So even though I say, “Okay,” and give her a grin, I know I can’t survive just being her friend for much longer.
CHAPTER 3
Claire
The week passeswithout any major events. I teach my classes, tutor some students, hang out with Ryan, and grade. Before I know it, it’s Sunday afternoon, and I’m sitting in a stiff blue chair at the baseball game, squeezed between Zach and my mom.
Zach’s uncle gets free tickets to the games, since he’s the chief engineer of Angel Stadium, which basically means he’s responsible for the maintenance of the entire venue. It’s a huge responsibility, one that I could never imagine Zach having. I guess he missed that part of the gene pool, but he’s got plenty of other things going for him.
Zach’s leg bounces up and down. I set my hand on his knee, hoping to calm him down. He turns his blue eyes to me and gives me a big grin.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, just thinking about the, uh, app.” He runs a hand through his blond hair, looking every inch like the jock heartthrob he was in high school. “A lot going on.”
I’m about to ask him to fill me in, but Mom interrupts. “How was work this week?”
“Good,” I say to her. “Great, actually. I tutored a few students this week to help with their algebra foundations, and I got to sit in on the Academic Senate meeting.” I sit back in my seat and smile. “I really love working there.”
“That’s great, sweetheart.” Mom rubs my shoulder. “I knew you’d love it.” She glances over at my dad and grins. “Sometimes I really miss it.”
Yes, it’s true. Mom and Dad were both also—you guessed it—math professors at Coastal Vista Community College. In fact, they took turns winning Professor of the Year for the last decade before they retired. Everyone loved them. Which sometimes means I have big shoes to fill, but it also means I remind people of the professors they admired, and I can’t complain about that.
“You could always come back and teach part-time,” I say, teasing her.
“I could. But I’m not sure I could handle how much worse the students have gotten.”
I laugh. “They’re not so bad.”
“When I started, I could go over proofs in my Calculus 1 course.Realproofs! Now they don’t even know their times tables.”
I shake my head with a grin. She’s gone on this tirade before, complaining about how students’ math skills have gone downhill over the last thirty years. I can’t disagree, because I wouldn’t know firsthand like she does, but I don’t mind helping my students fill in the gaps.
Julie, Zach’s mom, asks my mom a question, and she turns her attention the other way. A wind blows through the stadium, and I shiver lightly in my seat.
“Are you cold?” Zach asks.
“A little,” I reply. One negative about living in Orange County, California—forgetting that winter exists. Today is unusually cold for February, in the low sixties, and I’m only wearing a light cardigan over my Angels t-shirt.
“I told you to bring a jacket,” Zach replies. He rubs my shoulder for a few moments then sits forward in his seat, resting his arms on his knees and paying attention to the game.
Guess that’s that. It’s the kind of familiarity that comes from growing up together and being in a relationship for ten years. He doesn’t really do the big romantic things anymore…or the little ones either. We don’t go on dates often, he doesn’t offer me his jacket, and he doesn’t bring me flowers for no reason. But that’s normal at this point in our relationship, right?
Although, I don’t know if I remember a time he was ever romantic.
That’s okay. I don’t need romance. Comfortable is good, too. At least, that’s what I tell myself. Zach is steady and reliable. I know he’s loyal to me and will always be there for me. So what if he doesn’t give me butterflies?
Our dads show up with a few hot dogs, slushies, and nachos and pass them around to us all. Finally, something to enjoy. We watch the game for a little while, me trying to stay awake and not give in to scrolling on Instagram.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Well, now I have a reason to check it. I take it out and see a text message from Ryan.
Professor BFF
Hope you’re enjoying the game. I’m gonna keep an eye out for you and the app genius.
I smile to myself and type out a reply.
Me
