Chapter 8
Oh, Lola, you look amazing!” Lucy leaned back against the counter as her niece entered the room the following morning.
Lola attempted to spin in her sleek, black gown that tapered down to the floor and clung snugly to her ankles, making turning and walking difficult. The dress’s long sleeves cascaded down to her fingertips, stopping just shy of her perfectly polished black-colored nails. To complete the look, she wore a jet-black wig styled into straight, sleek strands that flowed down her back.
“Your Morticia Addams costume is class.” Lucy gave a sheepish smile. “Did I use that right? Is that how you say it?”
Lola rolled her eyes and shrugged. “I’ve never heard anyone say that.”
Lucy frowned. “I’m sure I’ve heard your dad say it multiple times.”
“Not really,” Lola said, reaching for an empty bowl.
“Maybe he spent too much time Stateside,” Lucy said. “He must have lost some Irish lingo because he was too busy saying things like dude and awesome.”
“You’re so weird.” Lola tried to hide a smile. “Where’s Kaylee?”
“Right here.” Kaylee jumped through the doorway, stretching her arms out to showcase her outfit. “Wednesday Addams has arrived.”
“I love it!” Lucy clapped her hands excitedly. “You pull off the goth look really well.”
Kaylee took a bow, casually flipping one of her black braids over her shoulder as she stood tall again.
Shopping the previous evening had led to the discovery of Kaylee’s black dress with its stark white collar. Neither Lola nor Kaylee had any idea what costume they wanted for today’s disco. However, as soon as Kaylee saw the dress, she knew instantly she had to be Wednesday Addams.
It became their mission to complete the outfit. Abbey suggested they go to the fancy dress shop in town. At first, Lucy scoffed at the idea, not interested in buying formal attire. Abbey explained that fancy dress was the Irish term for costumes.
The girls and their moms had so much fun going through all the different costumes and accessories. Lola, loving Kaylee’s Wednesday outfit, decided to go as Morticia Addams. Abbey talked Lucy into matching theme-based costumes as well.
“We’re helping at the disco,” Abbey had reminded her. “We might as well have a bit of fun, too.”
The coffee maker cranked to life, snapping Lucy back to the present.
Kaylee was staring at her mother with a look of confusion on her face. “What is this all about?” Kaylee waved her finger up and down Lucy’s costume. “Messy bride?”
Lucy’s mouth dropped open in feigned insult. “What? Have you never heard of Madonna? Like a Virgin? MTV Music Video Awards, circa 1984. An iconic moment in music history?”
Kaylee and Lola exchanged bemused glances, silently conveying to each other that Lucy may be a little coo-coo. To them, 1984 might as well have been a hundred years ago.
“I’ve failed you!” Lucy cried, clasping her chest. “This costume represents a legendary performance, scandalous at the time, although now it would come across as tame. I can’t believe I’ve never introduced you to this era. I. Have. Failed. You.”
Lucy spun around dramatically as she spoke, her knee-length lacy wedding dress flaring as she turned. It was much more conservative than Madonna’s original, which consisted of a corset and see-through lace. Lucy’s dress was a safer school version; there was no corset, it was longer, and she wasn’t showing off too much skin.
“I haven’t even finished the look yet,” Lucy added. “I have a wedding veil and need to tease up my hair a little.”
“Okay,” Kaylee said, rolling her eyes. “I still don’t get it.”
“We’ll have to watch the video later.” Lucy turned to the coffee maker, taking the mug from beneath it. “You will not be disappointed.”
“Girls just wanna have fun!” Abbey belted out the song as she danced her way into the kitchen.
Lucy turned to face her sister. “Ah, you look amazing!”
Abbey continued to dance and sing her way through the kitchen. Wearing a vibrant red dress with a flared skirt that swirled around her with each move, she radiated energy. The punk rock look was brought to life by her fishnet stockings and the rhythmic clicking of the collection of colorful bangles on her wrist. To complete the look, she wore a bright red, spiky cut wig similar to the style Cyndi Lauper had made famous in the ‘80s.
A wave of nostalgia washed over Lucy, reminding her of a simpler time.
“I will never understand that look,” Lola commented; a slight look of disgust crossed her face as she waved a hand at her mom’s outfit. “The high hair, the bright clothes that don’t match at all, and the music.”
Abbey whirled on her daughter, pointing a finger. “Don’t you dare talk about the music! You goth kids will never understand.” Abbey hid a smile as she poked fun at the girls’ costumes.
Lucy pressed her lips together, holding back a laugh. Abbey had always had a theatrical side, having been in numerous school plays and even a few at their small town’s local theater. It was a shame she never pursued an acting career; she would have shined.
Lola rolled her eyes. “We aren’t even goth.”
Kaylee nodded in agreement. “Were either of you even alive in 1980?”
Abbey gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth in mock shock. “Your grandmother is rolling over in her grave!”
“Grandma is still alive,” Lola said flatly.
Abbey turned away, waving a hand in dismissal toward the girls as she placed her head on the counter. “I can’t look at you right now,” she muttered.
“Oh, brother.” Lola shook her head. “Kaylee, let’s finish getting ready; these two are flying off the deep end.”
Lucy laughed; she missed this side of Abbey. Her sister always had a charismatic side, and her vibrant energy drew people in.
Abbey winked at Lucy as their girls thundered up the stairs. Lucy took her coffee and followed behind them at a much slower pace.
In her bedroom, she began applying make-up as she allowed her memories to drift back to the days Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Blondie filled their house with music.
Kaylee had been right; Lucy and Abbey were not alive during most of the ‘80s, but their mother had been. Lucy loved flipping through her mother’s old photo albums and seeing her in leg warmers, bright colors, and sky-high bangs. In the photos, her mother looked happy and carefree, which was a stark contrast to the woman Lucy knew.
As a child, Lucy loved the days when her mother danced around the house, blasting music and belting out the lyrics to her favorite songs. It was a sign her mother was happy, at least for that day. Often, her mother would pull Lucy and Abbey into the middle of the room and dance with them. Lucy would sing along, mesmerized by her mother’s energy, the same energy Abbey possessed now.
As Lucy entered her teenage years, those happy moments all but disappeared. The music still played, but her mother no longer danced or sang. Instead, she turned to alcohol and tears, mourning the loss of a better life. Looking back, Lucy realized her mother blasted the music as a lifeline. The music had taken her mother back to a time when life was full of endless possibilities before everything spiraled out of control.
It was hard for Lucy to fathom why her mother had given up so easily. Or why her father had so much control over her mother’s emotions. Her mother could be so fun, but she allowed depression and loss of hope to overtake her.
Today, Lucy wanted to channel the good times of her childhood. Maybe she could become that younger version of her mom, reviving that lost teenager’s hopes and dreams.
Lucy’s wedding dress costume was not an accident; she had put far too much thought into it. For one, Madonna’s Like a Virgin performance had been scandalous at the time; it reminded Lucy of the judgment she received during her childhood. Part of her outfit today was to laugh in the face of that teased child.
Her main strategy behind wearing a wedding dress was to ward off extra attention from a particular guy. Men tended to fear the white gown and all it symbolized. Although sheer, the veil she intended to wear offered a semblance of anonymity; it would either hide her identity or help foster the illusion that’s what it was doing. Ultimately, Lucy hoped the dress would cause Aidan to think twice before approaching her.
Her heart raced at the mere thought of Aidan. Memories and images once again danced through her mind, teasing and taunting her. She couldn’t believe he still affected her like this. It had been one night, months ago. Sure, the sex had been great, but certainly, that had to be due to the fact she had gone so long without it. Or, perhaps, it was because she had endured so many years of unsatisfying sex with Jeremy. Aidan had been passionate, making her feel desired and wanted. Sex with Jeremy had revolved around his pleasure; it was always about him. Most times, she didn’t finish before he moved off of her, panting and relishing in his release.
Her palms started to sweat as she compared the difference between the two men. In her limited time with Aidan, she had orgasmed more than she had during her entire relationship with Jeremy.
“Let’s go, girls!” Abbey’s cheerful words echoed up the stairwell. “Let’s get this party started!”
Lucy’s nerves were suddenly on edge. What was she doing? Suddenly, she was second-guessing everything. Her outfit was too much, and her hair was a disaster. Instead of hiding in the corner, she feared she would draw too much attention to herself. Maybe if she wore jeans and a T-shirt, no one would notice her.
No, she was acting like a child. There was a chance, a big chance, she wouldn’t see Aidan at all.
“You okay?” Abbey slid her shoes on. “You look a little pale.”
“I don’t think I can do this,” Lucy whispered, her throat dry.
Abbey grinned. “You got it so bad.”
“No, I don’t!” Lucy shot back. “I’m nervous. I want to make a good impression on the other parents, and I don’t want to embarrass Kaylee.”
“The lady doth protest too much.” Abbey winked. “But whatever helps you get through this day. You’re coming if I have to drag you kicking and screaming.”
Lucy glared at the back of Abbey’s head. Her sister was too perceptive; Lucy could lie and deceive herself, but Abbey saw right through her. In reality, Lucy never cared what other people thought of her. Growing up, she knew precisely what her small town thought of her, yet she always managed to hold her head high.
Her nerves today were solely based on Aidan. No matter how often she tried to convince herself otherwise, the mere thought of him ignited a fire within her. Since the parent-teacher meeting last week, she could not keep him out of her head.
“Okay, girls, have fun this morning, and we’ll see you in a few hours,” Abbey called as Lola and Kaylee headed toward their lines.
“Try not to embarrass me,” Lola yelled over her shoulder. “No robot or chicken dances like last year.”
Abbey laughed. “Your friends thought I was hilarious.”
Lola groaned. “They were laughing at you, not with you.”
“Rude,” Abbey gasped, hiding a smile with her hand. Turning to Lucy, she said, “They were so laughing with me.”
Lucy patted Abbey on the shoulder. “I’m sure they were.”
“We’re meeting the rest of the committee inside.” Abbey led the way into the school. “We need to decorate the hall, set up the refreshments, and make sure everything is ready before the kids come in.”
Lucy stared at the ground as she straightened her veil, fiddling with the lacy fabric.
Abbey reached for the door just as someone exited from the other side. “Oh, sorry.”
“No worries,” a male voice answered.
Lucy’s head jerked up. Her eyes locked with Aidan. The air left her lungs, catching in her throat. Rooted in place, her feet felt anchored to the hard cement, keeping her frozen in the moment.
“Lucy.” Aidan broke the gaze, acknowledging her with a nod before striding towards the yard.
Abbey snickered. “Wow, you could cut the sexual tension with a butcher knife.”
“Shut up,” Lucy mumbled, playfully shoving her sister through the door.
“He’s cute up close,” Abbey commented. “And he called you by your name.”
Lucy refrained from punching her sister in the arm, feeling frustrated by her reaction to Aidan. She couldn”t understand why her body responded to him this way; he was just a one-night stand. It had meant nothing, but clearly, her body had other ideas.
Goosebumps covered her arms as she imagined him whispering her name, his lips lightly grazing her ear. Her body trembled as she thought of his lips moving from her ear to her neck, causing more body parts to tingle, parts that were not supposed to be tingling on school grounds.
Lucy redirected her attention to the tasks before her, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. The hall was full of several parents already. A few ladies hung orange and black streamers along one wall while another group taped up ghosts and witches. A man and woman placed a pumpkin-covered tablecloth over a large folding table.
“Abbey!” One of the streamer women called out, sticking a final piece of tape on the wall before hurrying over to them. “You look amazing. I love this get-up.”
“You too,” Abbey said, admiring the woman’s witch costume. Black dress, dark hair, tall pointy hat, and fake nose, complete with a wart on the tip. “Jenny, this is my sister Lucy.”
“We’ve heard so much about you,” Jenny said, a warm smile crossing her lips. “I hear you’ll be joining the PTA soon?”
Jenny winked and patted Lucy’s arm.
“I’m still working on that,” Abbey said. “I’ll break her down, don’t you worry.”
“Come ‘er, it’s worth a shot,” Jenny said, then turned back toward the hall. “So, we have balloons that need inflating near the far wall. You two okay to work on that?”
“We’re on it,” Abbey replied, heading in the direction Jenny pointed.
“Thanks a mill.”
“Mind if I start some music? Get the mood going?” A man called from across the room.
“That’d be grand, Stephen,” Jenny replied.
Abbey found the balloons lying on the floor and ripped open the bag, littering the ground with orange and black balloons.
“Stephen over there, he always runs the sound and music for these events,” Abbey said, picking up a balloon and stretching it. “His wife, Ciara, is working on the drinks table.”
Lucy began blowing air into the first balloon. “Dang, I forgot how lightheaded this makes me.”
“Careful, there,” Abbey teased, then continued to point out each parent. “Jenny, she’s the leader of this ragtag team. Chairperson of the PTA. Those two women over there are áine and Siobhán.”
Lucy tried to remember each name Abbey threw at her. “You know everyone.”
“Not everyone, but most of these people,” Abbey said.
“Hot water for tea and coffee in the kitchen!” Jenny yelled.
Abbey placed her palms together in prayer. “Oh, thank the stars. I’ll get us some coffee. Milk and sugar?”
Lucy nodded, her cheeks puffed out as she inflated an orange balloon. Pinching the end, she tied it in a knot before setting it down and grabbing a black one. Four balloons later, the room started to spin.
“Don’t pass out,” Abbey laughed, handing her a mug of hot coffee.
Grateful for a caffeine hit, Lucy took a careful sip of the coffee and grimaced. “Oh, that’s bitter.”
“Instant coffee, an Irish specialty.” Abbey held up her mug in a mock cheer.
“I might need more sugar.” Lucy coughed. “A lot more sugar.”
Abbey laughed. “You’ll get used to it in time. Sugar and milk are in the kitchen over there.”
Lucy made a beeline in the direction Abbey pointed. Pushing through the door, she was impressed by the quaint space, surprised to find a legitimate kitchenette. The room held a large sink, boiler for hot water, fridge, ample counter space, and even a dishwasher - not too shabby for a school.
On the counter, she spotted the sugar packets in a mug between a box of tea bags and a small container of instant coffee. Lucy grabbed two packs, tore off the tops, and poured them into her cup. Pulling open the fridge, she decided another splash of milk might help cut down on the bitter taste of this strong coffee. After mixing it, she tried a small sip. Not the best, but it would do. After replacing the milk, she took another drink.
“Hi.”
With her mouth full, she turned towards the door, shocked to see Aidan standing behind her. She gasped, inhaling coffee. Coughing and sputtering, she spun toward the sink, spitting out the remaining coffee in her mouth.
“Ah Christ, are ya alright?” Aidan rushed up behind her.
Setting the mug on the counter, Lucy hung over the sink, coughing and waving him off, pretending she was okay.
She was far from fine.
This was a nightmare.
Her face turned multiple shades of red, and she couldn’t stop coughing, finding it difficult to catch her breath.
“Here.” Aidan moved around her, filling a cup with water. “Drink this.”
Lucy shook her head. She didn’t need to drink more; she needed to expel the current liquid from her lungs.
Her heart was racing; it was difficult to tell if it was due to the coughing or the mere presence of Aidan. Most likely, a mixture of both those things. At this moment, all she wanted was to sink right into the floor and disappear.
“I don’t think you’re okay.” Aidan’s voice filled with concern. “Should I get some help?”
Finally, the coughing began to calm down.
“Wrong hole,” Lucy whispered hoarsely, avoiding eye contact. “I’m okay, thanks.”
Still coughing, she moved around Aidan and rushed out the door.
Abbey glanced up, concern immediately crossing her face. “What on earth happened to you? You look––.”
Lucy continued to cough but managed to get a few words out. “Choked. On. My. Coffee.”
Abbey’s brows furrowed as she looked toward the kitchen, surprised to see Aidan walking out. Her eyes widened as she looked between Lucy and Aidan, a silent question in her expression.
“What happened in there?” Abbey chuckled as she teased her sister.
Lucy buried her red face in her hands. “I humiliated myself. Please tell me he isn’t walking over here.”
Aidan took a few steps toward Abbey and Lucy but stopped when Abbey sent him the thumbs-up sign. After a brief hesitation, he walked out of the hall.
“He’s gone.” Abbey turned her attention back to Lucy. “Now, what on earth happened in there?”
“Nothing,” she said, reaching down to grab a balloon and resume decorating. Lucy coughed a few more times, the taste of coffee filling her mouth.
Abbey took the balloon from her hand. “I don’t think you should be blowing these up. You can start taping them to the wall while spilling the beans.”
Lucy rolled her eyes in resignation. “I took a huge gulp of coffee, and when I turned around, he was standing there. Caught off guard, I panicked a little, inhaled my mouthful of coffee, and choked. I was coughing and spitting coffee everywhere.”
Abbey burst out laughing.
“Way to kick me while I’m down,” Lucy mumbled. “I thought I was going to die in that kitchen, not only because I was choking but because I was humiliated.”
“I’m sorry, but you have to admit it’s funny,” Abbey said, touching Lucy lightly on the arm. “I’ve always pictured you as cool, calm, and collected; nothing ever seemed to bother you, but now this man walks by, and you completely fall apart. It’s amusing and fascinating. Kind of like watching a newborn deer learn to walk.”
Lucy glared at her sister, grabbing the roll of tape and huffing toward the wall. Mentally, she berated herself for allowing Aidan to affect her behavior this way. She needed to pull it together and stop making a fool of herself whenever he was around. Abbey was right; usually, she would never act this way around men. It was as if he were a wizard casting a spell on her, one that caused her to lose her mind and freeze in place.
Her behavior had to be confusing to Aidan as well. Was he wondering what happened to the confident girl he had taken home from the bar? These past few encounters displayed an alternative side to her, indeed. She shuddered to think how different things would be if she had acted this way the night they first met.
“You like him.” Abbey appeared beside her, interrupting her thoughts.
“He’s seen me naked,” Lucy whispered through clenched teeth. “I’m a little self-conscious about that, that’s all.”
Not only had he seen her naked, but had also heard her moan while bouncing on top of him.
“It looks great in here.” Jenny’s voice echoed through the hall, making Lucy jump. “Fair play, the kids will love it. Everyone get to your assigned stations; the kids will be here any minute.”
Lucy could feel her face heating up. Had she just been thinking about sex, picturing scenes from that night weeks ago? Here, of all places? She had to put a lid on these thoughts. This was not the time or place to let her mind wander down that path.
Taking a deep breath, she turned her attention to the door as a class of chattering children entered the hall. Witches, ghosts, vampires, fairies, and pirates piled into the room, giddy with excitement as they marveled at its magical transformation.
Stephen blasted out Monster Mash as more classes filed in.
“Abbey, Lucy, you’re on the refreshments table,” Jenny reminded them in a rush. “One juice box per kid, and don’t let them take too many sweets.”
Thankful for the distraction, Lucy hightailed it to the table, grateful they would focus on the kids, not the teachers.
The volume rose as more kids streamed into the hall. Music pumped from the speakers, adding to the noise. The younger children danced and bounced around to the music while the older ones gathered in small groups along the walls and engaged in lively chatter.
“Looks good in here.” Lola came up to the refreshment table and swiped a juice box. “You two aren’t dancing? Isn’t this one of those old people songs you love, Mom?”
Abbey narrowed her eyes. “Thriller is a classic, young lady. Michael Jackson is a pure icon.”
Lola rolled her eyes, hiding a smile behind her juice box.
“You want to see some dancing?” Abbey teased. “This song has moves, you know. Trust me, this would have been a viral sensation if TikTok were around in the eighties. Grandma made sure we knew this song and dance.”
“I’m pretty sure you can find the trend on TikTok,” Lola muttered.
Abbey moved from behind the table. “Then, you should be a pro. Let’s show them how it’s done.”
“Mom!” Lola protested.
Lucy couldn’t help but laugh as Abbey practically dragged Lola into the middle of the room. Catching Lola’s silent plea for help, Lucy shrugged, knowing, truthfully, Lola was enjoying herself.
“Hi, Mom.” Kaylee appeared at the table. “This is so cool. I can’t believe we get out of doing schoolwork for this.”
Lucy’s heart kicked into a gallop. If Kaylee was here, that meant Aidan was somewhere in the room.
Kaylee picked up a juice box and struggled to remove the straw from its packaging. “Aren’t these costumes great? We haven’t done any work today. Aidan is the coolest teacher.”
Lucy could not focus on the tirade of information her daughter was spewing. Her thoughts focused only on Aidan. Nerves and anxiety rushed through her; she felt a desperate need to see him, regardless of the embarrassing choking scene from earlier.
“Lola looks so embarrassed right now.” Kaylee was laughing.
Lucy tried to concentrate on her daughter. “I think it’s all an act,” she managed to say, her throat suddenly very dry.
“Well, you know, she has to act cool.” Kaylee shrugged, taking a sip of her juice. “It looks like fun; I’m gonna go dance with them.”
Kaylee set down her nearly full drink and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Lucy to fidget awkwardly with the juice boxes and popcorn bags.
Suddenly, the air felt charged with electricity. Lucy looked up and spotted a small group of what she assumed were teachers huddling together deep in conversation. Her gaze fell on the man dressed in black, a dark robe draped over his shoulders. Even with the white mask half-covering his face, she knew it was Aidan dressed as the Phantom of the Opera.
The pounding of her heart echoed in her ears as she watched him fully immersed in the conversation. His smile caused her legs to go weak. She couldn”t hear the discussion from her place across the room, but Aidan’s elaborate gestures drew her in as if he were sharing a thrilling story. She longed to be part of that group, if only to hear his voice and the lilt of his thick accent.
As he laughed, he turned to scan the room, his gaze locking onto hers, jerking her out of the daydream. In a panic, Lucy knocked over a row of juice boxes, attempting to appear busy. Hopefully, he hadn’t noticed her staring.
“Do you have any sweets?” a little girl interrupted her internal berating.
Lucy focused on the young girl. “Sweets?”
“Chocolate or gummies? My friend said you had some.”
Sweets, oh right, that’s the word for candy.
“Yes.” Lucy, grateful for the distraction, pulled a pumpkin-shaped bowl full of small packaged treats from behind the table. “You can have two things.”
As the girl skipped away, Lucy glanced curiously across the room, but Aidan was gone.
A line quickly formed at the table as clusters of kids came to claim their juice boxes, popcorn, and candy. Aidan was momentarily forgotten as she got caught up in complimented costumes and chatting with the children while pushing straws into juice boxes, opening popcorn bags, and discarding wrappers into the trash bin behind her. After each batch of kids left, Lucy would tidy up the table and set out more juice boxes.
She was halfway under the table, pulling out the last container of juice boxes, when she heard movement at the table.
“One second,” she called, yanking the box open and grabbing a handful of juice.
“Can teachers have a juice box?” His voice sent fire through her veins.
Aidan.
Lucy jumped, bashing her head on the table and sending juice boxes flying.
“Ow,” she said, gritting her teeth and rubbing her bruised head.
“Are ya okay?” Aidan asked. “Should I get some ice?”
Lucy drew in a deep breath, embarrassed and frustrated with herself. She felt a small knot forming on the back of her head. “I’m alright, just a bit of a klutz lately.”
“I’ve noticed,” he teased, a sly smile forming at the corners of his mouth. Casually, he picked up some of the fallen juice boxes and set them back on the table. “Not ta sound cocky, but do I make ya nervous?”
Lucy’s heart dropped into her stomach. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“I don’t remember ya being so––skittish the first time we met.”
Scorching hot blood raced through her veins. Did he just reference their hook-up? Her heart surged into overdrive, pounding a million miles a minute. The way he said it so calmly as if their first meeting had been in a grocery store and had not ended in hot sex.
“Ummmm, well.” Lucy swallowed hard. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and it was getting hard to breathe. How was she supposed to respond to that? Honestly, she decided. “I wasn’t expecting to see you—.”
“Ever again,” he finished for her.
She hung her head sheepishly. “Pretty much.”
“I was surprised too,” he confessed, lowering his voice. “I thought ya were a tourist headed back to the States. I was just as shocked ta see ya in the meetin’ room.”
“That was a surprise,” she agreed, lifting her eyes to meet his gaze.
The intense look in his eyes was too much, and she glanced away, absently reaching to tidy the juice boxes on the table. Aidan grabbed for them at that exact moment. Electricity jolted through her as their hands touched. Pleasure, desire, and memories coursed through her brain. Neither broke the connection.
“I was disappointed when I woke up ta find ya gone,” he whispered, lightly grazing the back of her hand with his fingers.
It was too much. Lucy swallowed hard, pulling her hand away. “I was avoiding the awkward morning after because I didn’t think it meant anything. We were just two drunk singles having a good time.”
“Is that all it was?” His voice was thick.
Lucy glanced up, a half-smile grin spreading across his lips. Was he teasing or flirting with her?
“Wasn’t it?” she replied, over the lump in her throat. “You thought I was just passing through, remember?”
Aidan shrugged, his expression impossible to read.
“It doesn’t matter anyway.” Lucy went back to organizing the juice boxes, ensuring his hands were far away from hers. “You’re Kaylee’s teacher. That pretty much takes you off the table.”
“Do ya want me—off the table?” He lowered his voice and leaned in closer. “Or would ya rather ‘ave me—on the table?”
Lucy shuddered as a rush of tingles shot down her spine, prompting an unintentional but rather loud gulp. Aidan’s eyes smoldered, and his lips curved suggestively, sending a thrill through her. The air between them crackled with electricity. Lucy licked her suddenly dry lips.
For an instant, everything around them faded into the background, leaving only Lucy and Aidan. Her fingers twitched with the urge to touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin.
“Mom, come dance with me.” Kaylee pushed through the crowd, bursting apart the tension between her mother and teacher.
Lucy snapped back to reality. As if in slow motion, the music steadily became louder, the children’s dancing came back into focus, and the chatter became nearly deafening. Lucy felt like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar, but Kaylee was oblivious to the situation she had interrupted.
Lucy gave Aidan a final glance as Kaylee pulled her into the crowd. They settled near the center of the room and began moving to the beat.
“So, what do you think of Aidan?” Kaylee asked.
Lucy’s cheeks flushed. “What––what do you mean?”
“My teacher. You were talking to him.” Kaylee furrowed her brows. “Wait, I’m not in trouble, am I?”
“What? No!” Lucy looked alarmed. “You’re not in trouble at all.”
Kaylee shrugged and continued her awkward dance movements. “Phew. It looked like a serious talk, that’s all.”
“He was only saying hello. I met him at the parent-teacher meeting, remember?” Lucy said quickly. “Oh, there’s Aunt Abbey.”
Thankful for the distraction, Lucy pulled Kaylee toward Abbey.
“Dancing alone again?” Lucy teased her sister.
“What can I say? I love to dance,” Abbey said, waving her hands in the air and bobbing her head to the beat. “Lola abandoned me a while back. Apparently, I’m super embarrassing this year.”
“The Thriller dance was cool,” Kaylee said. “Everyone loved that.”
Abbey frowned. “It went downhill from there. I peaked at Thriller.”
Kaylee and Lucy laughed as the music died down.
“Thank you, everyone, for a great turnout,” a voice cackled over the loudspeaker. “Unfortunately, we all need to get back to our classrooms. Please line up with your teachers.”
A large groan rippled across the room.
“That went fast,” Abbey said.
Kaylee gave Lucy a quick side hug. “See you after school. Thanks for coming today. It was fun.”
Lucy smiled as she watched her daughter hurry toward her line, excitedly conversing with her classmates. Her eyes locked with Aidan’s, the intensity of his stare stirring a surge of desire in her belly. He winked in her direction before turning his attention to the students. Lucy found it impossible to look away, standing frozen in place until the class had left the hall and he was no longer in view.