Colin: If I don’t turn in my assignment, will you spank me?
Oh. My. God. No wonder the panties just melt off all the women in the room when he walks in.
Maggie: COLIN! You’re incorrigible! Good night!
It’s hard to make yourself sound indignant over a text. I can just hear him laughing with that sexy smirk on his face. No, Maggie, he is not for you! But what could it possibly mean that he actually read the book? At least the CliffsNotes anyway. I’m going to have to start making a list of reading ideas tomorrow. If he’s going to keep up this pretense, I at least want to be prepared. I pull out my iPad, good TV night all but forgotten, and start my list.
I didn’t hear from Colin at all the next night. Reminding myself that this is only temporary, I decided to meet my friends for girls’ night. My friend Izzy is hosting but I’m always careful not to drink too much on a weeknight. I cannot be seen teaching students with a raging hangover. I’m sitting on the floor of her apartment sharing a pizza and a bottle of wine. Ping.
Colin: I finished but couldn’t resistAs I Lay Dying. It took me two nights this time. I like the large number of different viewpoints of the same event. I also like how the irony of the mother starting to smell is lost on the family. Do I pass?I smile as I read the text.
Maggie: You definitely get a B for effort.
Colin: Ouch, just a B?! I’ve never gotten less than an A. I need to step up my game. Maybe bring the teacher an apple next time?
“Earth to Maggie.” I look up quickly, a grin plastered on my face as red spreads up my neck. “Who has you so enraptured?” Lily asks with a smirk. Everyone is watching me, waiting for an answer.
“It’s nothing. Just work.” It would be easier to sell this story if my face didn’t flush every time he texts.
“Because you always turn bright red when someone from work texts? I don’t think so. But we did notice you getting chummy with Colin at the party,” Izzy points out. “You need to be careful. Sorry Lily, but Colin can be a bit of a player.”
Lily looks around. “I would love to take offense but, even though I adore him, I have to agree with Izzy. He doesn’t seem interested in anything long term.”
“By long term, she is talking about more than one night. The man’s a total manwhore,” Dia adds.
“Hey!” Lily starts in.
Raising a hand, Dia continues, “But it would be a hell of a night.”
“With that face matched with that hot body. And we’ve all seen a hint of what lurks inside those swimsuits he wears in the pool. Umm-m-m!” Claire adds.
“Eww! Please change the subject off of my brother’s junk,” Lily begs.
“I agree,” Claire answers, “Let’s talk about Matt’s”.
I don’t have a chance to answer Colin until I get home. His assignment this time is Hemingway’sThe Sun Also Risesabout bullfighting in Spain. I have no idea what his schedule looks like, so I figure it will carry him to the weekend. I’m right. I’m sadly sitting in my pajamas reading on a Friday night, when I get the next text.
Colin: Thanks for deciding on my next vacation. I’m heading to Pamplona to run with the bulls. Care to join me?
Maggie: I’m just glad I didn’t have you read Dante’sThe Divine Comedy!
Colin: At least I’d be warm.My phone goes silent for several minutes before he answers.
Colin: Can I see you next weekend?I’ve thought about this the entire week. I have decided I will stick to my plan in this one thing.
Maggie: I don’t think that’s a good idea.I expect a demand or a brush-off or something. Instead I get a simple text back.
Colin: Can I get my next book assignment?Okay, apparently he is going to honor the boundary I’ve set.
Maggie: I thought maybe a larger work for the weekend.The Count of Monte Cristoby Alexandre Dumas. Are you interested? You can’t cheat with a Classic Comic.
Colin: Sure.
I can’t tell if Colin is angry about my earlier decision. I wish I could see him. His face is so wonderfully expressive, it would be easy to know his mood. I think about calling him. Would just hearing his voice make my resolve slip? I wish I could reconcile myself to spend just one night with him. One explosive night, but that’s just not me.
Saturday morning dawns bright and I am certain of one thing, I need to stay busy. I pry my eyes open to the glare of the sun through a crack in the bedroom curtains. Staggering through my house, I finally make it to the coffeepot. When I start sipping my second cup, I’m finally ready to plan my day.
I know there is a basketball tournament at the school today. I’ve been promising to drop by a game, at the insistence of some of my students, for a while. It seems like a good place to start.
