Page 48 of Hot Four Teacher
“Son of a bitch,” I blurt a little louder than I mean to, garnering me a few pointed stares from people around me. “I’m such a klutz.”
He smiles. “Don’t worry about it. A little red sauce never hurt anyone.”
I try wiping off my shirt, but I seem to only be making it worse. It doesn’t take me long to give up.
Dane does his best to distract me, and just when I’m beginning to forget about the stain, the waitress shows back up to give us the check. She looks me up and down as though I’m something she’s wiping off the bottom of her shoe.
Yeah, I get it. You like my date and not me.
As she sets the check on the table, I see that she’s written something on it.
Her phone number.
What a bitch.
Dane looks over the check while pulling out his wallet. I half-expect him to pocket the white slip, but he doesn’t.
Instead, as the waitress comes back over, he stands up, handing her the check along with some cash.
While doing it, he says, “While it was a nice offer, I already have a girl, so I’d appreciate you respecting that.”
With a smile, he holds out his hand for mine and leads me out of the restaurant.
Oh yeah, liking him more and more.
Chapter sixteen
Chasing Waterfalls
Dane
When we are back in my truck, I ask Michelle what she wants to go do now.
“Uhm, I don’t care,” she says, sounding a little uneasy. Her eyes flick down to her shirt, and I can tell she’s embarrassed.
I get it, and I don’t want her to be self-conscious.
“I have an idea,” I tell her.
“What’s that?”
“Well, I’d completely understand if you wanted me to just take you home, but I’d really enjoy spending a little more time with you. I know you don’t feel comfortable with your shirt, so maybe…” I reach into a heavy-duty box that sits on the floor ofthe backseat and pull out a t-shirt. “Maybe you’d want to wear one of mine.”
She takes it out of my hand and looks at it. I have no idea what she’s thinking. Back in the day, I could read my ex-wife’s face like a book. With Michelle, it’s quite a bit more difficult.
Since her silence is killing me, I speak again, “Look, if I’m being creepy, please feel free to say that, and I’ll take you home, no questions asked.”
“No!” She answers rather loudly. “I just think it’s really nice of you to offer. I’m not really used tonice.”
“Michelle, I don’t know exactly how to say this, but me offering you my shirt isn’t all that nice. I mean, it’s just being a decent human being. What kind of guys have you dated?”
Her eyes flick up to mine. “You don’t want to know.”
Probably not.
Without warning, she leans forward to pull her sweater off over her head. As quickly as I can, I look away, trying not to notice the purple lacy bra that she’s wearing.
“Sorry,” I say.
