Chapter 9
Bri
“Just because spring break is coming doesn’t mean you can slack off,” I cautioned my sixth graders. “You’ve got some pretty big tests on Friday.”
I grinned at them. “But we’ve studied enough today. Why don’t we go around the room and talk about plans? Are you going anywhere or just enjoying a relaxing week at home without any stress of school?” I pointed to the girl in the front left chair. “Start us off, Anita.”
She grinned and jumped up and started rattling off about a vacation plan.
I was really looking forward to having a week out of school myself.
Not that I had any plans, but it had been a while since I’d heard from Damon.
I’d given myself a spring break deadline.
If he didn’t bother us by then, we’d go home.
Besides, I’d passed my carry class and was now allowed to concealed carry a handgun.
Except on school grounds, I’d been keeping it on me, and I felt a lot better about my chances with Damon now. I just hoped I never had to use it.
The clock showed the bell would be ringing any minute. We’d gotten through everyone’s spring break plans and I’d let them vent some steam after reminding them to study tonight for their Friday exams.
I stood at my podium, making notes about attendance when the room got really quiet. I looked up to see the kids looking at the doorway and some of the girls giggling.
Turning to my left, my elbow nearly slid off the podium when I realized Jace was standing inside the door. I hadn’t even heard it open.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in shock. I didn’t even realize he knew where I worked. But then again, small town, I was sure it wouldn’t have taken him long to figure it out.
He smiled at me and my heart skipped a beat. He smiled wider as if he could hear it. I tried to warn myself not to react to his smile, but damn, that was impossible when he looked so sincere.
“Jace?” I asked. He hadn’t answered why he was here.
His grin widening, he stepped closer, about halfway across the front of the classroom, and pulled a bag from behind his back.
About the time he did, the smell hit me.
My mouth watered from the delicious scent.
I hadn’t realized how hungry I’d gotten, but the aroma alone told me what was in the bag.
There was a small sub shop in town that did an amazing steak sandwich, and I’d been obsessed with it from the moment I’d tried it.
I narrowed my eyes on Jace. “How’d you know?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “I have my sources.”
When I narrowed them further and put my hands on my hips, he laughed. “I might’ve asked Skye.” He inched forward, holding out the bag.
I bit back my smile. “Well, thank you. That’s sweet.” Maybe a teensy bit intrusive? But it was just my favorite sandwich. Not too terribly personal.
“I wouldn’t have had to ask your friend if you’d give me a chance to get to know you. How about dinner Friday night?”
“Smooth,” one of my cheekier students said.
I shot the class a glare. “You lot can hush.”
They erupted in giggles and laughter. I stepped forward. “I feel a little ambushed,” I said under the cover of the kids’ noise.
His eyes widened in panic. “Oh, no, that wasn’t my intent. This was supposed to be romantic and sweet.”
I burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, I had to give you a hard time. I’d enjoy going out to dinner.”
Holy shit. I didn’t know what might come of it, but I’d just agreed to a date. In my world, that was a monumental occasion.
His face went back to grinning from ear to ear, his smile almost blinding.
Damn, it was hard not to swoon a bit, though I’d never in a million years admit it to him.
“I’ll text you for an address,” he said. He leaned forward and put the sandwich on my podium, then waved at the class. “Have a good day, kids. Don’t give her too much trouble.”
The boys gave him macho little head nods, but the girls giggled and waved. And I was saved by the bell. The class filed out to go to lunch, and I dug into mine.
It was divine.
I couldn’t shake him for the rest of the day, especially when halfway through my sandwich, I got a call from the elementary school office asking if it was okay to give Hayden the lunch that was dropped off for her.
That sweet man. He hadn’t just brought me lunch. He’d brought some for my daughter.
When the day finally ended, I went down to the elementary school—all in the same building. The middle school was on the other side—and got Hayden from her classroom.
On the way home, Hayden chattered on about her day, telling me about something she and Tori did. I kind of tuned her out until she said everyone was so jealous of the surprise lunch she got from the office. “Did you get it for me, Mommy?”
I eyed her in the rearview mirror. “No, a friend of mine dropped off a sandwich for me. What did you get?”
“Ham and swiss. Like you usually get me at the deli.” She beamed at me in the mirror.
My chest pulsated with how happy Hayden was to have gotten the surprise treat.
“I should write a thank you note. Can you make sure your friend gets it?” she asked.
I beamed at my sweet girl, so glad she wanted to write the note. “I absolutely will.”
After dinner, Hayden played dolls in her room while I tucked myself into my bed at my parents’ house and video chatted with Kaylee and Skye.
“I’m feeling feelings and I don’t know how to deal with that.” I looked at them pitifully, and they both laughed in sympathy.
“What’s wrong?” Skye asked.
I sighed. “Jace.” I explained what he’d done.
Skye and Kaylee had both been very anti-Jace in the past. They kept telling me what a player he’d always been. I knew they just didn’t want me to get hurt. “Something seems different with him,” I said. “He’s not just flirting with me. It’s like he’s… wooing me.”
Kaylee rolled her eyes, but Skye had a bit of a change of heart. “I think people can change,” she said uncertainly. “Especially if the right person comes along and rocks their world.”
Kaylee’s disgusted face made me laugh. “Don’t try to play the player,” she said. “I know one when I see one. And you’re not the person for a player. You’re a settle-down-and-have-babies sort of person.”
“Yeah, but who’s to say Jace isn’t as well if he found the right person to settle down with? You should be open-minded. Don’t count him out just yet. You never know what you could learn about a person, but remember, they’re still a person.”
I stared at her image on the screen in confusion, but Kaylee interrupted to fill us in on her latest boyfriend drama and I forgot to ask Skye to clarify.
Early the next morning, I got a text. Good morning, beautiful.
Son of a bitch. I was sure it was Damon, but he’d been scarily absent since being locked up again. He was either moving on or plotting something heinous. But then a follow-up text came through. This is Jace, by the way.
I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. I replied to him and that began a text conversation that went on all day. I was like a teenager all over again, getting little butterflies every time a text came through.
This thing with Jace was new and different and so much better than it had ever been with Damon.
I didn’t want to put too much thought into it or create too much pressure on myself, but if nothing else, I was enjoying myself.
That night, he texted and asked for my address. I gave it to him, and he confirmed that seven would be good for the following evening.
Then it hit me that I really had a date. Terror rushed through my veins.
What the hell was I supposed to do on a date?
Friday at work was torture. Not only because I was nervous, but because the kids all knew I had a date, and they didn’t let me forget it for a freaking moment.
But I hadn’t dated since I was a teenager. Not one time had I accepted a date since the divorce. I wasn’t totally sure why I’d accepted one this time either, except that Jace made me feel things for some reason.
All up in my feels.
I’d gone over the clothes in my closet at home a million times, texted my parents to make sure they were okay with Hayden hanging out.
She was almost seven years old and spent more time playing with her toys.
It wasn’t like she was a huge inconvenience.
But I didn’t want to keep them from doing things they wanted to, either.
They were fine with it, and I had a bad feeling they were going to give me a hard time.
When I was finally able to dismiss the kids and wish them a happy spring break, most of them shot back with some sort of good wishes about my date. “Yeah, yeah, get out of here.”
Hurrying, I gathered my materials to get ahead on lesson plans over the break and hit the road. I’d prepped all day to have my things ready to go so I could slip down and get Hayden and get off campus as quickly as possible.
She chattered all the way to my parents’ house, excited about her break. We’d lined up several playdates with her friends, mostly Tori since I trusted Lisa to take care of her.
I tried to drop her and run, but my parents came outside. Damn it. “Have a good time, sweetie. Let loose a little.”
Dad glared at Mom before turning back to me. “Don’t let loose. Nobody needs to be loose. Who would buy the cow when the milk comes free?”
I opened my mouth to tell Dad to stop it with the antiquated expressions, but Mom spoke first. “You bought the cow.” She stared at him with raised eyebrows.
I gagged. “Bye!”
Dad laughed. “Have a good time. You deserve it.”
Now. To go get dressed first or nails first? I had plenty of time before he picked me up, since I’d hurried so much. A good three hours.
Nails first. When I got to the nail salon, I saw they were running a triple threat special. Facial, mani, pedi. “Excuse me,” I asked the woman behind the front counter. “How long does the triple threat take?”
“About an hour unless you want some intricate art on your nails.” She popped her gum and waved her fingers at me, showing the detailed flowers painted on her exceptionally long nails.
“Oh, I’m not fancy like that,” I said with a chuckle.
She blushed and took it as a compliment, but in my mind, I’d meant I wasn’t that high maintenance. I wouldn’t want her to think that I considered it a bad thing, so I smiled at her.
“Shouldn’t be more than an hour then.”
What the hell. “Let’s do it.”
With another crack of her gum, she hopped off of her stool and led the way. In no time I had a hot towel on my face, my feet soaked in hot water, and another lady with enormous hair was rubbing lotion all over my hands and arms.
“Hot date?” she asked.
I grinned under the towel. “Actually, yes.”
“Well, you’re gorgeous. We’ll make sure your nails match your face.”
What a nice compliment. I settled in and imagined the date as the aesthetician rattled on about her favorite dates. Once again, I went over my outfit choices and finally settled on one.
The next problem was my underwear. Good underwear or comfortable? I wasn’t planning on having him see it. I probably should go for comfy. But what if things progressed? I wasn’t totally against sex on the first date. Carpe diem and all that.
I was glad I’d picked out my outfit in my head so that my nail color matched.
I had a peach sleeveless jumpsuit that was beautiful on and flattering to my mom-bod.
I got home and after a rinse-off shower, I put it on, then stood in front of the mirror with one nude heel on and one jet black.
It took ten minutes to decide, but I went with nude and draped a towel over myself to fix up my makeup.
My hair was good from this morning, but I added a subtle peach barrette to give it a little razzmatazz.
In the end, I went with the good lingerie. I had to force myself not to be critical of my post-Hayden body, even though I was a little insecure about my pooch under my belly button.
I didn’t need to feel insecure tonight.
When I finished fluffing my hair, I stood in front of my mirror and grinned. Damn. I did look pretty freaking good.
I was going to rock this date.