Page 24 of I Think He Knows?

“Pizza and sugar night?” he asks. “How can I get an invitation to one of those?”

I laugh. “You’re welcome anytime.”

“So do you just eat pizza and sugar?” he asks. “Or is there hair braiding and gossiping involved?”

I make a face. “I don’t think we’ve ever done the hair braiding. The gossiping is a given.”

He pretends to wipe his brow. “Okay, in that case I’m there.”

“Usually I need one of those nights after a stressful day at the office, if you know what I mean.” I tell him.

He puts his hands in his pockets. “Yes, I know what you mean. I usually go to the gym to relieve stress after work.”

“Of course you do,” I tease. “I need to join a gym. Eliza and I took a bootcamp class, and I thought I’d never make it out of there.”

“Staying fit is necessary, or the kids will run circles around me,” he exclaims. “They already think it’s fun when they beat me in challenges. I can’t remember a time I had that much energy.”

“That makes sense, and you’re very fit—” I stop before I say something I’m going to regret.

My eyes inadvertently trail over his arms, chest, and abs. And as luck would have it, he catches me taking in his physique.

“Well, thank you,” he says. “I try my best.”

“I should hire you to train me,” I exclaim, attempting to change the subject. “And probably skip some of the pizza and sugar nights.”

“I’d be happy to help,” he exclaims. “But don’t skip those nights. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Do what makes you happy.”

I smile. “And that’s why you’re such a great coach and why all the kids adore you. You’re so good at motivating and being positive. How does it feel to be everyone’s favorite staff member?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know about that. Your students are crazy about you too.”

I smile proudly. “Yeah, they are.”

“You’re the quintessential kindergarten teacher,” he continues. “Fun, energetic, kind, pretty?—”

I feel my cheeks get hot. “Awww—you’re sweet. Hopefully being quintessential is a good thing.”

“It’s definitely a good thing.”

We both grow quiet as we continue walking slowly.

“Do you want to sit for a few minutes?” he asks pointing to a row of benches.

“Sure.”

We move to a bench which happens to be in the middle of several trees lit up by hundreds of fairy lights. The setting couldn’t be more picture perfect, like a scene from a rom com movie.

I notice a couple sitting on another bench to the right of us, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re on a first date. They both seem very interested in their conversation but aren’t sitting super close to one another.

“Do you think those people are on a first date?” I whisper, nodding my head in their direction. “Sorry, one of my guilty pleasures is people watching.”

He chuckles. “People watching is fun.”

He subtly looks in their direction. “I’d say it’s a good possibility. Or they might just be friends.”

I nod. “True.”

We’re quiet as we continue watching the couple.

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