Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
MICHAEL JACKSON, “THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL”
Eve
Erin was my biggest competitor in cross country, which meant she was always willing to run with me when I needed to burn off frustration. After depositing the leftover lasagna and bag of ingredients at home, I drove straight to her house because I had a lot of steam and so much to share with my best friend.
“He touched my leg!” I said for the hundredth time after telling her the events.
We jogged our usual route in the field on the south side of town.
“Maybe he had to touch it to get your foot into your shoe.”
“No. It was after my shoe was on and tied. And he just … teased the back of my leg with his fingers. I nearly dropped everything I was holding, and I had to bite my tongue because I almost moaned.” I slowed down to let her catch her breath because she was giggling so much.
“That’s so inappropriate,” she said.
I didn’t respond.
“Right?” she prompted.
“Yeah. Of course. I mean, it’s not like I’m a minor. And he’s older but not old enough to be my dad.”
And I grinned after he did it.
“He has a child, Eve. And maybe this age difference later in your life wouldn’t be a big deal, but I bet your parents would die. I’m serious. They. Would. Die.”
“Sarah dated an older man.”
“As old as Kyle?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t asked his age. And it doesn’t matter anyway,” I said, feeling winded. It had been a while since I’d felt the need to run that hard. “I totally just quit on him. I can’t go back now and beg for my job back like nothing happened.”
“Can you just imagine if he would have done more? Like, what if he would have kissed you? What would you have done? I would have died.”
I knew what I would have done. I would have kissed him back because I had been thinking about kissing him since the day we met.
“I might have dropped the lasagna and bag of groceries. That’s for sure.” I laughed.
“He’s lonely. He has to be lonely.”
I lightly body-checked her.
“Hey!” She stumbled a few steps. “What was that for?”
“I can’t believe you think the only reason he would be interested in me is because he’s lonely. Maybe he thinks I’m hot. Maybe he thinks I’m sweet with an irresistibly dry humor. Maybe he likes my cooking.”
“I’m totally not saying there’s anything wrong with you, Eve. Except you’re eighteen. And we just graduated. And he’s a teacher and coach at our school. What if he had come last year? Would you have made a case for having a crush on him had he been your math teacher?”
She had a point, but it wasn’t a good one.
As soon as we finished our run, we collapsed on the field and stared at the last bit of sunlight and an orange and pink hew in the cloudless western sky.
I sighed. “I want him to kiss me.”
Erin rolled her head to look at me, but I kept my gaze on the sky and grinned.
When I pulled into the drive and parked next to the propane tank, I could see a figure in my headlights just past the fence. I climbed out of my car as Kyle rested his forearms on the fence.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Where’s Josh?”
“Asleep.”
“What are you sorry for?” I slid my key ring onto my finger, taking slow steps toward the fence.
“For touching your leg. It wasn’t intentional.” Kyle closed his eyes for a second and shook his head. “I was tired after a long day. And I was hungry, but you threw my dinner in the trash. And my mind was somewhere else after I put on your shoe. I don’t know why I was touching your leg. But it was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
I bowed my head, fiddling with my keys. “You know, I’m a legal adult. You didn’t molest me. You’re not my teacher. It was my calf, not like my boob. So, I don’t know why you’re apologizing for that.”
“It was—” he started to speak, but I cut him off.
“If you’re going to apologize for something, apologize for treating me like a child. I know I’m young, but I’m a young adult. You’re not that old. Don’t you remember what it was like to be my age? Did you want people treating you like a child? When you graduated college and got your first job, did you want people to treat you like you were unqualified even though you earned a degree?”
“I’m ten years older, by the way.” A slow grin bloomed along his face.
“So. And what’s that look for?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing. You just always surprise me.”
“Well, why don’t you try a little harder to surprise me because you’ve been predictable so far.”
He scraped his teeth along his lower lip. “You want me to be unpredictable?”
“Yes. Everything and everyone in my life is boring and predictable. Be a little more inappropriate with me.”
He coughed on a laugh. “You mean unpredictable.”
“Same difference.”
“Uh … it’s not. But I understand what you’re saying, however, not everyone will, so we need to set boundaries.”
“What do you mean?”
“You babysit for me, and I’ll teach you things. But we don’t tell anyone that we’re bartering.”
“You mean my parents?”
“I mean anyone. ”
I knew I would tell Erin.
And Grandma Bonnie.
“Did you find someone to watch Josh until school starts?” I stepped up on the fence rail so we were closer to eye level.
“No.” He said without backing away from me. “I’ll pack snacks next time.”
“What time is your morning practice done?”
“Eleven.”
“I can go into the motel later and return by the time you leave for the second practice.”
“Then you won’t make as much money if you finish your work in less time.”
I shrugged. “I don’t pay rent.”
He eyed me with contemplation. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “It’s just for a few days. You can buy me some beer or wine coolers, and we’ll call it even.”
He grinned. “I have to draw a line. And that’s a hard one. I won’t be providing you with any alcohol.”
“You’re no fun.” I frowned.
“Because I had bologna for dinner instead of lasagna. You threw my fun in the trash.”
I laughed. “That was your own fault. Now, when are you going to teach me something new?”
Had he not stared at my mouth, my mind would not have gone to anything sexual, but he did. And my face filled with heat.
“We can go fishing after dinner tomorrow if your sister will babysit Josh.”
“I’ll ask her.”
“No.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and laughed. “You’re already failing at this. If I’m taking you fishing, and we’re not telling anyone, then you need to have other plans tomorrow night, hence why I will ask Gabby if she can watch Josh.”
I leaned forward until there were about six inches between our faces, and he didn’t move, which thrilled me. “Or I can ask her and tell her you asked me first, and when I said I had plans, I told you I’d check with her for you.” I grinned.
Gah!
Again, he stared at my mouth, and I could practically taste his lips. My heart skipped so many beats that I wasn’t sure it would recover.
His gaze inched up to mine. “Can you watch Josh tomorrow night for me?”
“No.” I grinned.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m going out with friends. But I can see if Gabby can watch him for you.”
He smiled. “Attagirl.”
“I’m going to be your best unofficial student, Mr. Collins.”
“Straight A’s?”
I hopped off the fence. “I’ve never gotten straight A’s.” I headed toward the house so he wouldn’t see me drool over him, melt at his feet, and lose all my dignity because I had an incurable crush on my neighbor.
“You’ve never had me as your teacher,” he said.
Oh my god …