I gave him a serious look. “Yes. In a reply-all message that went to the principal, the vice principal, the guidance counselors, and the other teachers in the English department.” I put my hand on his arm. “I considered walking out mid-class and just transferring schools.”
Amused, he shook his head. “Damn.”
“Now, what about you?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Something embarrassing that I learned from,” he mused, rubbing his beard. “Okay, so, it’s my first year with the Monarchs. There’s ninety of us in training camp. They make cuts in August, and when I get the call, I’m hype. I pull up to the practice facility, we call it The Lab. I park, hop out the ride… and am immediately humbled.”
“Why?”
He shook his head. “Practice squad parks in the back—past the dumpsters.” When my jaw dropped, he continued. “You have to earn your spot in the main lot.”
“Damn.”
Maybe it was the signature drinks running through our systems, but we simultaneously burst out laughing.
“I came to steal Jazz for a minute, but it looks like I’m interrupting a good time,” Aaliyah commented as she appeared with a glowing smile on her face.
“A good time is definitely being had,” I said.
“You did the damn thing with this party,” Lamar told her, gesturing around. “Thanks for letting me be here.”
“I’m glad to have you.” Aaliyah cocked her head to the side. “And I’m glad to have you putting a smile on Jazz’s face.”
His palm crept up my spine. “And I plan to keep a smile on her face.”
My stomach fluttered.
“Oh, I like that,” she cooed, shifting her eyes between us. “I like him.”
“Yeah.” Biting my bottom lip, I peered up at him. “I like him, too.”
Aaliyah squealed giddily, and Lamar grinned, letting his fingers dance up my back.
“I’ll go get another one of those drinks and let you two talk,” Lamar stated before walking away.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Aaliyah wiggled her eyebrows. “I thought you said you two were friends.”
“We are friends,” I said, unable to stop smiling. We made our wayto the dock. “There are some definite benefits that have come with the friendship though.”
“I bet!” She stuck out her tongue and then laughed. “But let’s be real, you two arenotjust friends. That man looks at you like you hung the sun, the moon, and the stars.”
I directed my attention over to where he was getting a drink. “He does?”
“Yes. And it’s not just him. The way the two of you look at each other is so beautiful. I think he may be the one.”
Stopping on the dock, I rolled my eyes. “Girl.”
“What?”
“How many drinks have you had?”
“That doesn’t matter. I’m telling the truth. I’m calling it now. He is the one!”
“How many drinks?”
“A lot, but that’s not why I’m saying that.”
I laughed loudly. “You’re one to talk. You’ve been grinning since your Cinderella moment.” I touched her hair that had mysteriously gotten sweated out early on in the night. “And didn’t you start the night with a blowout?”
