the bathroom to see what had happened. He stood there holding his hand.

“Are you ok? What happened?” I asked.

“Nothing, just go!” he spat.

“Excuse me, mister, but this is my f*cking bathroom, and I’ll be in here if I want to be.”

He looked up at me. “Do you always use that kind of language?”

“Yes, I do. Now let me take a look at your hand,” I said as I lightly touched it.

He pulled away quickly. “No, it’s fine. I don’t need your help.”

“Maybe you do or maybe you don’t. You’re hurt, and I need to see how bad it is. Now sit your goddamn ass on that toilet so I can take a look.”

He looked at me with anger in his eyes. “You can come off as being really mean.”

“Good, I’m glad you noticed. Now, give me your hand.”

He held out his hand, and I removed the blood-soaked tissue. I grabbed a washcloth from under the sink and wrapped it around his hand. “Put pressure on that while I get the antiseptic and a Band-Aid. It doesn’t look like it needs stitches.”

I reached into the cabinet and got out the antiseptic and some cotton balls. I could see him staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I soaked the cotton ball with antiseptic and set it on the edge of the counter. I turned to him and took his hand. I didn’t want to look at him because he had the most amazing brown eyes.

“Where are you from?” he asked out of nowhere.

“Why do you care?” I replied.

“I don’t. I’m just trying to make small talk.”

“Seattle.”

“Is your family still there?”

“I don’t have any family. They’re dead.”

I removed the washcloth and took a cotton ball from the edge of the counter. “This is going to sting, but I know that you’re a big boy, and you can handle it.” I dabbed his cut on the side of his hand with the antiseptic soaked cotton ball.

“Fuck!” he screamed and tried to pull his hand away.

“Do you always use that kind of language?” I asked.

“Only when someone’s hurting me!” he exclaimed.

“Stop being a baby and man up.”

“Don’t tell me to man up!”

“Fine,” I said.

I put the Band-Aid on his hand. “There, all better. Now get back to fixing my shower.”

He looked at me and got up from the toilet. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I said as I walked out of the bathroom.

I took a teabag from the cupboard and made some tea. I took my cup and sat down at the table. About thirty minutes later, Luke emerged from the bathroom.

“You’re all set,” he said.

“Great. Thank you. Can I offer you a beer?” I asked, not sure why those words escaped my lips.

“No, I need to go. Enjoy the rest of your evening,” he said as he walked out of my apartment.





5

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Luke



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I opened the door to my apartment and set my tool box by the closet. I looked at my watch, and it was almost time for Mrs. Clements to bring Charley home. I walked outside to wait for her. Charley takes a dance class after school with her best friend, Allie. Allie’s mom picks the girls up from school, takes them to dance class, and then drops Charley off at my place. When Maddie works the day shift at the bar, she usually doesn’t get off work until 6:00 p.m. She doesn’t work many nights, but when she does, Charley spends the night at my place.