Page 75 of Quiet Beautiful Things

Plates and plates of food are placed on the table, and I’m shoving a second taco into my mouth when I look over and see Seth Kingsley walking in the front door followed by fellow teacher Jake McSweeney. Seth stops walking when he sees me. He shakes his head, looks away, then sits down in a booth across the restaurant, his back to me.

I feel about two inches tall. I told him I had to work. Technically, I am on a ‘home visit.’

“Excuse me,” I sign to Blake, and get up.

I cross the restaurant on the way to the bathroom and stop at Seth’s table. I say hello to Jake, then tell Seth, “Sorry about this. I am working. Sort of. There was good news concerning Maisy and I was asked last minute to come here and celebrate.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation,” he signs.

“I didn’t want you to think this was something it’s not.”

“So you aren’t dating Blake Montana?” He raises a brow.

I look behind me. Blake’s eyes are glued to me. Or more precisely, to Seth. I turn back and shake my head. But I must not be very convincing.

“Watch out for him,” Seth warns. “He has a reputation. Having a kid he didn’t know about dropped on his doorstep should tell you what kind of man he is.”

I raise my hands to defend Blake, but decide against it, wondering if Seth is simply watching out for me, or if he’s… jealous. The way Seth glares past me to where Blake is sittingclues me in to the latter. If that’s the case, nothing I say will make any difference. “Enjoy your dinner,” I sign, then walk to the restroom.

When I emerge, Blake is leaning against the wall opposite the ladies’ room. He nods to a door on his left, opens it, and waits for me to follow. We end up in the restaurant office.

“Who is that guy?” he asks.

“He works at school.”

“He didn’t look happy.”

I shrug. “He asked me on a date.”

He narrows his eyes. I did a sign he doesn’t know. I fingerspell, “Date.”

He backs up. “He asked you out?”

I nod.

“Just now? When you’re here withme?”He forcefully jabs a finger at his chest.

Me: To be fair. I’m not here WITH you. I’m part of a large celebration for Maisy. But no, not just now. He came to my office earlier and asked me.

“And what did you tell him?” He crosses his arms, waiting.

It’s hard not to laugh or even smile. Is this Blake being jealous? I didn’t think that happened to… guys like him.

Me: I told him I’m not dating. Anyone.

It’s a lie. I didn’t tell him that. And I’m not really sure why I even said it.

“Semantics,” I think he says. “Not dating, but…” His lips stop moving and he does the sign for ‘fucking.’

My jaw drops and I swat his hands.

“What?” he says. “It’s true. Or it was last week. I’m hoping it will be true again on Friday.”

Why is it that every time Blake talks about sex, my cheeks flame?

He smiles and does my name sign.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He steps toward me, presses me into the wall, and leans down for a kiss.

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