Wave—yes, waving is good.
I wave the most nonchalant way I know how, lifting my arm up like a limp noodle, which of course causes me to drop my phone and knock over my coffee.Perfect.
“Are you okay?” Ellie rushes in here quick enough to see the coffee all over my shirt. Thank God, it's this morning’s coffee and has already gotten cold.
“Just a little clumsy today. Sorry if I startled you,” I say, wiping the droplets of coffee off my desk into the trash can, avoiding eye contact with her. Iamthe clumsy nerd who will burst into flames if she looks at me with pity in her eyes.
“I’m more concerned about what was so funny that it had a ripple effect in here.” She giggles as she helps clean my desk.
I stop with my hands on top of my desk and look at her.
“What?” she asks, her soft eyes punching me in the heart.
“You’re just so . . .” My words linger in the air, everything I want to say will freak her out. Don’t be weird, Ben.Play it cool. “Alluring . . . ?” My brain has failed me.
She bites her lip and looks away.
Smooth, Benny.
“I just mean . . . ugh that was weird.” My face is hot. “Sorry! I meant you’re just delightful—er, pleasant—no, you’re—” I am spitting out every other word that is not normal.
Somebody please come punch me square in the face.
“Thank you.” Her green eyes disorient me for a moment. She bites her lip,again.
I can’t help but stare at her lips, then back to her eyes, now at her neck—she’s wearing a black turtleneck that clings in all the places I don’t need to be looking.
“So . . .” I clear my throat while erratically grabbing a pile of papers.Make yourself look busy, Ben.“How are things? Has Devon made it over to meet with you yet?”
“Not yet. I was actually hoping to talk to you about that. Do you have time to meet after school today? His mom came by yesterday and I just want to chat with you about the situation. She gave me permission to do so, said you were the only one she trusted to involve,” she says sitting down on the edge of my desk—a loaner desk from Malcolm actually. She crosses her legs, smoothing out her skirt, blessing the surface of the desk with a beautiful curve I have to shield my wandering eyes from.
Be a gentleman, focus on the conversation.
“Yes, of course.” I focus my attention on my computer screen, palms planted firmly on my desk. “Ms. Johnson is a longtime friend, I would be happy to meet him with you. Do you want to meet in the breakroom?”
“Actually, I was wanting to take you to Wafflin’. I’ll buy!” She reaches over and touches my hand. Surely just a friendly gesture, nothing to overthink Divata. Just the most stunning woman you’ve ever seen gently grasping your grubby hand.
Her hand feels like a soft blanket on top of a pile of wet sand, because I am sweating now. She definitely feels the sweat, no way she can’t.
I stare at her hand on top of mine, not moving it an inch. “Sure, that would be good. I will see you there.”
She gives a gentle squeeze then the hand is gone.
“Great! See you!” She slides off the desk and floats out of my office.
My throat feels dry as I slam my mouth shut.Was it open this entire time?Running my hand down my face, I collect myself, hearing snickers on the other side of my office windows.
“If you have something to say, please get it over with.” I roll my eyes as one of my students limps in, my dignity gone. Despite the walking boot on one leg, he’s refusing to use his crutches as instructed. “Hi, Garrett. How are we this morning?”
Garrett maneuvers himself into a chair by my door and drops his bag to the ground. “Mr. B! What’s going on with you and the new chick?”
“That is Ms. Bailey to you.” I eye him. “We’ve talked about how we should refer to women.”
“Right, right. My bad,” His tone is always chill andbro-ish.“What’s up with you two?”
“Nothing, we just work together.”
“She wants to work with you alright.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down.
