I feel elated for the chance to spend time together, hope swelling inside me at the chance to make things right. We can get back to normal. Maybe we just need more time—pending the universe ridding me of the lingering memory of his tongue gliding over mine, of course.
That’s all we need. Time. Time to get back to the way things were, hanging out like the pals we are.
Just the two of us.
“We’ll join you!” Benny says.
Or not.
Chapter twenty-nine
Malcolm
“Henders, if I seeyou put gum on the underside of your desk again, I will make you eat the pieces that have been there for the last thirty years.” Charlie halts the gum sticking then quickly rushes to the trash and tosses it.
“Good choice. Five more minutes, then we move on to statistical equations.”
The class groans in misery, which is oddly motivating to me.
“Mr. Geer, can we end early today?” Birdie asks behind the screen of her cell phone. She finished the pop quiz first and proceeded to pull out the device and scroll. It would usually drive me nuts, but she’s my top student. And she graduates in a month, so my tank for caring is just about empty.
“And why would we do that, Ms. Wilson?”
Setting the phone down, she levels me with a look of contempt. “Prom is in three days, sir. Some of us have very important responsibilities to focus on.”
“More important than statistical equations and probability fractions?”
The look of disgust on her face answers my question.
I check the time. With only fifteen minutes left in class, what’s the harm in them leaving early? It’s not like I’ll be reprimanded by my boss. Benny is currently drowning in prom nonsense. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to hear I let these rascals out early to tackle the never-ending to-do list Emma and Birdie seem to be creating together.
“What do the rest of you think?” I ask the class, half of them nodding in agreement and the other half shrugging like they don’t care. Typical response. “Fine,” I concede to the request. “Finish your quizzes, then get out of here.”
My school year always ends up this way—lack of interest or ambition, from me and my students. I get it. It’s been a long year, and with my B average overall, I should be pleased with how it’s all turned out. But this year has been a whirlwind, especially the last few weeks. I’m usually really good at keeping my work and home life separate, keeping my feelings under lock and key. It’s my specialty. But clearly, I have been doing a piss-poor job as of late, because my work life and home life have a rather addicting common denominator.
And that denominator has somehow grown infinitely. As hard as I try, everything is bleeding together, and I can’t stop myself from thinking about her all the damn time. I come to work thinking about Kate. I go home thinking about Kate. I fall asleep and dream about Kate. I dream about holding her, kissing her, being with her.
Just last night, I had a dream that we went to prom together and kissed. It felt so real, almost like deja vu. The feel of her skin against mine, her soft lips caressing my neck and jaw, was exhilarating and familiar. I woke up frantically searching for her in my empty bed. Again, piss poor at keeping things in check.
As the kids rush out of the classroom, I can’t help but think about my life before Glendale. It was perfectly quiet and peaceful. Being alone was my favorite thing. But the people hereseem to have ruined me. They’ve ruined my quiet, lone-wolf life, making me desire their company like the annoying good people they are.
My phone buzzes as I journey out into the hall, dodging groups of kids shuffling by, most of whom are looking at their phones and not where they’re walking.
Benny:See you in 15! :)
The text is followed by a GIF of three men dancing around in tuxedos.
Yep, we’re shopping for tuxedos today. Apparently, this is prime time to buy with prom-season sales. A bone-chilling cold seeps into my skin, leaving me feeling on edge as I make my way through the sea of people.
“Coach! Coach Geer!” Sarah Kim waves at me over the other kids’ heads as she timidly pushes her way around her classmates. No one budges to let her by.
Knowing this will take forever, I sigh and turn toward her. The blockade of bodies splits like the Red Sea when I approach. I hate admitting how much I enjoy the impact I have on these kids. One look from me and mouths shut. Change in my direction, and entire bodies shift or disappear completely.
The seas have parted when I reach Sarah, her head covered with what could only be described as cat ears. But they aren’t regular cat ears you see at Halloween. They have feathers on them and some sort of spiky attachments down the band. I force my eyes away from the atrocity. “Yes, Ms. Kim?”
“I need your help!” Her eyes are bugging out of her skull, darting in every direction as we make our way down the hall.
“With?”
