Page 77 of Hot Four Teacher
“Well, I thought we needed to talk.”
I nod even though I dread what is about to come.
Knowing it’s going to happen either way, I lean against the back of the couch, ready to listen.
Michelle starts to pace. “I have no idea how you and I didn’t put together that you were my daughter’s teacher. How does that even happen?”
“I guess it never really came up.” I shrug. “I mean, I told you I worked at a school.”
“You didn’t mention it was a high school.” Her tone is a bit accusatory.
“Well, you didn’t mention your daughter wasinhigh school,” I snap back.
She sets one hand on her hip and fans herself with the other as she continues walking. “I can’t believe this is happening. I finally found a guy I really like, and now, we have to end it.”
Hearing her say she really likes me makes my chest swell with pride, but her other words knock me back down a few pegs.
“Why do we have to end it?” I blurt.
That gets her to stop pacing. “What?”
“What if we didn’t end things? What if we kept seeing each other?”
They’re simple questions, but I know they don’t have simple answers. I’d like to figure them out with her.
I step towards her, and she looks up at me for a moment before pointing her finger at me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you really care about me and this relationship.”
“But I do.”
Her pacing starts up again. “We can’t do this.”
“Why? Give me one good reason.”
“You’re my daughter’s teacher,” she says.
“When you and I began spending time together, you told me that you have a daughter and trying to introduce her to a guy would be hard on her. In this case, I already know Eve, and I like Eve. I’d say that’s a pretty good scenario.”
“You’re her soccer coach,” she argues.
“My previous statements apply to that too.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you coached soccer?”
I sigh. “Because it’s a fairly new development, and quite frankly, I’m only doing it as a favor. Michelle, when you and I have been spending time together, it’s like we’ve shut out the world. I've enjoyed not thinking–or talking–about any of life’s responsibilities.”
It seems like she’s only half listening to me. “It’s just not fair. Out of all the guys in the world I could’ve met, it had to be you.”
“Uh, I’m sorry?” I say, unsure if I should apologize.
“That’s not what I meant,” she says. “I meant that I didn’t mean to sleep with someone who is my kid’s teacher. That was not on my Bingo card.”
“It wasn’t on mine either,” I tell her. “But I don’t regret it.”
She stops walking to look at me. “I don’t either, but we still have to end it.”
