Thou Shalt Not(38)

Bet you were popular with your friends and family, landing a big time sports star.

Yeah, they thought it was a match made in heaven.

I was going to mention my own early marriage, share common ground with her, but I quickly decided against it. That was not something I wanted to get into with her for a long time, possibly ever.

Well, you’ve got two kids. Things can’t be all bad.

God, why was I trying to be cheerful?

Dig, Luke.

Well, it’s late. I should probably sleep before I pass out and you wonder where I’ve gone.

She didn’t respond to things maybe being better than she was making them sound. I liked that. Without talking to her for more than ten minutes in person, she had already been thoughtful enough to make me soup. And I had already deduced that her marriage didn’t sound to be even remotely solid. I’d say it was a really good damn day.





The next morning it felt a little strange to wake up without Holly in my bed. As much as I was looking forward to every new conversation with April and getting to know her better, I also felt a little torn. I had always cared about Holly. It’s not like I just welcomed some girl into my bed that I didn’t really give a damn about other than for her body. Holly seemed to be changing, maturing, and becoming herself after years of living for others and helping people around her. I was getting there too maybe, slowly but surely. So, I woke up and I let myself miss her a little.

I packed, drove, and showered quickly so I could make the morning meeting on time. I wondered if April would be there now that she seemed close to being brought on as a full-time teacher. Hopefully she would be. I’d have to decide whether to sit next to her and breathe in her intoxicating floral scent or if I wanted to sit on the opposite side of the room so I could simply look. Or stare. Let’s face it—I would probably stare.

The room was half-full when I arrived with five minutes to spare. A few of the teachers looked up when I came in. Their faces registered surprise, clearly not expecting to see me back so soon. I got a few nods in my direction, but no one spoke. Teachers aren’t usually morning people unless they’ve had their cup or two or six of coffee. Their silence made it evident that the liquid brown drug was not yet coursing through their bodies. Or that seeing me was a little awkward, considering the state I was in when they last saw me. I tugged on the collar of my shirt and ducked my head.

April was seated on the second row and seemed to be lost in a pile of paper on her lap. She was wearing a long-sleeve white button-up shirt, with the sleeves folded halfway up her forearm. Her skirt was black, and her hair was back in a ponytail. Her outfit brought to mind just about every teacher fantasy I had ever allowed myself to indulge in while growing up. Because her hair was pulled back, the pearly white skin of her neck was exposed. God, I was starting to have serious vampire thoughts.

I will kiss that neck, I told myself. More than once. I will.

I’d never promised myself that I would kiss the body of a married woman before, but there’s a first time for everything, I guess. There was something about her neck that made me want to claim it. So Maniac Marco could go fuck himself for all I cared. Knowing what I did about him, he probably wished he could fuck himself. Arrogant prick.

I snuck my way into the third row and took a seat behind her, one seat over to her left. When I sat down, I felt like I had immersed myself in a field of lilies, her soft, sweet scent filling my nose.

Yeah, her neck is mine.

Among other things.

“Good morning,” I said, not wanting to stir her from her paper reading. But very much wanting to also.

She turned around.

“Oh, there you are,” she said with a sense of familiarity that made my nerves tingle. “Good morning back.”

God, all she had to do was smile and I swear I would have done anything she asked. Including commit serious crimes.

“Is this your first meeting?”

“No, I came to the meeting on Tuesday also.”

“Oh, nice.”

She lowered her head and her voice, “They are so much fun!”

This time I smiled. Sarcasm almost always made me smile.

“Why are you sitting back there?” she asked. “You’re dumb. Sit next to me.”

She patted the chair to her right and I went straight for it, like a dog being called to the side of its owner. There hadn’t even been a second thought, just an immediate response. Surely, anyone paying attention would have thought I was pathetic.

The meeting better start soon or I can’t be held responsible for what I do next.

“What are your thoughts on James Joyce?” she asked as more teachers shuffled in.

Her question caught my lily-obsessed mind off-guard.