My heart pounds at the way his fingers rub across my skin.
“Do I make you nervous?” he asks.
I shake my head, my eyes wide open, staring at where our bodies are together, even in this little way.
“Then, why aren’t you breathing?” He smirks, and I laugh, breathing out.
“Okay, maybe a little.” I slowly raise my eyes to meet his.
“Here, let’s start this over.” He sits up straight and holds out his hand to me. “I’m Adam. I hear my daughter, Cailin, is in your class.”
I can’t help the nervous giggle escaping me as I shake his hand. He doesn’t let go and drops it between us.
“See? All is good now.”
“Except you’re still holding my hand.”
He slightly raises his eyebrows. “That I am. Good observation, Sid.”
“Oh my God, did you just quote a kids cartoon to me?”
“Sid the Science Kidis our favorite show.” He turns his large frame, so he’s facing me, his knee bent to one side. “I don’t get to know many people. I invited you here for more reasons than to just thank you for giving Cailin rides to school. She speaks very highly of you. Linda does, too. I wanted to see what they saw.”
I swallow hard. “And?” I say barely above a whisper.
“And I see what they see. But I see more. I wanted to see if I felt more, too.”
My heart stops, and when my phone rings from inside the door, I jump to my feet to get it. After I realize how silly my reaction was, I turn back to him to apologize, but he’s chuckling to himself.
“It’s okay. Get the phone.”
I step inside to see it’s Maggie calling. I swipe it on. “I’m still here. Can’t talk, but I’ll call you back.”
“You’re still there?” Her voice is loud and clear. “It’s what, past nine?”
“Yes,” I speak quietly into the phone.
“Why are you whispering all of a sudden?” she mimics my tone.
“Because Cailin is asleep upstairs, and I don’t want to wake her.”
“Wait.” She pauses, and I can only imagine her holding up her hand out in front of her. “You’re thereafterhe put her to bed?”
“Yes. We’re sitting outside, talking. You interrupted us.”
“I hate you, you know that, right?”
I laugh through my breath. “Yes. Now, good-bye.”
I hang up and turn to see him standing behind me.
He takes my hand in his. “I’m sorry if I was too forward before. I’d like to get to know you better. If that’s okay with you.”
I tightly close my lips, trying to hold in my emotion, and nod. “I’d like that.”
He lowers his head to catch my eyes better. “I’m just Adam Tyler. Nothing else. Especially when we’re here.” His eyebrows rise slightly. “Do you think you can see me that way?”
I stand up taller, exhaling before letting it all out. “I’m sorry. It’s just … there’s a lot going on in my head, and I’ve been following you for years. It’s just weird how I’m here all of a sudden.”
