“Yes, outside of here. Otherwise it would just be considered rehearsing,” I say, my tone biting. His emotional flip-flopping is messing with me, and I can’t keep up with how he feels about me on any given day.
“I’m going to grab my stuff. Meet you outside?” Jeremy places a hand on my shoulder.
My eyes lock in on where he’s touching me and I wait for a reaction that never comes. His eyes meet mine and he smiles. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.”
I watch as he goes when a throat clearing pulls me back into the present.
“Is this what you want?” he asks tentatively. I can see the worry on his face in the way his forehead wrinkles. Is he concerned about me?
“It’s fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” His face hardens, his eyes narrowing on me.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I admit. I’m not interested in Jeremy like that, but if there is another person who can help me with this problem, I’m open to exploring it. I can’t wait around for my mystery man to step up and admit he wants something more with me.
“I don’t like that guy.” He takes a small step closer to me.
His presence fills the space between us, and even though we are a few feet apart, it feels like he’s inches from me. “I’m pretty sure he’s harmless. He’s just trying to help me, which is more than I can say for anyone else in my life right now.” My eyes lock on his, and I cringe at my confession. Why do I feel the need to share every thought in my head when I’m around this man?
“I don’t like it.”
“You don’t like what?” Now I’m starting to get annoyed. How dare he try to tell me what to do?
“I don’t like you spending time with him.”
“Well, you don’t really have a say in that.” I cross my arms, fully prepared to tell him off. If he wants to know how I really feel about him, I’ll tell him.
“Just be careful.” It feels like a plea, and I tilt my head in confusion. “There’s more snow moving in tonight. Call me if you need anything,” he says before hurrying off.
I’m left standing there in total shock and confusion. Why would I call him? I don’t even have his number. But why does he care?
——————
“I think he likes you,” Jeremy says to me, leaning over the table conspiratorially.
A laugh bursts out of me as I quickly swallow my drink. “Warn a girl before you launch into a comedy routine. I almost covered you in iced tea.”
The cafeteria is mostly empty since it’s a Friday night and everyone has better plans than being here. Except for me. And Jeremy, apparently.
“Seriously. It makes sense when you think about it.”
“Are you delusional? How does it make sense? That man has been mean to me since the day I met him. He picks on me in class constantly, eviscerates my papers with his red pen, and trades insults with me, sometimes in Shakespeare.”
“Are you hearing yourself?” He smiles, taking a sip of his soda.
“Yeah, he hates me. What am I missing?”
“Did you ever have a boy pull on your pigtails in kindergarten?”
I laugh incredulously. “This is not that.”
“It’s exactly that, except now he’s a grown-up. Samefeelings, different behaviors. He can’t pull your pigtail so he’s doing everything else you listed.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I scoff, but the seeds of doubt start taking root in my head. Is that what he’s doing? It could explain his recent change in behavior. I’m not his student anymore, and suddenly he’s nice to me.
“So about your little problem,” he says, changing the subject. “Have you found anything that helps?”
I blow out a breath, unsure of how much to share with him. It’s not like I’m giving him the cheat code to get into my pants, but it kind of feels that way. “It helps if you tell me before you touch me, so I know it’s coming.”
