“That’s not what I’m getting at. And I am not naive about men.” I say, my mind flashing back to college on the east coast when I finally lost the braces and baby fat and maybe went a little overboard making up for lost time. “I’m not saying Ican’tget him interested. I’m just not sure how difficult it’s going to be.”
Her eyes dance with mischief. “Well, you love a challenge. So I take it you’re planning something.”
“I’m notplanninganything.” I pause, consider, then grin. “Yet.”
Sophie laughs. “There she is. I was wondering when scheming Emma would show up.”
“I’mnotscheming.” I take a bite of the crostini. “I’m strategically considering my options.”
“Uh huh.” She pops the cherry I tried to steal earlier into her mouth with a smirk. “The fact that he told you to text him for a table and offered you a discount, that’s basically testing the waters.”
“I don’t think it was testing the waters. The whole being-his-daughter’s-teacher thing plus being way younger than him probably means I’m not on his radar. I’m not sure how to shift that dynamic.” Not that I haven’t spent the last week thinking about it way too much.
Sophie raises an eyebrow. “Should he even be on your radar? Can’t you get fired for that?”
I shift in my seat. “No, I... I checked already.”
Her eyes light up like I just handed her blackmail material. “You horny little menace. You already asked if you could sleep with one of the parents?”
“You are such a drama queen. I did not phrase it like that.” I roll my eyes. “I just maybe,casuallybrought it up with Principal Morrison during a recent meeting. Purely hypothetically, of course, I asked about policies regarding relationships with parents, and she said as long as it’s not affecting my job or creating conflicts of interest, it’s technically fine.”
She gives me an impressed look. “Wow, Em. I gotta hand it to you. You’ve always had balls.”
“I hate that saying. There’s a Betty White quote about it. Balls are weak and sensitive. You should say I have a vagina because those things can take a pounding.”
Sophie nearly chokes on her Manhattan, sputtering into her napkin. “Oh I forgot about that quote.” She dabs at her mouth,still recovering. “Okay, so what’s stopping you if you’re in the clear?”
“Nothing.” I lean back and let myself smile. “That’s the thing. I want to ask him out. I’mgoingto ask him out. I just need to figure out the right approach.”
“The right approach.” Sophie shakes her head, clearly entertained. “How much older is he, anyway?” She leans forward on her elbows, fully invested now.
“Ten years. I found his old Facebook page and it says he’s thirty-four.” I try to sound casual, like I’m definitely not a stalker. “He doesn’t really post anything.”
Sophie raises an eyebrow. “Ten years isn’t that bad, though you’ve never dated someone more than a few years older. Especially not a guy with an actual business and a whole seven-year-old kid.”
“Ugh, I’msodone with guys our age.” I set my glass down with emphasis. “Remember the last guy I dated, Travis? He played video games for six hours a day and thought doing his own laundry was an achievement worth celebrating.”
“I remember him vividly. Mostly because of the smell.” She makes a gagging gesture.
“Exactly.” I shudder at the memory. “Before that was Louis—remember, he went to Columbia and seemed so ambitious at first, but then ghosted me because I ‘intimidated’ him. God forbid a woman be well educated and have opinions. He wanted someone who’d smile and nod and make him feel like the smartest person in the room. “
“You dodged a bullet with Louis,” Sophie says, raising her glass in solidarity.
I nod, gaining momentum. “And before him, the guy who asked me to Venmo him for half the appetizer on our first date because I ate more of the baked clams than he did.”
“Half an appetizer!” Sophie’s voice rises, drawing looks from nearby tables.
“Right?!” I shake my head. “I want someone who has theirlife together. Someone mature. Who can hold a conversation and show up when he says he will and handle his own shit without needing a trophy for basic adult functioning. I’m sick of men who do the bare minimum and expect a standing ovation for it. Like congratulations, you paid your rent on time and remembered my birthday—do you want a medal? The bar is literally on the ground and they still trip over it.”
“Go off,” Sophie says. “I love fired-up Emma.”
I glance back as subtly as I can manage, catching sight of Theo chatting with a family at a nearby table. The dad says something and Theo laughs, genuine and warm, then crouches down to talk to their little boy at eye level. The kid lights up, showing him something on his placemat, and Theo nods along like it’s the most interesting thing he’s seen all day.
“Aman,” I say, turning back to Sophie. “That’s what I’m looking for. Not a boy. No more boys. And Theo Midnight checks every single box.”
“So go for it,” Sophie says simply. “He’s got you completely down bad.”
“I’m going to.” I take a breath, feeling that familiar spark of determination that’s gotten me through every challenge I’ve ever faced. “I just need the right opening. Something that doesn’t scream ‘I’ve been fantasizing about you since you showed me how to work a radiator.’”
