Page 33 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

“It has nothing to do with you, though. They cheap out on the air-conditioning.”

“Whatever you want to tell yourself.” He stands and picks up the tray. “Regardless, thank you for the tacos. I’ve been enjoying human food lately.”

I let out a breath. It’s okay, I can pay for that. That’s not a lot of money.

More importantly, is he going to leave just like that? And... We’ll head home on our own, just like that?

I don’t even know what I’m looking forward to, but...

He picks up my tray too, which looks easy for his four hands. “We’ll get out of here, so you won’t be smoked.”

When he isn’t looking, I let out a sigh. He is a nice guy, but at the same time...

He sets the trays in the collection cart and turns around at me. The collection cart is next to the door, so there’s no reason or me to remain at the table. I make myself go to the door and join him again, still not knowing what I want from this.

We leave the restaurant together. My cheeks are burning even hotter by now. He is standing a bit too close to my liking. For every other being, he’s not standing too close, but for me, he is... a bit too close and... he feels like danger even though I know he isn’t going to hurt me.

What’s wrong with me?

Why can’t I act like a normal being?

We get outside. It is windy at night, so I put my hands in the pocket of my jeans. Telke’s hand brushes past my shoulder, which I’m not sure whether he feels it.

He asks, “Are you cold?”

I shake my head. “It’s okay.”

He gives me his hand. “I can keep you warm.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Sounds like an excuse to hold my hand.”

He chuckles. “Is it working?”

I reach for his hand. He has a much bigger hand than mine and takes mine in like a glove. His hand is hot, his heat spreads through me.

I have to stand my ground and part way with him in the parking lot, otherwise—

“Winnie, I can drive you home.”

“Um... It’s okay, I can drive myself home.”

“But that’s what a male should do.”

“Then what are we going to do with my spaceship?”

He blinks, seemingly out of words.

I squeeze his large hand. “It’s okay. We’re going to see each other again tomorrow at work.”

“But...”

“The male only has to drive when it’s a date.”

He blinks, seemingly trying to come up with something.

Wait... Is this a date according to him?

He says, “I can drive you to the school. This... I hope you don’t hate me that much.”

---