Page 32 of When You Smile

Taryn nodded numbly, a warm feeling infusing her chest. Everything felt homey here, and she liked it very much. She made sure to memorize Charlie leaving the apartment in black pants and a white blazer, which reminded Taryn that Charlie was teaching that morning. Now that was fun to think about. Taryn set her mug on the coffee table, fell back onto the couch, and tossed an arm over her head. Next, she let her imagination wander to Charlie walking across the front of a classroom in a position of authority. Lecturing. Gesturing with her hands while making one intelligent point after another. The fantasy was PG, but what it did to her body was anything but.

“Fucking hell,” Taryn murmured and laughed. Because she and Charlie weren’t going to ride off into any sunset together. It was fun to think about, though. In fact, she had a few extra minutes…

Chapter Seven

“Just a reminder that your persuasive papers are due on Tuesday.” The students, eager to be dismissed, began gathering their belongings, which meant Charlie had to speak a little louder. “Here’s a tip. Read your work out loud. If you’re getting bored, guess who else might? Look for endless and confusing sentences. Hearing the words will also help you spot grammatical mistakes. I promise.” She saw several nods from the more committed students and some jotting down of notes. “If you have questions, hang around after.” She checked the clock. “I have ten minutes, and I’m happy to assist. Good class today. Have a great rest of your morning.”

Charlie watched as the thirty-two students in her freshman comp section packed up their belongings and moved to the door. Only four or five hung back.

“I’m struggling with a compelling thesis statement,” Zane Mullins said. His hair was disheveled as always, but that seemed to be the look he was going for. He shoved his printed-out draft in her face. There were scribbles in the margins and crossed-out lines throughout. Just the kind of revisions she’d hope to see on a draft. He really did try, which scored points. She read the introductory paragraph and nodded.

“You lay out the reason for your argument nicely, but watch out for repetition. That’s why your thesis isn’t packing the punch you want it to. You’ve already gone there earlier in the paragraph. It’s a rerun.”

“A rerun. Which is unexciting.” His eyes went wide. “That makes so much sense. Thank you.” He accepted the paper and backed away slowly like she’d just handed him the keys to a new car.

“He has it so bad for you,” Ellie Tremble said with a shake of her head. Charlie smiled politely but chose not to respond. Instead, she looked over Ellie’s shoulder to her laptop screen to answer her question about formatting. She enjoyed the one-on-ones with her students and often wondered if teaching might be something she’d be interested in continuing beyond grad school, should her writing career not go the way she hoped it would. The life of a teacher didn’t seem so bad at all. She was feeling unusually optimistic today and wasn’t quite sure why. She had a tiny hunch, however, that it was the dinner around her coffee table she’d had with Taryn. Their unexpected friendship had swiped her completely off guard, injecting interesting conversations, playful banter, and a new, intriguing pull in Taryn’s direction. Charlie wasn’t sure she’d ever experienced such a judgment-free zone in her adult life. Everyone she knew came with some kind of agenda these days. But Taryn? She was all heart, and in many ways, it felt like she’d filled an empty space Charlie hadn’t even known needed to be filled.

She finished up with her students and checked her watch. She had an hour break and should rush home to grab an early lunch so she wouldn’t have to carve out time later. She was actually a little sad that Taryn wouldn’t be on her couch right where she’d left her that morning, looking sleepy and like she belonged. As she walked across the spacious lawn full of lounging kids and a group of guys kicking a soccer ball back and forth, she fired off a text to Taryn.

You didn’t fall back asleep, did you?

Moments later, the dots danced beneath her message, which made her stomach tighten and a bolt of electricity hit. What was that? Why did contact with Taryn have such a powerful effect? She was simply at its mercy.

I’m shocked I didn’t. My review is already up on Yelp. Five stars. How was class?

Charlie smiled, warm and on a high now as she typed.

Persuasive papers are due so lots of guidance needed.

Damn those dots and the happy anticipation they inspired. She rolled her shoulders and allowed herself to melt as she waited. Totally okay. Not everything needed its own analysis. Couldn’t she just enjoy a new friend? She was going to.

You need to help me with my homework.

Charlie didn’t hesitate. Anytime.

She slid her phone into her bag as she arrived at her car.

“Who’s got you so smiley, ma’am?”

Emerson. Caught. Damn.

“I didn’t even see you there.” Charlie rested her back up against the driver’s side door and attempted to deemphasize her grin.

“I know because you were somewhere else entirely. Somewhere kind of sexy, I would say.”

Charlie felt her eyes go wide. “No. Nothing like that. I was texting with a…new friend.”

“Oh yeah? For a minute there I was wondering if you and Danny were scheduling a midday meetup, if you know what I mean.” She bounced her eyebrows.

“Unfortunately, no. I’ve got a busy day.” And she and Danny had never done anything of the sort. Not that he wouldn’t welcome it. There was a time when she would have, too. Everything felt different now.

Emerson nodded. “I feel you on that. I wish we could find a way to just slow things down a little. Enjoy each other. I’m jealous, if I’m being honest, of what you two have, but I have no time to date. Aren’t we a pair?”

Charlie paused, attempting to translate. “Oh. You mean what I have with Danny?” It was a concept that caught her off guard. “You want to date someone like Danny?”

Emerson shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind having something so set in stone. You and Danny are a lock, and that’s something you can depend on beyond grad school.”

Charlie blinked. “Right. That’s true.” She circled around how she felt and couldn’t quite land. Part of her wanted to argue that things in her world weren’t perfect. There was something missing, a click that never quite manifested. The fire, the passion, the hurricane of emotion that she’d always expected to catch up to them never quite had. But she could never admit that to Emerson.

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