“I thought we were focusing on your feelings in this session,” JD clarifies.
“You have to admit, it would be pretty awkward to have the details of everyone’s sex lives in the back of your mind when you have to perform a classroom walk-through,” I say with a grin, and Loren grunts and crosses her arms, presumably because JD’s already traded stories with his brother.
“Then I’d better leave now, Ms. Claire, especially since you’re on my walk-through list for next week,” he replies with a silly face and an exaggerated tone.
I gulp. “What do you know?”
“Not much, other than there not being much to know. Besidesthe night you met,” he continues, clicking his tongue. “Now, the feelings part, I’ve gotten an earful on that front.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “You, too? When the hell did you and Rowan become best friends?”
“Well, I figure I have the right to befriend my wife’s work husband. But I thought you knew we were all golf buddies, now. Landry added him to our group chat and everything,” he explains innocently, but I can tell he’s growing more concerned with my reaction by the second.
“What exactly did he say?” I demand.
A crackly voice calls JD’s name from the radio attached to his belt, but he reaches down to turn it off. He glances at Loren and swallows hard before he speaks again. “He told us a little about that first night, and how it shook him after he’d been so sure he was waiting for marriage. Then he talked about how well you get along despite not being on the same page about what you want in the future, all so he could get some advice.”
I scoff. “Is that all?”
He cringes. “There was more, but I feel like you should hear the rest from him.”
“Remind me not to trust you with any more of my secrets,” Loren whispers to JD.
He clears his throat. “I’m sorry. I was honestly just looking for an excuse to bring up the chastity stuff and offer some encouragement. I mean, Lo probably has a more relatable speech on tap, but I wanted to reassure you that waiting for marriage is very rewarding and more common than you might think.”
Loren jabs her elbow into his thigh, making him wince. “You could have just told her that part, you ass,” she scolds him again, and he nods solemnly in agreement.
I sigh. “I’m not upset, I’m just shocked to hear that Rowan was willing to talk about what happened between us. I’ve sort of been thinking he’s embarrassed of me.”
JD rears back. “Uh, no. That’s not the impression he gave me at all. Or Tenley, from what I’m told. And for the record, had he saidanything to make me even think that, I’d have threatened to kick his ass.”
“How bout I kick your ass?” Loren mutters, but it admittedly warms my chest to hear that JD would be so quick to defend my honor.
He rolls his eyes before he continues. “If he seemed embarrassed about anything, it’s that he can’t get a handle on his self-control and hasn’t been able to convince you to take him seriously.”
My heartbeat drums in my ears. “What do you mean, take him seriously?”
“I guess you could say he’s hoping you’ll actually consider something serious with him,” JD replies carefully.
My cheeks heat again, and I open my mouth to speak, but I’m interrupted when the door swings open and a large bouquet of flowers appears. No, scratch that, a small shrub is being carried in by one of the secretaries.
“Is Ms. Claire in here by any chance?” she calls out blindly from behind the plant.
“Oh, she’s right here!” Loren volunteers as she darts over and snatches the card from its stick. Ms. Sam hands me the flowers, while JD plucks the card away from Loren and holds it over her head until I can set the pot down and open it myself.
“You could at least read it out loud,” she grumbles, stomping on JD’s toe and making him curse under his breath. “After all, it’s not like we don’t know who it’s from.”
My eyes skim the handwritten note.
Dear Claire Bear,
Since the moment we met, you have filled every corner of my mind. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done, and I promise to do everything I can to prove I’ll be worth the wait. Myheart beats for you and no one else. And my other parts only work for you, too.
Your soulmate,
Athanasius
PS. Have I mentioned you have a really nice butt?
