Page 93 of Substitute for Love

“You know what this room needs?” Gabe asked, turning to kiss Avery on the cheek. “Bookshelves.”

Avery squealed. “Seriously? Because I was thinking we could get a bunch from Ikea.” She stepped forward waving her hands in front of her, Avery’s vision unfolding. “Wall-to-wall, with space for all my books, but then your Egypt stuff in between.”

Gabe came up behind her, grabbing her waist and pulling her back towards him. She squealed again and laughed as he tickled her. He smiled, his heart full. Gabe could get used to making her happy. “You gave a little thought to this, huh?”

She nodded, turning her head and smirking. “Uh huh. You know what else I’ve been thinking about? Dinner. Tonight I thought I could make you something extra special. How does steak sound?”

Gabe licked his lips, his stomach already growling at the thought of food. “You’re seriously the best wife ever.” He twirled her around so they were facing each other.

She ran her hands through his hair, Gabe closing his eyes and inhaling slowly. “And you’re the best husband ever.” They kissed, Gabe leaning into her more and more. “Hey,” Avery said. “I’ve gotta go… make dinner!” She giggled as he kept hold of her.

“Okay, fine,” he said in between kissing her neck. “But you’re mine later, Mrs. Manwaring.”

After dinner they took Emmett on a walk around the neighborhood, stopping briefly to say hi to Avery’s mom. Then they headed home, hand in hand, husband and wife.

Back at Desert Scorpion, they both entered and met Doreen at the front desk to get their respective sub binders for the day.

“If it isn’t the two love birds. How are the Manwarings?” she asked, setting two muffins on napkins onto their two sub binders. Warmth filled Gabe’s chest. Being married was still so new, and hearing people refer to them as a married couple brought a sense of joy he had been missing.

“We are great, Doreen.” Gabe handed Avery her binder and muffin then picked up his own.

“So, have you given any more thought to applying to be a full-time history teacher?” Doreen asked, her head tilted and hopeful.

He took a bite of muffin, a smile plastered on his face. “Already filled it out.”

Doreen raised her eyebrows. “Really?” She leaned forward, her arms on the counter, a big bright smile spreading across her face. “I’m so glad you two are staying at Desert Scorpion.”

“Well, we wouldn’t be together without it,” Avery said, sliding her arm through Gabe’s. “With a little help from our Doreen.”

Doreen smiled as Gabe and Avery headed toward their classrooms.

It didn’t take long for the school to make their decision. Gabe got the email during lunch one day, as Avery and Gabe ate their Adult Lunchables in his classroom.

“Avery! I got the job!” He jumped out of his chair and hopped around the room, landing next to her and kissing her on the head.

She stood and hugged him. “Of course, you got it, Gabe. They’d be crazy not to hire you. You actually make ancient history sound interesting.”

“Hey!” He threw a little slice of cheese and her, totally missing and slapping onto the floor.

Avery laughed. “Missed!” She returned the favor by chucking some cheese back at him, only Gabe responded by opening his mouth and catching it.

“Mmm. Thanks, honey.”

They spent the summer setting up his classroom in between Avery working at the library and Gabe helping out at a museum, eventually becoming a special presenter for the kids’ section.

“I can’t seem to get away from teaching,” Gabe said one day when he came home. Avery met him at the door, her hands on her hips.

“You’re highly entertaining. I mean, right now, all you’re doing is standing here. I’m thoroughly entertained.”

He narrowed his eye at her. “Whatever.” He came into the house, noticing the boxes on the floor. “Oh, the bookshelves are here. I know what we’re doing tonight. How about this? You play the piano while I open the boxes and get situated.”

She came up from behind him and hugged him. “I’m not sure how I got so lucky to get a guy like you.” Avery nuzzled her head into his back, Gabe filling with warmth.

“You are pretty lucky.” His eyes peered back at her, and she hugged him tighter in jest. “Akk! Can’t breathe,” Gabe gasped playfully.

She let him go, and Gabe turned around to face her. “For the record, I’m the lucky one.” He pulled her towards him and they kissed passionately, husband and wife.

Gabe settled into his new teaching position that fall, and though it required more planning and grading than being a sub, he couldn’t imagine a better way to spend his time in the classroom. “You guys!” he said one day in class to the students. “Today we’re talking about the literal origin of civilization. Isn’t that the coolest thing ever?”

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