If that were true and I were the best, I’d have gotten rid of a certain pesky older brother by now.
“See you then,” I said before hanging up. Two weeks before, spending the evening with loads of people after a full day of working would have been detestable. But if they were able to take my mind off the airman I wanted to strangle, my coworkers were welcome to try.
* * *
It only occurred to me that I probably should have dressed up a little more as I got out of my car and saw Madison coming out of the bar to meet me. The once-over she gave me wasn’t happy.
“You’re late. And what are you wearing?”
“It’s only six-thirty-five. And this was all I had ready at the last minute.”
She huffed. “Well, you’ll have to do.”
“I thought this was a staff thing. Why do you care what I wear?” I wrinkled my nose at her as she dragged me inside.
Instead of paying heed, her pursed lips turned up into a magical unicorn smile as she dragged me inside.
“Hey, where is everyone?” I couldn’t see anyone I recognized at the bar. But before I could investigate, she was turning us toward a corner booth where two guys were sitting.
“I might have asked you to come a little early,” she said in a low voice.
“Wait, what? Why?”
“Since I found something to start this evening off even better.” She grinned.
“Madison, the only reason I came was because you said Sam—”
“We’ll see Sam and the others soon enough. But first I want you to meet someone.”
I stopped. “Madison—”
“Please, Jessie?” She stopped walking and clutched my arm. “I met him last week, and I really have a good feeling about this one. Like…a really good feeling.”
“And how long have you known him exactly?”
“I told you. I met him last week, and he texted today to say he was bringing a friend, so I said I’d bring one, too.”
“Why?” I pulled my arm out of her grasp.
“Seriously, Jessie.” She squeezed my hand. “I really need a wingman. I haven’t met a guy like Adam in a long time. Not since Bryce.”
I glared. Everything in me rebelled. But as Bryce had been the last decent boyfriend Madison had held in her string of beaus, for my own sake, I capitulated. “You have until seven, when everyone else gets here. Then I’m done.”
“Thank you!” She squealed and hopped up and down before taking a deep breath and leading me the rest of the way to the booth.
“Gentlemen,” she beamed, “this is Jessie. Jessie, this is Adam.” She pointed to the blond one with brown eyes and a crooked smile. “And that’s Tanner.” Tanner’s eyes were hazel, and he had a dimple on his left cheek. His hair was the reddest red I’d ever seen. Though they wore civilian clothes (or civies, as my students referred to them), their hair was a dead giveaway, shaved close everywhere but the very top, which had a near square look to the cut. About two-thirds of my boys sported the high and tight as well.
Casting one more longing look back at the bar, I took my seat and groaned on the inside. Leave it to Madison to go to a staff party and find dates. But why I was surprised, I couldn’t say.
“Are you a teacher, too?” Adam asked as Madison slid into the booth beside him…a little too close for someone she’d met only last week, in my opinion, but no one asked me.
“I am.” I gave him my best tired smile. “Madison’s room is next door to mine.”
“So you teach first grade, too?” Tanner turned to face me better.
“I will be. We’re moving up with our classes this year.” I picked up the menu. Why did I think this was a good idea? I was exhausted, and hanging out with strangers was sure to exhaust me further. I should have just gone home. Twenty minutes. I was giving her twenty minutes of this charade, then I was fleeing to the safety of the bar.
“You must like kids then,” Tanner said.
