Page 75 of Hot Four Teacher
Ronnie starts laughing. “Michelle is dating her daughter’s teacher and soccer coach.”
You have got to be fucking kidding me.
***
I do my best to pay attention to the game, but truthfully, I couldn’t even tell you the score, and the scoreboard is staring me in the face.
I can’t stop thinking about these recent developments. I feel horrible, and honestly, Ronnie isn’t helping.
“How did you not know he taught at Eve’s school?” She asks.
“He said he was a teacher, but every time we started to talk about it, the subject always got changed. And he technically lives outside of town, so I didn’t think he taught here.”
“And his last name didn’t make you question things?”
Looking to the sky to avoid eye contact, I reply, “I never actually got his last name.”
I feel Mom’s eyes boring into me. “Michelle, you slept with him. You stayed the night at his house.”
Ronnie throws her hand over her heart. “I’ve never been more proud.”
I roll my eyes. “Shut up. This is not my finest moment.”
She asks, “Why? Michelle, this is a good thing.”
“How do you figure this is good?” I question.
“You were worried about him and Eve in the whole situation. But guess what? They already know each other,andI’m assuming they like each other.”
While I can admit that maybe that could go in the pro column, all of the cons are flashing through my head.
“Okay, Ronnie, let’s say he and I do get more serious and let Eve in on the secret. How is that going to affect her? Do you think kids at school are going to beniceto her about it? Do you think the girls on the soccer team are going to believe there’s no favoritism? Do you think the school will let him keep teaching?”
The smile that was on her lips fades. “Oh, I guess I didn’t think about any of that.”
“Yeah, I guess not,” I snap. “Look, I know everyone thinks that I’m cold and unreasonable and sometimes, even bitchy. But there is a reason I don’t date. I don’t want to do anything to mess with my daughter’s life. I already gave her a shitty father. I don’t need to add to the amount of therapy she will probably need.”
It’s not often that Veronica Lawson goes silent. It’s actually almost never. But I think she knows there’s no use arguing with me about this. Eve is the one thing in my life I don’t play around about.
Ever.
My plan is to get through the game and get the hell out of dodge. Maybe I can figure out this whole thing when I get home. I can figure out how to end things and cause the least amount of damage.
There is no other option.
***
When the game finally ends, I immediately head for the car. That way, I can avoid everyone–well, just Dane.
But as I’m leaving the field, I drop my purse, sending its contents spilling out all over the ground.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
I kneel to pick everything up, and I’m just about done when I hear Eve. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, kid. Are you ready to go?” I ask as I’m standing up.
“Yeah, but first–”
