She hadn’t thought about what others might think about him being gone all night. “Oh wow. That’s going to be embarrassing.”
“What?”
“Your brother and Julie will know you didn’t spend the night there. They’ll assume you went home with me.”
“I did.” He looked like he’d just won the lottery.
“You know what I mean.” And then… “Oh no. Josh will know. He’ll tell the other kids at school that I’m shacking up with his uncle.”
“Really, Ann? Shacking up? Just what are you teaching my nephew?”
“It’s not funny. Stop laughing.”
“You want to hear something really funny? Ask me to show you my Grand Canyon.”
She tried not to laugh at that and failed. “Oh God. Stop.”
The tense moment that might have been turned into a mirth- and coffee-filled morning. Before she knew it, Jack had weaseled a promise of assistance from her and her friends to move him into his place next week.
Hours later, she ate her lunch with her coworkers, wondering how the man had slipped under her defenses. “Bonnie, am I too nice?”
Her friend immediately nodded.
“Really?”
Amy Stuart, another second grade teacher, agreed. “Nothing wrong with being nice, Ann. We need more kindness in the world.”
“But am I doormat?”
Amy frowned. “Not at all. Why? Has someone been bothering you?”
“No, just something I worry about. I don’t want to be a pushover.”
Bonnie smirked. “This have anything to do with that hunky guy who keeps bringing you flowers?”
Amy blinked. “Trey brought you flowers?”
“You think Trey is hunky?” Bonnie asked.
“Wait. How do you know about Trey?” Ann asked Amy.
“I heard him mention it to Paul and Mandy this morning. I hear the movie was nice.”
Ann groaned at her overly-innocent expression. “I went to a movie as afriend. Trey is a great guy.” She lowered her voice. “But there was no spark. Besides, if we did date and things got awkward, I’d still have to see him every day. Not a great idea to date a coworker. Not unless you’re really sure about him.”
“Or you like to live on the edge,” added Amy.
“Good point.” Bonnie nodded. “So, your flower guy. What’s the scoop?”
She wished she knew. “He’s an old friend who moved back in town. We dated a little when we were younger, and we might be—mightbe—rekindling something. I’m not sure yet.”Not sure how much longer I can keep denying I’m in love with him again. Stupid!
All the signs were there—thinking about him at random times during the day, her heart racing when he called or texted, how she looked forward to their dates. And perhaps the most telling, as panicked as she felt about him having spent the night, more than anything she wanted to feel him there all over again. In her bed and in her life.
But what if none of it was real?
Chapter Fifteen
Ann spent the remainder of her day in a weird funk. The kids must have picked up on her mood, because she had to break up several fights and threaten the class with no Halloween party on Monday if they didn’t stop the nonsense.
