That woke her up. “Really?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Because it was released before you were born?”
“Before you were born, too.”
“And?”
“I liked it. I’ll admit, I haven’t seen it in years. But hey, I was a teacher who wanted to help kids, living in an area that experienced its share of racism.”
“All right, fair enough.”
“What about you?”
“Favorite movie? Hmm.Goonies.”
He grinned. “Good one.”
She reached out and traced his smiling lips with her fingertip. “Where’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled?” she asked.
“Canada. My parents took us to Nova Scotia when we were in high school.”
“Sounds cold.”
“We went during spring break. It was a nice change from what we were used to in Phoenix.”
“You stayed close to home. I’m surprised, after Jamey died.”
“It was a big enough place that I didn’t feel like it mattered that they were there. I had no trouble avoiding them, since we definitely did not frequent the same places. I wanted to be in the school district that I’d grown up next to. Felt as if I could do some good there.”
“I bet you were an amazing teacher.”
He didn’tquiteblush, but his eyelashes swept down to his cheeks. “I like to think so.”
She traced her finger over his jaw. “I can’t believe how much more centered you feel, than the last time we were in bed together. It wasn’t just from you being sick, was it?”
“No. I’ve changed. I don’t fear myself anymore. I hadn’t, for a while, I guess, but I hadn’t stopped to realize it, either. And I don’t fear what others can do to me, anymore. It’s…freeing. Thank you, for that.”
“I don’t think it was me, really.”
“You helped.”
She smiled, ran her hand along his neck, scratching lightly. “Good.”
“No siblings for you?” he asked.
“No, just my parents. Some aunts, uncles and cousins out on the East Coast.”
She traced his shoulder, circling the muscles of his upper arm.
“Would you ever be a teacher again?” She ran her palm down his pecs to his nipple, circled it with the tip of her finger.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think I’d trust myself.”
Frowning, she met his eyes.
“Not because of the students,” he clarified. “The administration and some of the parents. I’m not sure I could compromise enough to make that work anymore.”
