“Yeah, she did. Told that bitch straight up I was interested in you. But all that’s the past. I’m interested in the future… Ours.”
“I’m not sure what that is.”
“I am,” I say, undeterred by her hesitation.
“You’re so sure,” she whispers with a wondering tone.
“What’s not to be sure about? I talked to Bolton; he’s fine with it. He’s the only one I care about.”
“What about the club, my father?”
“He was cool with it, too.”
“You asked him?” she all but squeals.
“Yeah. I know the order of things.” I shrug.
She shoves my chest and storms off.
“It’s going to happen, Blue. And for the record, you’re sexy as hell when you’re pissed!” I call out to her.
She flips me off over her shoulder.
I chuckle. It’s good to see the fire in her. It means she’s think
ing about something other than that bitter bitch rotting in prison. Some people are like poison. They spread their ugliness everywhere they go. I’m happy she’s finally contained.
Chapter Seven
I’ve Got Thick Skin
Blue
I love my kids, but today I need this lunch. As I escape the classroom with a wave to my fellow teacher, Jennifer, I feel myself relax for the first time. It was like the behavioral issues came in waves. When it was bad, all the kids seemed to catch the ‘can’t act right’ virus together. It started with my overly energetic three year old, Benjamin, and spread like wildfire. Images of toddlers holding spears while dressed up like Lord of the Flies dances in my head.
I can’t help but laugh at myself as I exit the building and welcome the sunshine. I breathe the clean air, glance toward my car, and deflate like a balloon pricked by a pin in rapid succession.
Jamie leans against my car wearing designer sunglasses and a blazing smile.
“Hey, Jam, what are you going here?” I ask. Didn’t I ask you to give me space?
“Hadn’t seen you in a couple of weeks, so I thought I’d swing by and see if I could catch you at lunch time. Do you want to go for lunch?” He slides his glasses up on the top of his head.
I see the longing in his eyes. I can’t turn him away. I sigh. “Yeah , Jam, that would be nice.”
“Excellent!” He pushes away from my car and his eyes dance with happiness.
I can’t help but smile back at him. This was what drew me to him, his magnetic personality.
“I’ll drive. You just sit back and relax.”
“Thank you. God, you have no idea how insane they were today. It made me wonder if it was a full moon last night or something,” I say.
He snickers. “Maybe it was.”
I slip into the sumptuous leather of his sports car, which smells like cherry air freshener and Armor All. He is fastidious about his car, and the quirk makes me smile. So, he’s a clean freak. There are worse things a person could be. He turns on the air conditioner. I close my eyes, enjoying the cool air and the mental break his driving allowed me.
“We’re here.”