Page 35 of Substitute for Love

“Mom, it’s not like we’re the ones in high school.” Avery’s eyes were still trained on Gabe’s lips. “We’re chaperoning.”

Gabe swallowed, heat creeping up his neck.

“Come on, one picture.”

Avery’s gaze darted around him to her mom. “This feels like a date instead of a work thing.”

The tension was getting too serious for Gabe. He had to think of something funny to say. “It’s a semi-date, remember?” He smirked, and Avery scrunched her nose and smiled. Gabe relaxed.

They stood next to each other, while her mom held up her phone and tapped the screen. “Got it. Have fun. But remember, as substitute teachers, you both have a big job tonight. Keep the kids from burning down–”

“–the school! That’s what I always say,” Gabe finished, Avery’s mom nodding.

Avery eyed both of them and shook her head. Gabe somehow always made a connection with the girl’s mom. Now it was time to make a connection with Avery.

Gabe held out his arm to Avery. “Shall we?” She looped her arm through his and they went out the front door, Gabe grinning and walking on air at the feel of her.

“So, tell me more about what a semi-date entails,” she said.

Gabe opened the passenger door to his truck and waited for her to sit before closing the door. She looked up at him through the window and his heart melted. He ran around the truck, admiring the good job he did washing it earlier. He hopped into the driver’s seat.

“A semi-date means we chaperone a dance and make fun of the teenagers, but I get to drive you there and back, and maybe get a dance.” He raised his eyebrows, hoping she’d reply favorably.

“Big ‘maybe’ there,” she responded.

He pulled the truck onto the street and headed toward the school. “What music do you like?” he asked. “Go ahead and pick a station.”

“Well, I like lots of stuff.” She started clicking the presets. “Oh, this is a good one. I remember it came out the year I graduated high school.”

“Brave” by Sara Bareilles. “What year did you graduate?”

“I’m coming up on my ten-year reunion this year,” she said.

“Ahh,” he said. “I’m two years ahead of you.” Gabe had wondered their age difference. Not that it mattered much.

“Where did you graduate high school?” she asked.

“We were living in Florida at the time. But the truth is, I ended up finally getting through it all with online school.” He looked at her intently, hoping she wouldn’t think less of him for being untraditional.

“Wait, so you didn’t walk for graduation?”

Gabe shrugged and ran his hand through his hair. “Nope. I wanted to. I wanted to do all the typical high school stuff.” A twinge of sadness pricked him, remembering the lost opportunities. He would have been better off living in the same town and going to high school all year. At least then he’d have long-term friends and maybe even gotten to do the things every other teenager seemed to be doing.

Avery leaned in, offering a warm smile. “At least you didn’t have to sit through 300 names and a bunch of boring speeches.”

Gabe smiled back. Avery was trying to make him feel better. That was so sweet of her.

“And what made you decide to major in ancient Egypt in college?” she asked.

His eyes opened wider and he started talking a mile a minute. “I always found it fascinating. Every museum, I head straight for the mummies. Those ancient civilizations were doing everything from scratch. Wouldn’t it be cool to literallyinvent everything? I dunno, it seems like fun. The more I learn, the more exciting it is.” Oops, he was overdoing it.

“Uh, what did you study in college?”

“Boys.” Avery waggled her eyebrows.

Gabe exploded with laughter. “I bet you did.” She didn’t seem like the boy-crazy type, which was why it was so unexpected for her to say that.

“Actually, I studied humanities and literature. I wasn’t sure what job I wanted exactly, but I was interested in books and stuff. Oh, and I minored in music.”

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