My gaze stops on Vanessa. She meets my eye squarely, but her expression has lost some of its insolence. “But if math still doesn’t interest you, I invite you to leave. And if you don’t want to leave, I suggest you shut up. Because the girl sitting next to you might want to learn, and she doesn’t need the distraction.”
No one leaves. In fact, no one so much as twitches—the girls seem to be paralyzed. After a beat of silence, I pick up my whiteboard marker and finish the lesson.
As I leave the school to pick up Liam, I drift down from the high that comes after a successful vent. Vanessa may complain—I more or less told her to shut up—and if she does, I may lose the job. Without a teaching degree, my position at Brookline has never been very secure.
But if I could go back in time and do it over, I’d probably do the exact same thing.
And I realize I want to tell someone about it.
And not just anyone; I want to talk to Luke. As soon as I’ve parked in my driveway, I pull out my phone and text him.
Me: Want to come over for pizza tonight? With me and the kids.
I don’t expect to get a reply right away—after all, he might be operating—but my phone pings almost immediately.
Luke: What time? I’ll bring dessert.
TWENTY-SEVEN
LUKE
“Someone looks happy,” Austin says with a smirk. We’re in the surgeon’s lounge eating lunch, and Melissa just texted to invite me to dinner.
“It’s a delicious sandwich,” I lie, gesturing to my roast beef on wheat.
“Really?” Austin asks skeptically. He’s right to be skeptical, since the sandwich is from the hospital cafeteria. The meat is dry, the lettuce is limp, and there’s not nearly enough mayo. The sandwich isn’t why I’m smiling, and he knows it.
But I keep up the charade a little longer. “Yep. Can’t beat the hospital cafeteria.”
“Right,” Austin says with a grin. “And how’s Melissa?”
“She’s good.”
“Remember, I get to be your best man.”
I roll my eyes at him. “We’re taking it slow.”
“Hmm.” Austin raises an eyebrow. I can tell he’s thinking of an innuendo abouttaking it slow, but he’s wise enough not to say it. Something in my expression must tell him it wouldn’t be appreciated.
I ring Melissa’s doorbell at six o’clock on the dot, and seconds later, I hear the pounding of running feet. The door swings wide, and I look down to see Liam standing in the entrance hall.
“Liam,” Melissa says, hurrying up behind him. “I told you not to answer the door without me.”
“But you told me Dr. Carlton was coming,” Liam protests. “And pizza.” He looks up at me. “Did you bring pizza?”
“No,” I admit. “I brought cupcakes, though.”
I hand Melissa the bakery box and lean in to kiss her cheek. It’s just a quick peck, but it’s enough to make my heart speed up. She’s wearing jeans that hug every curve, and a stretchy red top that’s somehow modest and provocative at the same time.
When it comes to Melissa, I’m easily provoked.
“Cupcakes!” Liam yells. “Can I have one?”
“After the pizza,” Melissa says. “It should be here soon. Come on in, Luke.”
We make our way to the kitchen, where Claire joins us.
“Hi, Dr. Carlton,” she says, giving me a shy smile. I get the sense that unlike Liam, she understands the significance of my appearance here tonight. I’m not here as her doctor this time.
