Page 1 of Salace

KASEY

There she is again.

I smile slightly as I glance out the classroom window and see Mrs. H’s car idling at the front of the parents' car line.

Class ends in half an hour, and the school day with it, and she’s here to pick up Aimee.

It’s the ruse she uses more often than not, and I know this for a fact because she always manages to park just outside the window of my last class, each and every school day.

It makes me wonder if she’s seen my eyes on Aimee. More than likely. I just chalk it up to her being a cautious mother, taking interest in the boy that seems to have her daughter in his sights.

The problem is, they look so damn alike, that I can’t help but appreciate seeing her too.

But since I’m too young for Mrs. H, I do my best to avoid her gaze as much as I can–no matter how hard it proves to be from time to time.

I startle slightly when the school bell rings, then reach down for my backpack and toss my books inside. Hoisting the straps over my shoulders, I reach down and smooth out the bottom of my school-ordered crisp white button-up shirt, then glance out the window one more time, before I take a deep breath and walk out of class.

Maybe I can say hello before they drive away.

* * *

“Hey, Aimee!” I call out in the crowded hallway when I see the beautiful, normally sprightly girl’s hair bouncing toward the door. She stops walking and casts a curious glance back over her shoulder, light brown eyes scanning the crowd until she sees me waving at her. And in a split second, she looks almost… defeated.

“Hey, Kasey,” she murmurs, after I’ve managed to push my way through the kids rushing toward the door, stopping in front of her. I look down at Aimee and do my best to keep the smile on my face, even though I can tell she’d rather be anywhere than here.

Aimee Huntington is such a babe.

Her long, brown, wavy hair is a shade darker than her light brown eyes. Her skin is an immaculate shade of pale ivory, free of any of the acne scars that most people our age should have, the light brown freckles that gently cover her cheeks from one side to the other make her look almost ethereal. Like a rare porcelain doll that any collector would pay big money to have.

“Heading home?” I ask, thumbing my straps from top to bottom. She nods as she looks away.Okay, ask a better question.“Want me to carry your bag to the car?”

She looks up at me slowly, almost as if she’s deliberately trying to unnerve me, but it won’t work as easily as she hopes. Besides, I want to get another look at Mrs. H. I’ve seen her once or twice, bumping into her at the mall, but I’d like the chance to finally look into her eyes and smile at her the way I do at her daughter.

Maybe it’s a fucked-up fantasy of mine, but, if they’d both be willing …

“No, it’s okay,” she finally says, as she turns around and damn near barrels her way out of the school.

But I’m not too far behind her.

Because if the mother is anything like the daughter, then...

I step outside a few moments later and inhale a deep breath of the fresh afternoon air. Glancing toward the school bus that’s waiting for me, I shrug and decide to go for it. Who knows how many more times I’ll be feeling as brave as this? I may as well capitalize on it.

I pick up my pace, walking just below a jog, catch up to Aimee, and pull the car door open for her just before she has a chance to do so herself. She gives me a semi-withering look, but I just grin and motion for her to get in.

Once she does, I lean my arms into the window and look across into the eyes of the woman that’s too old for me—the one that’s off-limits, the one I know wants me as badly as I want herandher daughter—and I grin.

“Hey, Mrs. H. Long time no see.”

JULIA

His blue eyes bore into mine. Aimee fidgets in her seat. I plaster a smile on my face, take a sip from my ‘water’bottle and clear my throat.

“Kasey. Hi, how’re you?”

“Can we go?” Aimee says quietly.

Kasey grins wider. His eyes swing intensely between me and my daughter. “I’m good.” He slaps the car door with both hands. “Have a good weekend, ladies.”

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