Page 8 of Letting it Ride

“Yeah. I’m leaving in…” I pull out my phone to check the dates. There are a bunch of texts on there that I haven’t bothered to open. I swipe past them to open my calendar. “Less than a week.”

Miller nods, satisfied, as he picks up a dead leaf from underneath the couch. I knew I missed a few when I was dragging Agatha out of the apartment. “Good. Use that as a reset. Find a girl to fuck, or at least to spend time with. It’s a limited time engagement.You’ll both be there for a few days, so there’s no pressure. Just something to help you move on.”

I nod. This idea is growing on me.

“And Cam?” Miller looks pointedly at me. “Don’t forget to shower.”

4

ADDISON

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Subject:Senior class advisor

Hi Ms. Anderson,

I’ve been informed that Mrs. Niedermyer has stepped down as the senior class advisor. Of course, this is a critical time with prom, graduation, and the like coming up quickly. Could you step in for her?

Thanks so much for your help.

Patricia Smith

Vice Principal, Bryn Mawr HighSchool

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Subject:math

Hi Miss A,

I’m taking the SATs in a couple weeks. Is there math on there?

Rudy

The bell rings, a blessed sound that signifies the end of the school day. The students, of course, have been busy packing up their bags for the last ten minutes, despite my still standing at the front of the room lecturing.

I can’t blame them. Friday before spring break? There’s not much I can teach right now that’s going to stick. They’re all ready for a week of vacation and putting school out of their minds, and for the first time since I started teaching, so am I.

I wave as they file out of my classroom, thinking through what I need to get done. I’m mostly packed, but I need to add a few things in the morning, like a toothbrush and such. The airport is only about thirty minutes from my place, so I’ll take a rideshare to theairport for my flight. I calculate backward from the time my flight leaves. Half an hour to get to the airport, fifteen minutes through security, fifteen-minute buffer… an hour should do it.

Annika is coming over for our weekly pizza and movie night, so she’ll lock up the apartment after she leaves.

I shimmy a little. Time to party.

Or whatever one does on a cruise.

It occurs to me that I should have looked into this more than twenty-four hours before I’m supposed to leave. The email said we’d get a shirt of some type to wear while we’re working, but beyond that, I have no idea.

Was I supposed to pack formal wear? Running shoes? Hiking boots? I know we’re stopping in Nassau, but what exactly do we do there?

“Spring break!” Annika sings out from my doorway.

I grin at her. “How do you always get up here so quickly? Do you leave the classroom at the same time as your students?” I tease.

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