Page 57 of Substitute for Love

“What? During class?”

Gabe shrugged. “It was relevant to the lesson. Honest. And they said they’d finish their assignment without talking but only if I did one dare they all came up with.”

Avery rolled her eyes. “The messes you get yourself into.” Yeah, like kissing Avery when he was really dating Claire.

“Yeah, I know.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, they want me to, uh…” He looked at her lips.

Avery closed her eyes, as if that would somehow stop what he was about to say. “Ki….”

At the same time Gabe said, “High five. Wait, you thought they wanted me to kiss you?”

She opened her eyes. “High five? That’s it? I don’t believe you.”

She peeked over to the school window, where all the students were watching intently, a few with their phones out clearly recording.

“Okay, fine. They want me to kiss you. I told them no, it wasn’t appropriate, but they insisted. And if I don’t do it, then.”

Avery put her hand on her hip. “Then what? Something worse than kissing me?”

Gabe bent forward and whispered, “I have to get on the loudspeaker and tell everyone you rejected me.”

Avery burst out laughing. She covered her mouth with one hand, and the other her stomach. After a few deep breaths she waved it off.

“Seriously, I would pay money to see that. Do you think Doreen would let you?”

Gabe gave her a side eye. “Of course. Doreen basically wants to adopt me. And you, too, but don’t tell her I told you.”

Really? That was surprising. Avery had always been nice to her, but she didn’t think they had the Gabe-Doreen type relationship going.

“Hmmm. What to do? What to do?” Avery tapped her fingers on her face as she stalled. “I mean, if I reject you, then the students would finally quit asking if you and I are dating. Which would be better for you anyway, since you and Claire…”

Gabe held up his hands, turning his head and furrowing his brows. “Woah woah woah. What?”

Why, oh why did she say anything? Avery hadn’t meant to—it just slipped out.

She cleared her throat and lifted her chin and stood tall, trying to play it off like it was no big deal. At least, that’s what she was telling herself. “I happened to see you guys earlier in the parking lot.”

“Avery, I need to explain—”

She shook her head. “You and I are friends. You and Claire can do what you want. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll still help you with your grant application, we’ll still be co-workers, but that’s it.”

“Please, you need to know that I—”

Avery didn’t want to hear the explanation about how he didn’t mean to hurt her or he had always had feelings for Claire, or whatever. He needed to shut up and not talk.

She walked up to him, gave him a big kiss, then got in her car and drove away. The cheers of students sounded through the windows of the school.

Chapter 19: Gabe

Avery’s lips had touched Gabe’s as he was trying to explain things between him and Claire were weird, but they were definitely NOT together, no matter what it looked like to anyone else watching.

Her lips had burned Gabe’s like the sun, but in a good way. She had told him they were only friends, and sure the kiss just now didn’t have the same level of passion as their kiss after the dance on Saturday.

Then why? Why did she kiss him? What did it mean?

The students cheered so loud he could hear them through the closed windows and he’d probably get fired for leaving them in there alone for that long, not to mention the principal would see a video and he’d probably get written up.

He took a deep breath as Avery’s car disappeared down the street, a smile spreading across his face. The little interlude with Avery had definitely not played out the way he had expected. Gabe thought for sure he’d be embarrassing himself over the loudspeaker. But even as she left, he felt cheated. He never got the chance to explain to Avery that there was nothing between him and Claire.

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