It wasn’t even a decision at this point. I watched the man I loved laugh and throw water balloons with students. He was soaking wet, wearing stupid big sunglasses.
And I knew we’d be okay.
The kids were all gone,the floats picked up, and the football game from the high school would start in an hour. People lingered in the parking lot, and a lot of teachers were going to walk to the high school to see the game, leaving their cars behind. I would’ve loved to have hot cider and put on a baggy sweatshirt and head to the game with Larissa. But this year was different.
I had my eyes set on one person.
Christopher.
He was chatting with Dave when I approached, and he hit him on the shoulder and beelined for me. All his intensity was on me, and God, it made me feel…giddy, excited, ready to move past the hurt. That focus he put into everything he did lit me up inside. I loved it about him.
“Hey,” I said, unable to hide my grin when he chewed the side of his lip.
“You’re smiling. This is good, right? You forgive me a little bit?” He furrowed his brows and spoke way too fast, like he was just as desperate as I was for us to be together again. It made me laugh.
“Yes, I do.”
“Thank God,” he said, putting his arms around me and enveloping me in a huge hug. He squeezed me against his chest for a full minute, his heart hammering against mine, and it felt right—the two of us, embracing like this after a long-ass week at work. “I’m so sorry, Gilly. Please, please know it won’t happen again.”
“I know. I know,” I said, reaching up with one hand to cup his face. He leaned into me, and I couldn’t wait longer. I stood on my toes and pulled him down to kiss me. His greedy lips met mine with a long sigh, and my mouth tingled. He tasted like gum and sweat, and he gripped the back of my head and slid his tongue into my mouth.
God, I’d missed him.
“I love you,” he said, pausing between kisses. “So much.” He kissed me again and again. He rested his forehead against mine, and all I could feel was the chill in the air, the way he held me so gently, and the way my skin hummed with happiness
“I love you too,” I said, not caring that we had an audience and a few people clapped. My face heated, but he lifted my chin and looked down at me with a smile that showed too much teeth, but it was the joy in his eyes that had me tremble.
“My parents are at the game tonight. Want to go and sit with them?”
“Would that be weird, given…you know,” I said, cringing a bit. He rolled his eyes, put his arm around my shoulders, and held me tight.
“No. They are aware of what I did. How this was on me. Kayla sure gave me an earful, even when I was a total mess.”
“Oh.” I pictured him telling his parents, them sitting around with Kayla, and it made my heart grow four more sizes. “Yeah, let’s go sit with them then. I’d love to hear more about how much of a mess you were.”
“I regret this already,” he teased, and we made our way out of the parking lot and toward the main road that led to the high school field. We didn’t have a typical love story, not in the slightest, but I couldn’t imagine anyone better who I wanted to share life with.
Who would’ve thought my buddy teacher would end up being so much more?
Epilogue
Eight months later…
Graceand I showed up to the Callahans’ house bearing gifts. They weren’t really gifts though. They were envelopes that said CONGRATS and a lot of cash because let’s be honest, that was what a senior wanted. Money.
“Is it weird to feel emotional over one of my favorite students graduating? Like this isn’t my first year teaching, but she’s just going to go off, into the world, and be an adult. This freaks me out.” Grace frowned as we waited at the door, and her tight expression made me laugh.
“You’re starting to frown like Brock does. Pretty soon you’ll start dressing alike too. I heard that happens to old married couples.”
“Shut up,” she quipped back, right before the door opened and Kayla greeted us with a huge smile.
“Mrs. Anderson! Gilly! Wait. Can I call you Grace now?” She pulled Grace into a hug, my best friend grimacing, and I hugged Kayla right after. “Thanks for coming,” she said, beaming and looking so proud.
“Of course, we wouldn’t miss it. You only graduate high school once. Enjoy it!” I said, handing her the card and searching for the person I wanted to see.
Christopher stood at the counter holding a beer, his dad right next to him, as the two of them laughed at something someone said. My chest fluttered when his eyes met mine and he winked.
God, I loved him. I made my way through the crowd and he met me halfway, bending low and kissing me. “Hey, Gil,” he said, resting his hand on my hip and squeezing. “You bring your stuff?”
