“Where I lived? It was the most exciting place in town.” Paul grinned. “I took out every single video until I had to get a job there to cover the costs.”
“What was the movie that really hooked you?” I asked.
“It’s cliché, but I was a huge James Cameron fan for a few years,” he said. “So it was the firstTerminator.”
“I knew you were a romantic.”
He laughed. “That is a very romantic movie. He traveled through time because he fell in love with her photograph.”
“Oh, a lot of men have fallen in love with women through photographs.”
“I can’t believe you’re implying that Kyle’s love for Sarah Connor wasn’t pure. I mean, you have seen it, right?”
“Oh, I’ve seen it. ‘In the few hours we had together, we loved a lifetime’s worth,’” I said, quoting the film.
Paul looked at me, surprised, for a long moment. “Anyway,” he went on quickly, “I convinced myself that I wanted to be a movie star, but looking back on it, my favorite films were always historical. AndIndiana Jones.So it makes sense I circled back to history teaching once I grew out of thinking I was going to be an actor.”
“You’re a good actor, though,” I said. “I’ve seen you on stage.”
“Not good enough. In four years in Toronto, I booked three whole commercials and two whole plays. And I spent one memorable summer playing a talking lobster at a children’s amusement park.”
“There better be video evidence.”
“There was, but I had the people who took it eliminated. A tragedy for their families, but it had to be done.”
“Then I’ll expect a live performance.”
“Only during sex.”
I cackled, and he grinned.
“I got my teaching license while taking care of my father after he got sick. I could do some of the coursework remotely, which helped. And then I finished the licensing and got a job.” He shrugged. “There need to be more male teachers. The boys especially need it. So I feel like I’m part of the solution to a problem.”
“Indiana Jones is your role model, huh? Do your female students ever writeI love youon their eyelids?”
He smiled. “If so, I politely ignore it.”
“I would have been completely in love with you if you were my teacher,” I said.
He looked away again for a moment. “So can I make you dinner? My place?”
I nodded. He leaned over and kissed me, lightly, and then immediately swore.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just spotted a student. Aidan Johnson, the little bastard.”
“They can’t fire you for kissing someone, right?”
“No. I am just about to get non-stop questions about you through at least November.”
“Just tell them I was a hooker. That’ll settle them down.”
As soon aswe were inside his apartment, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and he leaned me against the doorway, hips against mine.
“So taking it slow means…” I asked quietly.
“Making out. Definitely. Come here.” He pulled me toward the sofa where we’d had improv practice. “It’ll be like high school.”
