Page 19 of In The Dark
For as hot as the whole thing was, it was sweet, too, and butterflies flutter to life in my stomach.
I’m buzzing thinking about what other fantasies of mine he could help me live out given the chance. Wondering if he has any other masks he wears. If he’s chased anyone through the woods and if he’d be willing to do it with me.
“Hey.”
A knock on my classroom door pulls me from another replay of the night. I glance up and see my work best friend, Molly, leaning against the wall with a smile.
“Hi, Mols.” I take a sip of water, trying to cool myself down. My body has been electrified since I left Fright Nights over the weekend, and I match her smile. Maybe orgasms are the key to world peace. The answer to making everyone happier. “What’s up?”
“I’d ask if everything was okay, but it must be. You’re practically glowing.”
“Am I?” I touch my cheek. “Just distracted, I guess.”
“I bet I know why. I saw Brian hanging out in the parking lot when I took the kids to recess. Did he bring you surprise? Please tell me it’s chocolate or flowers.”
“What?” I frown and crane my neck, looking out the window behind my desk. I have a direct view of the visitors’ lot, but a quick scan of the spots doesn’t show my ex’s car anywhere. “No. Absolutely not. We broke up two months ago.”
“You did?” Molly sits in the small chair across from me. “I’m so sorry, Max. I had no idea.”
“It’s my fault for not telling you. I was… embarrassed, I guess, of how things ended. I thought our relationship was more serious than he did. We were together for ten months, so I figured that meant we were exclusive.” I snort and shake my head. “Joke is on me.”
“Unless there’s a conversation about a casual agreement, men should be giving you all of their attention. God. Leave it to the person with a dick to assume they can have their cake and eat it too.” Molly’s lips pull up into a smirk. “Okay, so it’s not him who has you smiling, but it’ssomeone. Judging from how hard you were blushing when I tried to call your name, I’d say it’s someone bigger and better in every sense of the words.”
“It’s nothing serious. It’s not anything at all, really. It was a two-time thing. Okay, more like a one-time thing. I don’t even know who he is.”
“A mysterious stranger? I love this for you. You’re leaving it up to the universe to decide your fate. If you run into each other, it means you’re destined to be together.”
“I’m not sure about that. You’re giving me a lot of credit, Mols, and making me feel more special than I actually am.” I gesture up and down my paint-covered overalls and my untied shoe. “I’m a teacher who spends her afternoons doing after school care, gets home at six, grades worksheets, barely has time to eat, then collapses in bed before getting up in the morning and doing it all again. I’m so boring.”
“Knock it off with that self-deprecation. All I see is career woman who puts other people first and cares about her students. Your kindness is special, Max.”
“Okay, well, now you’re being too nice. Thank you, my sweet friend.” I laugh and reach for her hand. My phone alarm chimes, letting me know I need to grab my kids from music class. “Come over this weekend? Skyler misses you, and I miss seeing you somewhere other than from across the cafeteria.”
“I would love that. Two months into the school year, and all my communication is with second graders and their parents. I need an adult conversation that doesn’t revolve around unplanned absences.”
“Sunday afternoon. We can watch movies on the couch after Skyler leaves for Fright Nights.” I stand and grab my school ID. “We’ll have fun.”
“Can’t wait.” Molly stands too, fixing her sweater. “If I see Brian again, do you want me to let you know?”
“That would be great.”
“You got it, babe. I’ll text you.”
Molly blows me a kiss and I look out the window one more time, searching for Brian’s blue BMW. Unease curls in my stomach when I can’t find anything out of the ordinary, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
I don’t like the feeling of being watched when I can’t see who is doing the watching.
**
Wednesdays are the only day of the week I don’t have any duties after school, and I’m grateful to pull into my driveway just past four p.m. A yawn sneaks out of me when I kick off my shoes in the foyer. I walk down the hall, flipping on the lights as I go.
“Sky?” I call out. “Are you here?”
“My room,” she answers, and I make my way to her bedroom. I nudge the door open and smile at her standing in front of her bathroom vanity with her makeup bag. “Hi, lovebug. How was school?”
“No vomit, no meltdowns, and we’re another day closer to fall break. I’d say it was a success.” I point to her bed and she nods, stepping over to shove a duffle bag so there’s room for me. I sit on her mattress and cross my feet at the ankles, happy when I grab her stuffed teddy bear and hold it close to my chest. “Something weird happened, though.”
“Did you match with a parent on a dating app? Wait. Please don’t tell me Tommy Dallworth’s dad actually asked you out in the pickup line.”
