How the fuck do I explain that without admitting it fucking sucked?
“Wait. She’s the one from The Charming Bull, isn’t she?” Elliot interjects. “Didn’t she go to the bathroom and never come back?”
“Thank you for that,” I grate out, glaring at my friend while cursing my fucking luck.
“Shit. She ghosted you?” Fletcher asks.
Sighing, I nod. “Yeah. And apparently, she also happens to be my new neighbor.”
“Fuuuck,” Fletcher says, shoving his hands in his pockets. “But wait. How is she…”
Gesturing toward the front of the cafeteria, I say, “Well apparently, she’salsoEllis’s teacher for the next three months,” I finish as the events from the past week and this morning all come together, leaving me to wonder how the hell the rest of the school year is going to pan out given that I’ve almost kissed my daughter’s teacher…and she rejected me.
Henley lets out a low whistle. “I’m still trying to process the fact thatyoualmost hooked up with someone.”
I push a hand through my hair again, not even worried about what it looks like anymore, since this entire day just turned into a shit show of epic proportions.
“He was supposed to be there to supportme, and then he ends up being the one to hit it off with someone,” Elliot says.
My eyes find his. “Hey, Iwasthere for you. It’s not my fault that your dick is broken and mine’s not. But again… We didn’t even kiss. She left when we almost did.”
“Maybe your breath smelled bad,” Henley offers.
I shove his shoulder. “Fuck you. That wasn’t it.”
But the truth needles at me anyway. Hell, it’s been over a week and I’m still wondering what happened. I thought we were on the same page. But apparently, I’ve been out of the dating game for so long I can’t even read the signals anymore. And after I got home, that familiar guilt from wanting someone else crept up like it always does.
Elliot glares at me. “My dick isnotbroken, and would you mind shutting the fuck up about it?”
Fletcher and Henley look toward one another. “What the hell did we miss?” Fletcher asks.
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Look, this isn’t the time or the place to have this conversation, so can we all just take a seat and get through this day, please?”
“Fine. But you’re telling us more during blackjack tonight,” Fletcher says, nudging Henley’s arm with his shoulder. “This is what happens now that we’re in relationships. Elliot is having problems with his dick, Rhonan’s actually talking to women, and we know nothing about it.”
“I haven’t had enough coffee or sleep to handle the three of you this morning.” Before they can say anything else, I head toward the row where Laney, Dilynne, and Henley’s girlfriend, Elodie, are seated.
But when I turn to take my seat, I lock eyes with Vienna.
That’s when I see the same stunned disbelief I’ve been dealing with written all over her face. Those green orbs of hers grow so wide, you’d think she just saw a ghost. Her hand lands on the center of her chest and her mouth falls open, but she doesn’t move.
We’re both frozen.
Yeah, sweetheart.
Good luck running away this time.
Chapter 4
Vienna
One Choice Can Come Back to Haunt You
“Are you all right?” Stacey, one of the other kindergarten teachers, comes over to me while I’m still staring across the cafeteria at Rhonan.
Once I pick my jaw up off the floor, swallow the drool in my mouth from seeing him in his uniform, and clear my throat, I’m able to finally form some words. “Oh, yeah! Just great!”
“You sure? You looked surprised. Did you see someone you know or something?”
