Page 65 of An Adventure For Aster

“Get me in the right group and I could put your brother to shame.”

She laughed. “See, I want you to be comfortable enough to make comments like that around me. I’m not some prude because I’m an elementary school teacher.”

“Has that happened to you before? People think that?” He wasn’t sure why that never stuck with him, but he had to admit, he did say she was pure to him.

It wasn’t because she was a teacher though. It was more her personality.

She snorted. “Yep.”

“Who?” he asked. He got comfortable on the bed. Seemed like she wanted to talk a bit. “Your ex?”

“I wasn’t a teacher at the time we were dating,” she said. “So not really. He knew me as a kid. I mean he knew me better than most. At least I thought he did.”

“Forget about him,” he said. “He’s out of your life.”

“He is,” she said. “But after him, there were other men I dated and I could tell they thought I was this nice sweet teacher of young kids and I should be perfect or something. I shouldn’t drink or swear. I should be a role model.”

“You’re all those things,” he said. “That is true. I haven’t heard you swear though, but you like wine.”

“That is right. Swearing isn’t done much, but I could and have. I think I told you before, aren’t you someone different at your job than with your family and friends?”

“I am,” he said.

“So am I. I just hated to be with someone who didn’t seem to understand that.”

“I understand that.”

“You do,” she said. “And now I want you to loosen up. Be yourself. Don’t stop and not say something or act a different way because you aren’t sure how I’ll react. That is all I’m asking of you.”

“That’s not too much to ask,” he said.

He heard her yawn. “Sorry,” she said.

“You need your sleep,” he said.

“I probably do,” she said. “I’ve missed you. Not trying to be clingy, but I had plans to see you more when I was on vacation and now I’m going back to work after tomorrow and we’ll be back to weekends.”

“If you’re feeling up to it tomorrow, I can stop over,” he said.

“I don’t want to get you sick,” she said. “I want to try to go twenty-four hours without a fever.”

“So you can go back to work on the second?” he asked, smiling.

“Yes,” she said.

“I’ll be fine,” he said.

“Nope, not risking it.”

“That is unnecessary,” he said. “I’m a big boy.”

“Just like the other one you wrap up?”

He laughed. “Yep.”

“See how much fun that interaction was,” she said.

“Yes, it was,” he said.

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