Chapter 12
Zack
I’d been smiling all day. I knew I couldn’t pull her after every class, but once and a while wouldn’t hurt. The kids were so invested in what they were doing they’d hardly notice her sneaking off with me after class from time to time.
Pulling into the parking lot behind my apartment building, I shut off the engine and sighed. There would be dozens of papers for me to mark. I had the students keep them relatively short, just a few thousand words and my assistant helped go through the papers that I wouldn’t have time for. Generally, I read the ones who had the highest marks in my class and the lowest marks, my assistant would get the vast majority of the ones in the middle.
Getting out of the car, I made my way into the building, which was securely locked, and to my floor. Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I pulled up Sophia’s name.
Zack: Hey beautiful, how were your classes?
There was a beep sound followed by a woman’s voice. “Why text me when you can just ask in person.”
Looking up, I laughed. “What are you doing here? And how did you get in?”
She grinned the devilish gleam carrying all the way to her dark eyes. “I have my ways.”
“Did you con some poor sap into letting you in?”
Her Cheshire cat grin widened. “Excuse you! I didn’t con a soul. I just told one of the guys coming inside that I forgot my card and told him my apartment number- ”
“You mean my apartment number.”
“Yeah, that’s what I meant. And then I asked very nicely if he could let me in so I could wait for my boyfriend to get home so I wasn’t stuck sitting on the sidewalk. We wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea about me. He offered to let me wait in his place, but I told him you’d be along shortly.”
“That was so kind of him.”
She shrugged, pushing herself to her feet. Closing the distance between us, she wrapped her arms around her neck and pressed her body flush against mine. Still smiling her dark eyes looked up into mine. “What did you expect me to do after you went all alpha teacher on me this morning?”
“Alpha teacher. Well, I don’t know about that.” Regretfully, I stepped out of her embrace. We may be in the hallway, but it was better to just get into the apartment in case a make-out session began. We didn’t need any peeping toms.
Opening the door, I ushered her inside. “You know I don’t have any groceries here – or at least very little. But we can order in if you like? It’s not exactly exciting, but perhaps we can drive somewhere on the weekend and have a date out in public?”
“Now that sounds incredible. No hiding or sneaking around. Being able to hold your hand and share a tub of popcorn.”
“We could do all those things. Anything your heart desires.” Her exuberance made me feel young and optimistic despite my previous objections to us pursuing a relationship. This could work and was working. It was difficult in many ways, but if that’s what it took for love, then so be it.
Was it love?
I looked at her from my spot in front of the refrigerator, she’d seated herself at the table and seemed just happy and content to be here with me. It felt nice. It made me feel things that I’d honestly never felt for a woman before.
Opening the fridge, I grabbed a couple of bottles of water and closed it with my foot bringing them to the table with me. Sitting down across from her, I slid a bottle to her and then pulled my phone from my pocket and slid that over to her as well. “Open the delivery app and order whatever you want for supper.”
“Wow, allowing me access to your phone and the power to make your food selections. I’m feeling like our relationship just took a step into the serious department. Next thing you know I’ll be picking out the dishes and new linen,” she teased, giving me a wink before looking down to the phone and finding the desired app.
“Well, I don’t know if we’re quite to that point yet. We’ve only known each other a few months.”
“A few glorious months,” she corrected me emphasizing the word glorious.
I’d give her that. “I’ll concede that they’ve been amazing. We may not have been in a relationship through most of it, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’d felt there was something there even when I was trying to keep things platonic.”
“Are you good with Chinese?” She asked after a few minutes of searching.
“Whatever you want. I’m not a picky eater. We weren’t rich growing up so I learned pretty quick that whatever was on the table got ate – no exceptions.”
“That’s sad. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was a great childhood. Money doesn’t always equate to happiness, although I imagine it certainly helps.”