Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“For the record, she kissed me,” he explains. “I kissed her back for maybe two seconds and then I… I…”
I stop walking, and he does too. “You said my name.”
“I did,” he smirks bashfully.
“Ugh,” I throw my hands up and continue walking, hearing his footsteps following.
We turn the corner, and I look into his classroom, noticing it’s full of people. “There’s a class going on?”
“They use my room for a study hall now. It’s bullshit.”
“How dare they!” I place my hand over my chest. “From the head of the department heads!”
He grabs his key and unlocks his office door, smiling. “So are you gonna eat with me, or am I back to being sentenced to stay away from you?”
“I dunno,” I hesitate, looking around the familiar room.
He walks in and sighs, while I remain in the doorway. “Can we just go back to our lunches?” He pleads. “Before all the bullshit, we used to sit here and just talk. I miss that.”
“Fine,” I huff. “But we should probably not say anything to anyone about us eating together. At least not until we see how this stuff with Brittney plays out. She needs to realize that it wasn’t a big deal that you said my name.”
“Luci,” he stops me.
“Yeah?”
“Its just lunch,” he tries to brush my worry away.
“I’m pretty sure I heard that before.”
Chapter 8
-Josh-
Everything I once treasured and loved about my days are back. No longer do I feel a part of me is missing, and by mid-March, it feels like Luci and I never had this lapse of time between us.
We haven’t done anything since Deb’s engagement party, but I still shut my office door while we eat, like we have to hide, and sadly, a part of me still feels like we do.
“Hey!” I look up upon hearing my most favorite voice in the world.
“Good morning,” I smile as she walks into my office, ready to swallow the desire that hits me whenever I see her. “What’s going on?” I stand up, realizing she has something to say. Fuck, please don’t be changing your mind about our friendship, unless it’s to take it to the next level.
“If we…” her voice trails off. “Last time we… If we were ever go back…” She laughs, frustrated.
“Yeah, sure!” I joke.
“You’re agreeing and you don’t even know what I’m going to say,” she laughs.
“I’d agree to anything you ask me,” I shrug, taking a step closer.
“Be serious.” She looks at the floor.
“I am,” I try to meet her eye.
“I… I couldn’t do this again and -”
“It would be different,” I interrupt, sensing what she’s getting at. How can she not feel how we basically picked up right where we left off? “This time,” I meet here eye. “We can be real.”
“So,” she contemplates. “I’m supposed to date you until you decide not to tell me something important again?” She shakes her head. “Because you’re unsure how I will react? I can’t let that happen again.”
“I’ve learned from my mistakes. The only way you’d ever get rid of me now is if you walk away.”
“What about-”
The door opens without even a knock. We both leap back, and I curse under my breath while turning away from her, for I’m certain if whomever walks in could see me there’d be no mistake about my feelings for Luci.
“I knew I’d find you here!” I hear Britney St. James’ high-pitch voice.
“I was just… helping Josh with…”
“The next meeting,” I cough, turning back around. “I figure I’d show Luci what organizing the department meetings looks like.”
“Right.” She clearly doesn’t buy it, and I hate the fact that I still have something to hide, because Luci is not something to hide.
“Anyway, Luci, I was wondering if you can make copies for me?” Brittney shoves a paper her way.
“Copies?” She makes a disgruntled face.
“Yes,” Brittney snaps. “It’s part of being a teacher. Making copies, and-”
“It’s fine,” Luci interrupts, taking the paper from her, upset over the unnecessary busy work.
Luci and I are both staring at Brittney, waiting to see if there’s anything else, but it’s Brittney who’s unrelenting, standing in place, not leaving.
“Now?” She demands, and I’m about to say something about how rude she’s being towards Luci, but Luci meets my eye before walking out the door, stopping me.
“God, I thought she’d never go,” Brittney laughs.
“What are you doing?” I back away as she moves closer, eying her carefully.
“We never did talk about what happened between us last year,” she bats her eyes, and it looks… unnatural. “You always avoid me.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I thought we could try again,” she smiles.
“Try again?” I inquire slowly.
“You were obviously caught up in… something,” she waves her hand towards the door. “I can be very good at a lot of things, and I’d very much like to show them to you. I can make you forget.”