Chapter 7
Seven
Angelo
I don’t know what came over me. I was right on the verge of asking Thomas to be my real date to the school Christmas party when I realized what a stupid idea that was, but my mouth wouldn’t stop moving.
Asking him to be my fake date is potentially disastrous.
We know next to nothing about each other, and we’re about to pretend to be boyfriends.
I should call the whole thing off. Except I don’t want to.
Even if it is all pretend, part of me wants to take the opportunity to touch Thomas as if it were real.
It’s not the sort of casual gathering to amount to making out like some of the fake dating romances I’ve read in my book club, but it’d be appropriate to hold hands or wrap my arm around his waist.
My phone chimes with a message, and I pull it out of my pocket, hoping it’s from Thomas.
Thomas: What should I know about you as your boyfriend? How did we meet? How long have we been dating?
It’s like he can read my mind. I guess if we are planning to make this work, it’s probably best if we’re a fairly new couple. That should explain any unfamiliarity.
Me: I guess we should stick close to the truth. We met at a parent-teacher meeting, and we’ve been dating a few weeks.
Thomas: You want to tell people you’re dating a student’s parent?
There’s really no rule saying I can’t date a student’s dad. It might be frowned upon, but it’s not the first time that it’s happened.
Me: It’s fine.
It’ll all be fine. It’s one party. I can get this ridiculous thought out of my head, then we can go back to just being friends.
After all, there’s no issue with our being book club buddies.
There may be some lines crossed this weekend, but knowing my luck, it’ll go horribly wrong, and I’ll be reminded of exactly why we shouldn’t date.
Number one: he’s my student’s father.
Number two: his ex-wife is about to get remarried.
Number three: We are in two totally different parts of life.
He’s a single dad with a teenage son, and I’m not looking for anything serious. Though from how he talks about dating, it doesn’t sound like Thomas is either. No, focus Angelo, this is going to blow over. My phone chimes again.
Thomas: Wanna meet up for lunch? It might be easier to make plans in person.
It’s been a few days since we saw each other at the book club, and I do want to see him again, but it’s my planning period. I can’t get away from the school to meet up for lunch.
Me: Can we meet up after school? We can grab coffee and chat. Around three?
It’s a minimum day, meaning that should give me plenty of time to finish up and get to the coffee shop.
Thomas: That works. Where do you want to meet?
I send him the address of a nearby local shop and shove my phone back into my pocket.
As it is, I’ve spent enough time thinking about Thomas and texting when I should be focused on grading the papers that are in front of me.
The more of this work I get done here, the less I have to do at home later.
The rest of the day drags on. Students are unruly because over half of them have already jumped ship in favor of winter break next week.
I do my best to keep the chaos to a dull roar, but the whole thing is a lost cause.
My brain is fried, and I’m seriously considering calling off the coffee date, yet I can’t keep myself away.
I show up at the coffee shop at three-oh-five.
Thomas is already inside, seated at a table near the entrance.
I take advantage of my viewpoint through the window to give Thomas a once-over.
His dirty blonde hair is slightly disheveled like he had his hood up.
I can only see from the waist up, but he’s wearing a hoodie of some kind, though I’m not sure it’s warm enough considering it’s the middle of December.
I take a deep breath and open the door. Thomas sees me when I get closer, and he stands from his chair to pull out the other chair for me. “Let me get that for you, babe.”
“Babe?” I ask as I take the seat. I know the whole point of this meeting is to talk about what’s expected at the Christmas party, but I didn’t think we’d start now.
“Do you prefer something else? Sweetie? Honey? Darling?” Thomas places his hand on my shoulder for a second before he takes his seat again. I miss the contact the moment it’s gone. “Sorry, too much?”
“No, I’m good. Didn’t realize we’d be jumping right into this, but I guess it’s better that we figure this out now. I like darling, that works. Is there something I should call you?”
“How about we go with Tommy? That way we aren’t both using cutesie nicknames,” he suggests.
“Tommy,” I try it out, but the moment it leaves my lips I almost change my mind. It sounds too personal. It’d be easier to call him by a generic nickname. My eyes fall on his coffee mug, and I remember where we are. “I should grab a drink; I’ll be right back.”
I need a moment to get a grip. That, or I’ll call this whole thing off. I’m being ridiculous. Fake dating is for twenty-somethings in a romance novel, not two thirty-year-olds looking to avoid the faculty gossips. This is real life. I shake off my musings as I hit the front of the line.
“What can I get for you?” the cashier asks.
I order a gingerbread latte along with a Danish.
I have the feeling I’ll need the added burst of sweetness to get through this.
The cashier writes my name on the cup and promises it’ll be ready soon.
I stay at the counter, waiting for my order as I think about my situation.
It’s not like I haven’t gone to these parties by myself in the past, but I already know that’s not why I’m going through with this.
No, the reason I’m participating in this facade is sitting at my table waiting for me.
“Angelo,” a barista calls out, placing my drink on the counter.
“Thanks.” I grab my drink and pastry and make my way back to Thomas. “So, what do you want to know?” I ask as I take my seat. As odd as my reality has gotten, I’m committed to it.
Thomas grins at me as he takes a sip of his coffee. “Right, you mentioned we’ll say we’ve been dating a few weeks, that makes sense, but I’m guessing we’ll want to say we’ve known each other a bit longer.”
“We can say we met at the beginning of the school year. Then you showed up at my book club, and we just hit things off.”
“Stick close to the truth? Got it. I like it. Makes it easier to remember. What’s the deal with this party, anyway? I mean, if you don’t mind my asking.”
“Just trying to fend off the wolves. I know they mean well, but it gets to be too much when all the women try to hook me up with their gay brother, or cousin, or hairdresser.”
Thomas laughs. “I can see that. And I’m happy to help, just want to know what I’m getting myself into.
“Oh, it’s nothing too serious.” I shrug. “Just not something I want to deal with. I’m sure you get it considering your situation with Eric. I’m just not looking to discuss my dating life with my coworkers. It’s easier this way.”
Thomas grins and scoots closer to me, then places his hand on my thigh. “Got it, and how do we feel about PDA?”