Page 111 of Romance Languages

* * *

On Monday morning,I walked into South Rock High as I always did. This time, when I reached my classroom, I didn’t wave to Seamus from across the hall. I waltzed into his classroom and planted a kiss on him. He pushed me against the markerboard for a deeper make out session.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning.” Judging by the hardness of his dick digging into my leg, he was wide awake.

“We probably shouldn’t do this.” He looked down. “I don’t know how I’m going to explain having a hard-on to my students.”

“The students here are very sex positive,” I informed him. “They get it.”

“Thank goodness for comprehensive sex education.” He kissed along my neck, setting me ablaze.

Principal Aguilar cleared his throat behind us.

Busted.

We turned from our tight embrace to our boss, standing in the doorway, thoroughly unimpressed.

“I take it this is a thing now,” he said.

“Uh huh,” Seamus said.

“Is there something in the water here?” He put his hands on his hips. Though, he was one to talk. He was currently dating the parent of a former student. “Please remember to conduct yourselves with decorum on school grounds.”

“We will. I promise.” I held up my hand. All that was missing was a Bible.

“I’ll send over a congratulations cactus,” Principal Aguilar said with zero enthusiasm and walked away.

“I should get back to my classroom.” I didn’t know how we were going to share the news with our fellow teachers and students. The gossip would quickly circulate. There would be people who thought we were a mismatch. But that was their problem.

I slowly walked backward. It became a struggle since Seamus refused to let go of my hand. The glint in his eye wouldn’t let go of my heart either.

“I have to go, Seamus.”

“Come here.” He pulled me to him for one more earth-shattering kiss. “That’ll get me through fourth period.”

* * *

During my free period,after dealing with the wonky vending machine in the lounge that made me fight for my Pop Tarts, I wandered into familiar territory. I knocked on the door of Mrs. Stockman’s health class. She was mid-lesson, a cast on her foot.

“Mr. Bradford! Thank you for helping out while I was gone. Can I help you?” she asked.

“Mrs. Stockman, would you mind if I said something to the class quickly?”

“Sure,” she said with a shrug. “We were just about to learn about gonorrhea.”

I walked to the front of the class, where I’d spent the past month a nervous wreck, feeling like a total fraud. The students, including Cale and Ella, lit up with smiles of recognition.

“I wanted to say it was a pleasure subbing for this class. We had some really good discussions about sex. There’s been something on my mind, though. We’re always wondering why sex is so important. Is it because it’s a major physical act? Is it because society puts this pressure on us to make it important? I think this is a question you need to answer for yourselves. For some of you, losing your virginity is just sex. And for some of you, it’s a major milestone. Whatever path you take, make sure it’syourchoice.”

I was emboldened with confidence as I gazed at each student. Not because I’d lost my virginity. Not because I had a boyfriend. But because finally, for the first time in thirty-five years, I had fallen in love with myself, and there was no better relationship in the world.

EPILOGUE - SEAMUS

A.K.A. ONE LAST THING TO CHECK OFF THE LIST

Four Months Later

---