Page 52 of Somebody's Watching Me
Coach Bradshaw appeared at his side, watching through the cafeteria windows with him as the boy and mother all but raced to their car. “When should I be expecting a wedding invitation?”
Devon snatched the partially filled out paperwork left behind. “Soon.”
Calling the home number listed on the form later that night, he felt a tiny smidge of guilt, but got over it as soon as he heard her voice.
“Have dinner with me,” he said when she answered. Silence greeted him, and he winced. “Please?”
“Who are you talking to, SiSi?” a woman in the background asked.
“And why do you look like you’re about to throw up?” another added.
Simone shushed them. “Wouldn’t that be highly inappropriate?” Her voice went husky, and soft, giving him chill bumps. “You’re a teacher at my son’s future school.”
“It’s the teacher,” gushed the first unknown female. “The hot science guy.”
“Be quiet!” the second hissed, closer than before. “I’m trying to listen!”
Ah, so she had already discussed him with others. Taking that boost in confidence, he plowed forward. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. I would be a fool not to ask you out.”
“Oh my God.” The first woman was closer now, as if she had her head right next to Simone’s. “Who is this guy?”
“What?” There was a scuffle. “I can’t hear! Move!”
“He said SiSi was beautiful, and he would be a fool to not ask her out,” the first woman’s whisper shouted.
Simone released a sigh, and Devon heard something—likely her hand—cover the receiver. She spoke firmly and returned within seconds. “Mr. Howard, my life is a mess.”
“I’m sure you’re worth the mess.”
“I assure you I am not.”
“Try me,” he replied. “I’m asking for one dinner. That’s it.”
When she went quiet again, Devon thought he might be wearing her down, and went in for the kill. “You can bring Selah if you’d like. We can eat at the new boardwalk area in Port Michaelson and maybe hit the ice cream shop afterwards.”
“It’s been a while, but the last time I checked, dates didn’t involve children.”
“They will if you want them to.” Victory was near, and he couldn’t mess this up now. “Whatever the lady wants, she gets.”
“Oh, is that right?” He could hear the smile in her voice and wished he were there to see it. “Well then, how can I say no?”
They met later in the week at a seafood restaurant on the tip of the boardwalk. She came alone, much to his surprise. During dinner they discussed Selah, and he learned she had a brother named Ty, who lived with her.
“I also have, um,” she struggled for a minute, “roommates.”
“Roommates?”
Simone’s mouth pressed into a hard line, and she nodded, her eyes lowered to the crab soup. Dressed head to toe in red, the color fit her to a tee.
“My friend’s husband died in a car wreck, and she and her new baby moved in so I could help her recuperate. Laura Jean is doing much better but misses Albie terribly.”
Albie. Dr. Albert Eddins. The wreck that had taken the life of the up-and-coming Port Michaelson doctor had been all over the news last year. “Oh, wow. Yeah, I heard it was bad.”
Her gaze snapped up at the recognition, and he shrugged. “Small city gossip moves fast.”
“Don’t I know it,” she mumbled and took a sip of her red wine. “Then there’s Rebecca and her two.”
“Two kids?”
