I settled back into my chair. Jesse draped his arm across the back of my chair and leaned in toward me. “I ordered you another,” he said, that sexy edge to his low voice back in full force. His scent invaded my senses. He wore a hint of some sort of masculine cologne that was fresh and reminded me of Christmas at the same time. It smelled like winter and pine and sex.
“Thanks,” I managed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as I spotted a fresh drink in front of me. I took a sip. “Single or double?”
“Double,” he said, a scandalous smile spreading across his features.
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I asked, pressing the boundaries just a little further than I probably should have and definitely a little further than I would have if I was sober.
“Sure. Why not? Then I’ll take you home to that two first name husband of yours.”
It was strange that he suddenly mentioned my husband in the midst of the air thick with sexual tension between us, and all it served to do was snap me back to reality. While I was enjoying my time with Jesse, I was aware that it would never go past flirting. Even if he was a player, he seemed like a good guy. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would hook up with a married woman, even if I suddenly wanted it like I wanted the next sip of my vodka drink.
Reese, one of the English teachers, asked Tami for her bill, and a few others followed suit. The first few teachers left, and it was down to the typical core group who always stayed latest: Quinn, Avery, and me from the English department, Kevin and Dane from Social Studies, and Jesse. Avery and Kevin had been flirting back and forth for as long as I had known them, and I knew someday they would eventually hook up (if they hadn’t already… Avery had a bit of a reputation). Dane and Quinn had co-taught lessons before, so they had plenty to talk about. That left Jesse’s attention on me.
Everyone was too wrapped up in their own conversations to notice what we were talking about. I chanced a glance over at Quinn to make sure just as she threw her head back and laughed at something Dane had said.
“So, Mrs. Thomas, what are you up to this weekend?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Probably grading essays,” I said.
“That sounds so exciting.”
“It’s February. We’ve got three months of school left. I have to do it sometime.”
“Do you have plans for the summer?” he asked.
I shrugged. I did; I was planning to pack my shit and find a new place to live, but I wasn’t ready to reveal that over happy hour drinks.
I took another gulp of my drink. “Not sure yet,” I said after I swallowed. “You?”
“I only get June off, really, and then I’m back to the grind with scheduling. But every summer I take a road trip.”
“Where are you off to this year?” I asked.
“I’m heading down to Mexico for a couple weeks, and then I’m going to drive up through California wine country.”
“Sounds romantic. Taking someone special?” I asked, suddenly jealous both of him for going on what sounded like an amazing adventure and of whatever slut of the month he was taking with him.
He shook his head. “Actually, I usually travel alone. Good way to decompress after a long school year. I’ll probably check in with some friends in California, and I have a buddy meeting me in Mexico for a few days, but otherwise, I’m heading out alone.”
Something sparked inside of me at that thought. I liked that he wasn’t taking a romantic trip with someone else even though it wasn’t my place to feel that way.
Tami came by, and Jesse and I each ordered another. And then Quinn, Kevin, Avery, and Dane all asked for their checks.
I guess that meant Jesse and I would be alone for our last drinks.
It suddenly felt like a date, and I didn’t mind one bit.
“You need a ride?” Quinn asked from across the table.
“I can take her,” Jesse jumped in before I could answer.
Quinn raised her eyebrows at me, and I nodded my consent. Of course it was fine if he took me home. Obviously I wasn’t driving home, not after four vodka drinks.
“Thanks for the offer,” I said to Quinn, and she came over and gave me a hug before leaving.
And then there were two.
CHAPTER 2
“Are you really doing okay?” he asked after Tami dropped off our drinks, staying a little longer than necessary and dipping her breasts a little closer to Jesse than I would have preferred.
I shook my head. I don’t know why, but suddenly I wanted to tell someone. I wanted to confess the shit I’d been going through on my own for the last year. And those pricks hit the backs of my eyes again, but this time, gulping down my drink didn’t stop them.