Page 50 of Hot Four Teacher
“Do you guyskeep in touch?”
“Not really. For a while after things were finalized, she would reach out every once in a while if there were some papers or something that I had to sign–things like getting rid of our old storage unit or handling the title on her car since both of our names were on it. But eventually, all of that ended. I haven’t heard from her in a couple years now.”
In a low voice, Michelle asks, “Do you ever miss her?”
I don’t feel like she’s asking because she’s insecure. It’s more like she’s just curious and trying to get to know me.
“Nah. For a while, I thought that I did, but I realized the girl that I was missing wasn’t who she was anymore. Just like she shouldn’t miss the old version of me. We’d both grown into different people.”
Wanting to return the favor and get to know Michelle better, I ask, “What about you? What happened between you and your daughter’s dad?”
“Uh, we were in high school. He said all kinds of wonderful things to make me fall for him–things about us always being together and me being his one and only. Then, I got pregnant, and suddenly, his true personality came through. Maybe he cared for me, but it wasn’t enough to make him give up his life to marry me and be a father. He gave me the ultimatum–keep the baby or keep him.”
“Jesus. What a dick. How long did it take you to make that decision?”
She giggles. “About half a second. It took me no time at all to realize that anyone who could forceme to make a decision like that isn’t someone I wanted to be with.”
“Can’t say I blame you.” Wanting to ask her the same question she asked me, I go on to say, “Do you ever miss him?”
“Fuck, no!” She laughs. “He eventually came around and now has somewhat of a relationship with his daughter, but I would like to stay as far away from him as possible.”
As we drive through the streets of Lilly Leaf Falls, all of a sudden, Michelle says, “I know where we can go! Turn right here.”
We wind up and down a few streets until she shows me where to park. I do as she says, but I have no idea where we are. It looks like we are in the middle of nowhere. There is nothing around us.
As I look over at Michelle, she’s already unbuckling her seatbelt.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
Leaning over, she gives me a quick kiss before saying, “You’ll see.”
Fuck, if she keeps kissing me, I’ll follow her anywhere she wants to go.
She jumps out of the truck before I have a chance to open her door for her. As quick as I can, I follow after her, not even pausing even when she heads straight into a thicket of trees. I have no clue what she’s doing, but I’m enjoying the view of her ass in front of me.
The sun is almost completely down, and the further we get into the brush, the harder it gets to see where we are going. When I start to slow downto try to get my footing, Michelle grabs my hand, urging me to keep up.
I could keep pestering her about where we are going, but I decide to just go with the flow. It’s a concept that isn’t easy for me, but I urge myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Finally, we pop out of the trees, and I see what it was that she wanted to show me. In the middle of the woods sits a waterfall.
An actual fucking waterfall.
“Damn,” I say, looking up at the moon reflecting off the flowing water. “It’s beautiful.”
“Welcome to Lilly Leaf Falls’ best kept secret.”
“I never would have guessed there was a waterfall here.”
She smiles. “Most people don’t know. Even the ones who do know don’t typically come here because the trails are so overgrown. It used to be a lot more popular. Sometimes, I think my siblings and I are the only ones who still come out.”
“I love it,” I tell her, still taking in the view.
She points her finger at me. “Now, you better keep it a secret. If we have everyone here again all of a sudden, I’m definitely going to blame you.”
“My lips are sealed,” I tell her.
With a smile, she says, “Come on. Let’s get a little closer.”
