Page 9 of Forget Me Not
With his photo pressed firmly against my bosom, I closed my eyes and prayed for some kind of divine intervention. If I was going to let go of the past, I needed a sign from him it was time. Otherwise, my heart would continue to beat for him—even in death.
Mackenzie
Work was a welcome distraction. Danny was glad to be back at school with his friends doting on him, and I was happy to be in the classroom again. Aside from Danny, teaching filled my heart with passion. My students were currently taking a test, giving me the time I needed to catch up on grading. Being out for a week had put me behind, and my grade book showed it. My cell dinged with a text, causing the students to glance up at me. I winked at the girl watching me as I turned on the screen. To my surprise, it was from Austin. It had been four days since our date, and I had been avoiding his calls. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue anything with him, so avoidance seemed to be the best option.
Austin: Have I scared you off already?
No.I responded. Unsure of what to tell him.
Austin: Then why are you avoiding my calls?
I sighed. He was right. I was being a chicken.
I’m scared.
What more could I say? I was terrified. A part of me was afraid to feel what I did when I was around him. The other part of me was afraid I’d forget Danny—as irrational as that thought was.
Austin: Scared of what? I like you and I’m pretty sure you like me. I told you… we can take things slow.
I smiled. He said he could go slow. But what if I date him and then freak out? I’d be hurting a nice guy.
“Miss Stanton, why are you smiling like that?” Cassie, one of my students prodded.
“It’s probably her boyfriend texting her,” Charles, her classmate, joked.
“Alright. Enough picking on the teacher. Are you two done with your test?” I slipped the phone beneath my grade book and cocked a brow at the two children.
“Yes,” they replied in unison.
“Then get out your vocabulary for unit six and work on that.”
I watched as they groaned and tugged out their notebooks and began working on their upcoming unit. Once I saw they were fast at work and confirming the rest were still hard at work on their test, I snuck my phone back out.
Austin: Did you run away again?
This man was persistent, I’d give him that.
No. Sorry in class.
Austin: I forgot you teach. Jesus. I didn’t need that image.
I smirked.
What Image?
Austin: You being a sexy teacher. Too much?
I enjoy hearing compliments.I checked my students again, seeing that they were still engrossed in their work I typed out my message.I like you, too. Dinner tonight?
I held my breath.
Austin: …
I watched as the tiny dots bounced, showing he was responding. I swear it was like waiting for your winning numbers to populate. After what felt like an eternity, the dots stopped, but no message appeared. Confused, I set my phone down just in time for the bell to ring.
I stood and made my way to the door, ushering the kids out to their next class. Megan waltzed by a group of students and laughed.
“What has you looking constipated?”
