“Okay.”
“That same night, well, after you and I went to the apartment, I asked him if it was because he’d been hoping to see Faith.”
“Okay.” Surely the guy hadn’t been stupid enough to admit it.
“He said no, but only after he’d hesitated. And I knew, right then, that’s exactly what he’d hoped for. But he settled for me. And I don’t want that. I want someone who loves me. Who can’t stop thinking about me. Who won’t shut up about me. I know, it’s pie in the sky, but that’s it. That’s the truth.”
“You deserve that,” Rick said, knowing that wasn’t all she wanted. Jenna wanted someone steady and predictable, which put him out of the running, and that was okay. That was why this thing between them could be fun and casual. Hell, if he’d learned anything with Faith it was to keep it real. Not make more of a relationship than he should. “I mean it, you do.”
“Thank you,” she said. She’d be blushing now. Those lovely pale cheeks a delicate pink.
Christ, he had to stop thinking about her that way. “I’m checking out two apartments tomorrow.”
“That’s right. I was going to ask you about your wish list.”
“What wish list? You mean about what I want in my new place?”
“Yeah. Like, for me, it would be a balcony that has the right amount of sun in the spring and summer.”
“For tanning?”
“No, silly. I’m always this pale. I grow vegetables. For eating.”
“That must be a large balcony.”
“Nope. I do vertical planting. Some hydroponics and clever stacking. I love eating things I’ve grown. My summer salads are really delicious, but that’s just me. What do you need to have?”
“A second bedroom for a workout room. Good internet. Big master suite. A real wood-burning fireplace would be nice. I’ve got a gas one here, and it’s just not the same.”
“A whole room for working out? No wonder you’re so buff.”
“I’m a little obsessive about keeping in shape. Not just for my ego, but for work. I have to be in good shape to do my job.
“I certainly approve of the results.”
He sighed. “I want to see you again.” The silence lasted longer than he’d hoped.
“I’ve been thinking that, too,” she said softly. “And trying not to.”
“What if we don’t try not to? What if we do something about it?” he asked, dead serious.
“Oh. Gosh. I guess we can find a weekend that works. Decide who’s doing the traveling.”
He grinned. He’d been so afraid she hadn’t wanted what he wanted. “Okay. Let’s do that.”
“Maybe discuss it after you’ve moved?”
It made sense. He couldn’t get away from work now, anyway. “Good. Excellent.”
“You know what?” she said. “I won’t even mind that we won’t have a magic apartment to stay in.”
“Yeah,” he said, remembering her in his arms. The smart apartment gadgets hadn’t meant a thing when they were making love. Not one thing. “Guess we’ll have to bring the magic with us.”
12
THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM was packed with sixth graders for the annual sex-education talk. Their teachers were there, as well, although none of them wanted to be. But it was a mandatory talk, not nearly as good as it should be, and exactly, word for word, the same speech the school nurse gave every year.
Jenna, along with five other teachers, was standing in the back of the room, theoretically making sure none of the students started something. Like playing ear-shattering ringtones on their phones, passing around porn, drawing porn, talking, laughing, throwing things, texting, sexting, making out...the list was as almost as long as the speech.
Jenna had always been in favor of banning cell phones on school property. Of course, the rule was for the students, not the teachers. Still, she’d made a habit of only checking her messages at lunch and after class. Well, she had made that a habit.
For the past couple of weeks, her phone had taken residence in the pocket of one of her pairs of skinny jeans, like the ones she wore today with a gray pullover sweater and a darker gray blazer. She’d actually bought two more pairs of black and dark blue jeans that could hold her cell phone, and that didn’t break the dress code.
Because of Rick.
Last night, she’d told him that she wasn’t looking forward to the mind-numbingly dry address by their nurse. Perhaps if the woman wasn’t so horrible at public speaking, Jenna would gladly have paid attention. But Mrs. Epperson spoke in a monotone. A slow, slow monotone that would cure anyone’s insomnia, guaranteed.
So he’d said he’d text her sometime during the talk.
As she waited, Jenna stood with Ally. They’d hit it off the first day Jenna had joined the staff at South Shore Middle School. Ally was a couple of years older than Jenna, had a scathing sense of humor and made the best Bundt cake in the world. It was a happy coincidence that the two of them wore the same size pants and shoes, and that Ally was the reason Jenna and she were next-door neighbors.
Right now, though, Ally was whispering in Jenna’s ear all the names she could think of for penis. There were so many, although she thought some of them were made up. Like womb raider and clam hammer. All Jenna had to do was not laugh out loud, but she wasn’t sure she could hold on much longer.
Nurse Epperson was talking about adolescent hormones, so nowhere near the end of her talk, when Jenna’s cell phone vibrated. Jenna gripped it tightly as she took a step back, not wanting anyone to see her. Of course Ally understood, and she took a strategic position in front of Jenna.
Even with her friend covering for her, Jenna thought about dashing to the ladies’ room before she looked at Rick’s text, but she couldn’t stand it. It had been almost two weeks since she and Rick had said goodbye, and they were still texting and talking every single day.
Busy tomorrow night?
Depends what you have in mind. Phone sex? Weather updates? Sharing recipes?
That first thing. Very much that one. Dammit i’m gong to meeting in five min and nwo I’ll have a ahrd on. Thnx.
Jenna giggled, putting her phone in her pocket and her hand over her mouth when she realized how loud she’d been. Eli Stevenson, the history teacher, gave her the stink eye, but she just smiled then tried to look captivated by the estrus talk. When the coast was clear again, she pulled the cell out again and texted:
Why you really do suck at spelling when you’re horny. So what did you really want?
You. And your good judgment. Narrowed down to 2 apts. Want to show you.
How? I can’t catch the next flight.
Why not? Wouldn’t that be...never mind. FaceTime app. I’ll show you while we discuss.
I knew there was an app. Just teasing. LOL Sounds great.
“You are not being as subtle as you think,” Ally said, scaring the bejesus out of Jenna, who sent a short goodbye before turning off the phone and shoving it into her pocket. All kinds of those hormones the nurse had talked about were coursing through her body, making her shiver in the best way.
She hated that he lived so far away. One thousand, four hundred and sixty-nine miles, to be precise. Thank God it wasn’t a real relationship. He was a friend, for sure, but he was not The One. If he had been, this long-distance thing would definitely not be enough.
Finally, the lunch bell rang, putting an end to the assembly. Jenna hung back, as did Ally, waiting until there were just a few stragglers left.
“So, how’s Rick?”
Of course Ally knew about Rick. That he’d been great after what happened with Payton. Ally was terrifically supportive, even though she’d liked Payton a lot. But when Jenna explained, Ally agreed there was no going back.
“He’s fine,” Jenna said as the two of them headed for the teachers lounge. “He asked me something time sensitive or I wouldn’t have—”
“Hell, I don’t care. I’m just jealous,” she said, though she’d been seeing someone.
Once inside, Ally got both of their lunches from the fridge. There was a line for the microwave, and since they’d both brought soup, they had to split up, or forget sitting together. Jenna got table duty, using her apple to hold Ally’s seat.
A quick look around told her that Chatty Kathy, the one teacher in the school Jenna straight-out didn’t like, wasn’t in the lounge. Jenna relaxed instantly. The woman really had nothing better to do than gossip and stir up trouble. It was clear to everyone that she hated her job, hated teaching and, most significantly, hated her fellow teachers. She was the first person to notice that Jenna wasn’t wearing her ring. Instead of asking what had happened, or better yet, realizing it was none of her business, she’d started a ridiculous rumor.
Of far more importance were the texts Jenna had missed after she’d turned off her phone. There were two. The first was just a few words confirming when he’d call her the following night. The second—he was calling her tonight. Jenna smiled. What a dope. He called her every night.
Ally sat down before Jenna could reply, but that was fine. “Why does your soup always look better than mine?” Ally asked, staring at Jenna’s steaming chicken and rice.