Page 24 of Lyrical

It just feels like it. We got out and I grabbed all my snow stuff from the back seat, giving him a quick hug before he took over my spot in the driver’s seat. I looked back once, smiled and waved before opening the front school door and entering the lobby.

School hadn’t started yet, so the halls were pretty deserted. I went to the office, sticking my head through the window. “Hi, Sue.” I’d found it best to greet the fun-sized woman first whenever I came here. Otherwise, she’d pop up out of nowhere and scare the hell out of me. She didn’t mean to; she was just tiny enough to never see coming.

Sue looked up from her chair. “Oh, hi, Jillian. Helping out Mr. Nolan’s class today? I hope you’re dressed warm enough.”

“Yes, I’m all ready to go.”

“Have a wonderful time.”

“I will. Thanks.”

I smiled as I walked down the hall to Chase’s room. He was at the end of a short hallway. The school was small enough to act like a big family, and I’d been a part of that since seeing Chase and helping out when able. It was all good, for the most part. But just like a real family, there were those you loved and those you wanted to smother with a pillow. Fortunately, my smother list was super short: One. And she was nowhere in sight.

I peeked around the door and felt the familiar rush. Chase had his back towards me, so I quietly crept inside, intent on surprising him.

“Hi, love.”

Damn. I’d never successfully sneaked up on him yet. He turned around, his lips curved high, bringing my attention there. I still felt strange kissing in his classroom, even if no kids were around.

“How’d you know it was me?”

“I know when it’s you, Jillian.” He opened his arms. “Come here.”

I always wondered if he could detect my scent the same way I could his. It was the ultimate aphrodisiac; if only I could bottle it for the times we were apart.

“Mmm….” I fell against his chest, forgetting all about mine until I squashed the wrong way. “Ow!” I guess pressure was the enemy now.

“I’m sorry. Too hard?”

God, never too hard. He never had to apologize for holding me tight. I was the one with the issues.

“No, I just put something new on my skin and I had a reaction to it. It’s getting better.”

He placed his hands on the sides of my face and brought his lips to mine, making me forget once again. Just because I felt strange kissing there didn’t mean I wouldn’t do it.

He pulled back, stroking my cheek. “Thanks for helping out.”

“No other parents volunteered since you asked me?”

I knew that parents were always the first choice because they liked chipping in and contributing to the class whenever they could, but when he didn’t have enough sign-ups, he’d ask if I was available.

“Other than Jaden’s dad, no. So I appreciate it. I really needed another chaperone or else I would’ve had to cancel.”

“Are you kidding? I love it. But, sledding? How’d you get away with that? It doesn’t sound very music-y to me.” A jazz exhibit at the museum, a string concert in the park—nowthoseexcursions made sense.

“We’re going to Baker’s Hill in Waukesha. I’ll give you one guess how I can tie that in.”

I laughed, shaking my head. I loved the way his mind worked. “The birthplace of Les Paul. You’re lucky they allow you such liberties with your teaching methods.”

“Hey, it’ll be educationalandfun. That’s what I’m all about. We’ll learn a little history about one of the greats, his contribution to music. Then we’ll take a ride down one of the very hills he could have used as a child.”

“Creativity is sexy, Mr. Nolan.” And fuck, so was he. I wanted a full day and night with him, doing nothing but naked.

He rested his forehead against mine. “Damn, I miss you, Jillian.”

“I miss you too.” It didn’t matter that we’d had our ‘nooner’ the day before. It still wasn’t enough. I felt like we were scheduling in our sex during specific blocks again, and I didn’t like that. Now that I was over that stupidity, I never wanted to go back.

“Do you think it’s wrong for me to rearrange my—our—life because Daniel’s home? I mean, he’s an adult, right? Shouldn’t he be fitting into my schedule instead of the other way around? It’s just that….”

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