Page 79 of Teach Me
Her fingers trembling, she put down her sign and pinned the boutonniere to the pocket of his button-down.
When she’d finished, he covered her hand with his. Moved it until her palm lay flat against his heart. “Rose. All this was for me?”
Her amber eyes turned glassy, to his horror. “You deserve a woman who’s proud to be at your side, in private or in public. I’m sorry, Martin. More sorry than I can say.”
“Shhhh.” He brushed away her tears with his free hand. “I’m sorry I demanded so much, so soon. Especially since I know all this”—he tilted his head to acknowledge the roomful of teachers watching them, as well as Bea and various staff clustered in the cafeteria doorway—“is hard for you.”
“But you’ll help me through it.” Her smile was shaky but genuine. “Right?”
Be damned with professionalism. He had to kiss the quivering curve of her lush mouth. Once. Again. “Every second. I’ll have your back every second for the rest of your life, Rose. And if anyone tries to make you feel small, go subarctic and hand them their asses. But do it in front of me, because I want to watch.”
A small gasp and titters, as several teachers repeatedassesto one another.
He supposed he could always find a new line of work.
“Annette’s tailor made me this replica of a vintage nineties prom dress in black.” She glanced down at herself. “Do you like it?”
Another kiss on her temple, and he rested his lips there, where the skin was thin and soft, and the smell of her shampoo surrounded him like a nimbus.
“Like isn’t, uh…quite the word. I love it.” Or at least what it represented, so it wasn’t really a lie. “I love you, Rose. I’ll always love you.”
A vein beneath his lips was throbbing, throbbing, throbbing. But she didn’t hesitate.
“I love you too,” she said, loud enough for everyone in the cafeteria to hear.
He wanted to memorize those words, the certainty in them. Bask in the sound of his Rose setting aside her protective armor and announcing their relationship to the world, because she knew he needed the public declaration.
Because she loved him.
She loved him.
If he wanted to experience this moment again, he supposed he could download the YouTube clip. Problem solved.
A gentle hand landed on his shoulder. “Congratulations, Dad. I have to go, but I’m so happy for you both, and I love you. More than you know. I’ll call tonight.”
His daughter’s eyes were bright with tears, but her smile seemed sincerely happy. Proud.
“I love you too.” His voice was a choked rasp. “Talk to you tonight, sweet Bea.”
With a little wave, Bea edged out the door and vanished.
He squeezed his eyes closed, doing his best not to cry in front of his coworkers.
“If this promposal doesn’t go viral, I’m going to be pissed,” Rose whispered. “Do you know how much Annette’s tailor charges per hour? We need a new profession, Martin.”
He huffed out a laugh. “I imagine we will, after Keisha hands us our asses for making a spectacle of her department.”
“Thank you for the reminder,” Keisha called from a nearby table. “Please see me in my classroom in ten minutes, Mr. Krause and Ms. Owens.”
“Detention?” Rose murmured.
He nodded. “We’ll pass notes.”
She snorted, and everything in his life turned bright.
Epilogue
Rose surveyedher prom date with satisfaction.
