Page 21 of Substitute for Love

He followed suit. “Yeah, we spent lunch and prep period focusing on thestudents,” he repeated, a little sarcasm in his voice. “Who else?”

Doreen lifted an eyebrow. “All right. Next time then.”

“I promise. Oh! So, both of the PE teachers are absent tomorrow? What’s up with that?”

Doreen leaned in. “They both have the same virus. Draw your own conclusion.”

Avery and Gabe looked at each other, Gabe waggling his eyebrows. Avery rolled her eyes and giggled. They both turned to leave.

“Oh, by the way,” Doreen said. “They need a few more chaperones at the Fall Fling this weekend. I don’t suppose either of you would want to go?”

Avery stopped. A school dance? That was the last thing on her mind. Sure, subbing was going better today, but she had her interview on Friday to prepare for.

“Uh,” Gabe looked at her, and she shrugged. “We’ll let you know.” He held the door for Avery.

“I’m making my famous sugar cookies,” Doreen called.

“Cookies?” Gabe repeated, waving goodbye to Doreen. “Now that changes everything.”

“So you’re thinking about going?” Avery said as she noticed Gabe’s truck parked next to her car.

“I am tempted. But who would I dance with?” He elbowed her playfully.

“Doreen? She’d love that, I’m sure,” Avery said. A school dance. She had mixed feelings about those. In high school, her first date with Marshall was homecoming. They doubled with Claire’s boyfriend-of-the-minute, and they went mini golfing and the guys even made them dinner. Those were the carefree days, before she made the biggest mistake of her life of pulling aLegally Blondeand following him to college. They weresupposed to go to the big, themed dance the first weekend of fall semester, but Marshall he told her he was sick. Avery was bummed. Instead she studied with a classmate at a diner, when guess who walked in? Marshall. With another girl. That should have been her clue to go. But Marshall had apologized profusely and promised to change. Years later, and she was still reeling from his mistakes.

Avery needed time. But there was something different about Gabe, and well, she would be careful.

“Obviously, I have to save a dance for Doreen.” He cleared his throat as he pulled his keys out of his pocket and walked over to the driver’s side of his truck, putting space between them. “I know Hal would love a dance from you,” Gabe said.

“Hal?” The name sounded vaguely familiar.

“The janitor.”

Avery practically choked. “Oh my gosh.” She laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Gabe smiled, his dimples appearing.

“When I told my friend I was going to start subbing, she told me to keep a lookout for hot janitors.”

He laughed. “That’s what I’m saying. Hal may be close to retirement, but he is super spry on the dance floor.”

Avery unlocked her car door, reluctant to end the conversation. “What about you? Are your dance moves as good as your singing voice?”

She turned in time to see him blush. Gabe Manwaring, class clown, natural substitute teacher, everyone’s friend, was blushing.

“I’ve got some dance moves,” he said. “But you’ll only get to see them if you come.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“Will you come with me? Technically they won’t pay us. So it could be like a semi-date.”

“Oh, a semi-date. You’ll have to tell me about those. I’ve never been on a semi-date.”

“I’m about to set the bar high,” Gabe said. “Prepare yourself.”

“So you think I’m going to say yes?” She fought back a smile. He was flirting. Right? Harmless. Marshall had been her only boyfriend. Now she was starting over. But this could also be fun. Avery deserved to have fun. She didn’t have to be so serious all the time.

“I do like getting dressed up.”

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