Jake
jake
Finding Shelly’s address in the pocket of his trousers was a stroke of luck. When he finally got around to picking up the things in his old room, he’d tossed those pants in a basket destined for the washing machine, and the small slip of paper tumbled out and onto his carpeted bedroom floor. He still hadn’t let himself imagine the alternative. Would it have made it through the wash? Would the water have blurred the ink, making it illegible to read? Without Shelly’s new address, would he have even remembered what that slip of paper was for? Or would he have thrown the soggy wet note in the garbage, losing his chance with her completely?
couldn’t think about that possibility, because if he hadn’t been graced with that small stroke of luck, he wouldn’t be here. Sitting at Salt & Shell back in the only town that ever truly felt like home, watching Shelly down a dozen oysters in the dead of winter with a dorky smile on his face.
Before losing his mother, didn’t think too hard about life after death. He liked to believe that she was in a better place and that she watched over him from time to time. She would certainly be disappointed in how he’d handled the past six years. And yet, felt deep in his gut that what unfolded was some kind of divine intervention straight from her. A small present from Mom, reminding him that there was so much to look forward to.
Shelly placed her last oyster shell in the shaved ice with a satisfied smack of her lips. She took a sip of her white wine and eyed him. “Want to tell me how you got the balloons into my classroom?”
grinned. “It’s a secret.”
“I literally heard you tell Hernandez that you had Rachel help you with the delivery.”
“Damn,” he mumbled. “Well, I called this stationary store in your town that also does balloons.”
She rolled her eyes. “Rachel owns the shop.”
grinned. “A lucky coincidence.”
“You are full of luck, Talbot.”
“You have no idea,” he grumbled. “After I spoke with Rachel, she was able to get me in contact with the janitorial staff at your school. They let her into the classroom and…”
“The letter?”
“I drove it to her yesterday morning.”
Her mouth fell open. “So you drove two hours to meet Rachel and she didn’t tell me?”
“She said it was the only way she would do this. She wanted to meet me in person and approve.”
“And?”
“The balloons were delivered, right?”
She pursued her lips. “My students peppered me with questions in class today.”
“I’m sorry about that,” he answered. “How’d last night’s concert go, by the way?”
Shelly’s face lit up, and concluded that he was already down bad. He smiled, losing his ability to speak as Shelly rattled on about the end of the concert, and her students taking initiative for the upcoming marching band season.
A small piece of her hair fell in front of her face as she spoke. leaned over and tucked it behind her ear.
Shelly fell silent, then perched her elbows on the table. “So, y , what now?”
“Hmmm.” He placed his elbows on the table as well, leaning forward so his face was close to hers. “Want to go for a drive and show me what you’ve been listening to lately?”
“Depends. Will you hold my hand and squeeze little pulses to the beat of the music?”
“Only if you promise to sing an entire Jonas Brothers song to me.”
“Psht, that’s barely a deal. I would gladly do that for you.”
“Maybe I just want to hear you sing.”
“I still have a terrible singing voice. That hasn’t changed. It would be excruciating for you.”
slipped his hands under the table, sliding them up her thighs and squeezing. “Why do I not believe you?”
He didn’t believe there was anything more satisfying than listening to her small gasp of surprise from his touch. Another sound for him to memorize.
“Fine,” he conceded. “I have something better. How do you feel about living out a particular boyhood fantasy of mine?”
“You sure that fantasy didn’t involve me serenading you with a trio of dashing brothers?”
“It involved you and me making out in my car.”
She cocked a brow. “Just making out?”
balked. “It was high school , Shelly. I couldn’t allow my mind to get dirty or I would have been so awkward around you.”
“But we’re not in high school anymore, .”
He froze, his hands still gripping her thighs. He watched her lean back, her hands now under the table, her slender fingers brushing against his own.
“I-I—” he stammered, his mind going completely blank.
She laughed. “I am happy to live out your boyhood fantasy, but you have to promise me three things.”
“Literally anything.”
She held up a pale-pink polished finger. “You have to make me enchiladas this weekend.”
“Already bought the ingredients . ”
She beamed as she held up another finger. “We have to have a Marvel movie marathon.”
“I figured that would go really well with enchiladas.”
“Excellent. And third…”
The sight of her smirk made his heart do terrible, wonderful things.
“…you have to promise to live out one of my fantasies someday.”
He swallowed, his pants feeling rather tight. “What’s your fantasy?”
“To be white stallioned.”
Now he was the one gaping at her.
Shelly kept looking at him with a cocky grin.
He abruptly sat up and swiveled around in his chair. “Check, please!”