“Just saying hi. Didn’t know we’d be office neighbors too,” he winks before turning to his players. “Let’s go.”
They all follow, throwing glances over their shoulders like they’ve just witnessed an episode of some drama show.
The second the door closes, the room erupts with whispers and soft gasps, eyes darting between me and the exit.
Purple Hair raises her eyebrows. “Sooo…who’s that?”
“The hockey coach,” I answer stiffly.
“And you’re together?”
“No,” I say immediately. Too immediately.
She grins like she definitely does not believe me. The others settle in more eagerly now, watching me like I’m suddenly a walking plot twist. Wonderful. Exactly what I wanted on my first day. Speculations of me dating another faculty member, one that I can’t stand to be in the same room as.
I inhale deeply and clap my hands once, shaking any thoughts of Jamie out of my body.
“Let’s get started.”
The class begins and my heart eventually slows. I dive into warm-ups, scripts, vocal exercises. For the first time all morning, I feel like myself again. By the time class ends, several students are lingering to ask questions. My chest aches in a good way and I finally feel like maybe I can do this.
After saying goodbye to my students, I gather my things, still smiling as I step into the hallway. I immediately slam into a very solid, very familiar wall of muscle.
Jamie grips my elbows, steadying me. “Really? Twice in one day?” You’ve got to be kidding me! So much for barely ever seeing each other.
I shove his hands away.
“You need to stop being everywhere.”
“It’s a hallway, Ellie.”
“Then pick another one.”
He laughs soft and low, the kind of laugh I used to fall asleep listening to, and the ache returns.
“I heard your class,” he says. “Sounded good.”
I blink. “You were listening?”
He shrugs, jaw tightening. “Walls are thin.”
“Well, I don’t need your approval,”I snap.
“Didn’t say you did,” he pauses, eyes flicking over my face. “You crushed it, though.”
The compliment hits harder than it should, and I hate that it does. Before I can respond, he steps back, hooking his gym bag over his shoulder.
“See you at home,” he says simply.
And then he’s gone, leaving me alone in the hallway with my heart hammeringagainst my ribs.
Chapter 7
Jamie
I
don’t know what possessed me to stay and listen to her class. I don’t know why I talked to her about it afterward. I don’t know why I feel like I have to be close to her. I saw her in that kitchen, in the hallway in that robe, and it was like a wave came crashing down on me, pulling me under with the tide. I don’t even know who she is anymore, yet I feel like I need to. That pisses me off more than anything, because I know I need to focus all of my energy on healing and getting the hell out of here.
