We dodge kids transferring between classes as we head down the hall, and when we reach the library, she grabs my wrist, then leans in to me, whispering, “I would demand you to call me tonight to tell me how it goes, but honestly, I hope you’re way too occupied with his penis.” She laughs when I blush, then lets me go, calling over her shoulder as she walks off, “Don’t forget what I said about wowing him.”
I don’t reply to her; instead, I unlock my cell phone, then send an SOS to my sisters in our group chat, asking them for advice on what to wear out to dinner with Aiden tonight. Before I even have my stuff tucked away in the bottom drawer of my desk, they are messaging back one after another. All of them ask what the hell happened since the last time we spoke about him—the last time being when I told them about the incident outside my house.
With no time to explain things right now, I message back, letting them know I’ll call when I’m driving home after school but remind them of the reason I texted before I tuck my cell away for the rest of the day. Unlike me, my sisters never believed that Aiden was Mike, especially after talking to our cousins, who had spent time with him in Florida.
But they did think it was kismet that I met him in real life. So when I told them about him showing up at my house and me basically accusing him of playing games, they were all supportive of my decision but still doubtful I made the right choice.
“Ms. Mayson?” Sasha, a cute girl who reminds me of Nalia, calls when the final bell rings for the day, and I focus on where she’s seated with a group of students working on a history project.
“Yes.”
“Is it okay if we stay for fifteen more minutes to finish this up?”
“I’ll be here for another half an hour, so you guys have time,” I tell her, and she smiles at me while the boy next to her nudges her elbow with his. When she turns to look at him, he says something that I can’t hear, but I can see the adorable way she blushes under his gaze.
Dragging my attention off of them, I gather books that need to be put back in place and cart them down one of the first rows of books. But I stop halfway down the aisle and press my lips together when I see two kids I don’t recognize pressed up against the end of the bookcase, making out.
“Seriously, you guys?” I sigh, and the two of them jump away from each other so quickly that the boy ends up backing into the bookcase that is against the wall, hitting it with so much force that it wobbles, sending a few books tumbling to the ground.
“I’m sorry—so sorry.” The boy drops to pick up the books that fell off the shelf, while the girl attempts to sneak off.
“No ma’am,” I call to her back, sounding way too much like my mother, and her shoulders slump. “Come back here and help him clean this mess up.”
“Sorry.” She turns to face me, with her cheeks so red it looks painful.
“Please don’t tell our parents,” the boy pleads while looking up at me from where he’s crouched.
“I have to tell the principal about this incident,” I let them know as I straighten out a row of books.
“Aw, man, come on. We weren’t really doing anything.”
“You were hiding in the library and making out, and I don’t even know when you snuck in here. Plus, I’m sure the two of you know the school policy on kissing.”
“Ugh, I’m so going to get grounded,” he groans, while the girl bites her lip but keeps quiet. Really, I feel bad that I have to rat them out, but like them, I know the rules. And where they might get detention, I’d likely lose my job if I didn’t say anything and someone found out.
When they finish cleaning up, I walk the two of them to the desk and take their names, then send an e-mail to the principal, letting her know about the incident. By the time I’m done, Sasha and her group are gone, so I close everything down, then gather my stuff before I leave and lock up the library.
I get to my car and pull out my cell phone, finding that my sisters have been busy while I’ve been at work. Not only are there tons of outfit ideas for this evening, but there is also a long conversation about what they think went down between Aiden and me. And I’m actually shocked by how accurate they are in their assumptions.
In one form or another, they all said he showed up at my house, making it clear he’s not letting me get rid of him so easily. The only thing they all got wrong is his coming over leading to us ending up in bed together. But remembering the way he kissed me not once but twice, I know that could have been the outcome if I hadn’t let that voice in the back of my head freak me out.
On the way to my house, I try to call them like I said I would, but not one of them picks up, and I find out why when I get home ten minutes later and spot a long row of cars parked in front of my house.
Pulling into my driveway, I get out and head up the walkway carrying my bag, and before I even get to the porch, the front door swings open. My sister, April, is watching me with a smile on her face, while her hands rest on her belly, which has grown round the last few months.
“I used the key you gave me to let us in,” she tells me, and I nod as I head up the steps, then give her a long hug. I’ve missed her, and it sucks that I don’t see her as much as I used to, since she got married. Really, that’s the case with all my sisters. We are all still close, but everyone is so busy with husbands and kids now that making time to just hang out isn’t as easy as it used to be.
“Yay, she’s here!” December shouts as I let April go, then June and July come down my hall, with Cooper bouncing at their feet, wanting to get in on the action as they wrap their arms around me.
“We wanted to come help you get ready, and July made margaritas to help you relax,” June tells me, grabbing my hand and leading me down the hall to the kitchen. I drop my bags on the island, then take of my coat as December pours some green slushy liquid into a glass before bringing it over to me. I notice then that there are a few glasses on the counter, meaning they had a drink before I got home.
“I’m not sure that tequila’s smart, but it can’t hurt.” She passes me the glass, and I take a drink, coughing when the burn of alcohol hits the back of my throat.
“Did you use the whole bottle?” I ask July when I can finally speak.
“Not quite.” She laughs, and I shake my head at her.