“Yousodid. And he looked at you like you’re a ghost or something. Do you know him?”
“No.”
She stares at me, her eyes drilling holes into the side of my face. “I call BS.”
I stare at the desk in front of me like it’ll offer up salvation. My body feels both hot and cold all at once. All I can hear is his voice, speaking my name, on repeat in my head. It was a beautiful sound.
He finishes roll call and sets the list on his new desk, clapping his hands to get our attention. Though he already has mine.
“Alright, class. We are starting withRomeo and Juliet. There is a box of copies at the front.” I can’t help but notice the way his throat bobs as he speaks, my gaze fixed on him. “I want youto read the first act today and take notes. We’ll discuss tomorrow.”
He leans back against the desk and crosses one leg in front of the other, looking effortlessly cool. He lifts his coffee mug to his lips, taking one slow, tantalizing sip. His eyes meet mine again, and the weight of his gaze has me squirming in my seat.
Students start rising from their seats and Sal grabs my arm. “Let’s go, Juliet.”
“I swear to god,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“What? He’s hot and bothered, and you’re two seconds away from drooling on the desk. I’m just doing the math.”
“Stop it,” I quip. I laugh, though, knowing she’s just teasing me.
We head to the front of the classroom and I reach into the box, my fingers brushing against someone else’s.
His.
I yank my hand back like I’ve been burned. He pauses, eyes searching mine, then picks up a copy and holds it out to me. I take it, being careful to avoid touching him again, and whisper a quick “thanks.”
I scurry back to my seat, falling into it with a sigh, and flip open the book to page one.
Two households, both alike in dignity…
I stare at the page like it might give me the answers I seek, help me make sense of this situation. That he is really here and is going to be teaching me.
Sal clears her throat, grabbing my attention. “You gonna tell me what’s up?”
“Later.”
She smirks, “Good. I’m so here for this. Hot teacher crush it is.”
I try to focus for the rest of class, but my brain has turned to actual mush. All I can think of is the way he held me as we danced, the way his hands felt on my hips.
I’ve searched for him on social media, hoping to run into him again one day. In all my fantasizing, I never imagined seeing him here. Like this.
3
SOPHIE
My head hasn’t been right all day. Not since first period. Not since he walked into the classroom and introduced himself as my new teacher.
I’ve been floating and spiraling in equal measure, caught somewhere between remembering that night and surviving the reality of what happened this morning. I couldn’t tell you a single thing any of my teachers said, couldn’t even focus long enough to pretend I was paying attention. My body might’ve been at school, but my mind was back at the bar, spinning under warm lights with his hands on my waist.
Then right back in that classroom the second he walked in.
And now I’m stuck in this weird twilight zone. Half-giddy, half-horrified. Because the guy I shared a perfect night with… the stranger I danced with, flirted with, almost kissed… is my new English teacher.
Mr. Hayes.
I can’t even think of his name without my stomach tightening.
