by Mia Ford
I shivered. “Thanks,” I said softly.
Thomas got to his feet and sighed. “I hate to rush off,” he said. “But I need to pick Brett up. You want a ride home?”
I shook my head, too embarrassed for Mr. March to see where I lived.
“No thanks,” I said softly.
Thomas grinned. “Okay, June,” he said.
I blushed. The way he said my name always made me shiver with happiness. He had such a beautiful voice. My body always responded to him. At least he didn’t ask you for a drink, I thought. Then you really would’ve made a fool of yourself.
“See you, June,” Thomas said. He winked at me and I blushed.
“Bye,” I stammered.
Thomas whistled as he walked away. I couldn’t tear my eyes off his tall, handsome silhouette. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted him so badly.
I need a distraction, I realized. I just need to find someone my own age, who won’t belittle me. Someone who doesn’t have an ex-wife and tons of baggage.
But the problem was, I didn’t want someone like that.
I wanted someone like Thomas March.
That evening, I was lying on my bed and grading papers when my phone buzzed. Angela hadn’t come home yet, and I didn’t even have to look at the caller identification to know that it was her.
“Hey,” I said. “Could you pick up a pizza on the way home? I’m starving.”
A deep masculine laugh filled my ears and my cheeks burned bright red.
“I’d bring you a pizza, but I don’t know where you live, June.”
I blushed even harder. “Mr. March! I’m so sorry!”
Thomas chuckled again. “How many times do I have to tell you – call me Thomas, June.”
I gulped and swallowed. “Okay.”
“Look, June, I was calling to ask you out to dinner on Friday night.”
I bit my lip. “Did something happen with Brett? Is everything okay?”
Thomas laughed. “Brett’s fine. He’ll be with his mother this weekend.”
“Oh,” I said quietly. “Why, then?”
“Because I want to take you out,” Thomas said. “On a date. A real date, to a nice restaurant.”
I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head.
“You can’t be serious,” I said quickly. “Me?”
“Yes, June, you.”
I bit my lip.
“So, are you free? Can I pick you up at seven-thirty this Friday?”
I nodded quickly, forgetting that Thomas wasn’t in the same room to see me.
“Yes,” I said quickly. “Yes, yes!”
Thomas laughed. “That’s the response I was hoping for,” he said in a deep growl that sent a shiver of arousal crawling down my spine. “I’m looking forward to it, June.”
I blushed hotly. “Me too,” I said softly. “Me, too.”
When we hung up, I had to pinch my arm to make sure that I was really awake. It stung, but I still felt delirious and happy. I couldn’t believe that Mr. March had asked me, of all people – me! – out for a fancy dinner date night. I was grinning so wide that both of my cheeks ached.
I couldn’t believe it. Me and Mr. March…together, out on a date!
Suddenly, life was really looking up.
Chapter Five
June
For the next few days, all I could think about was Mr. March. I still couldn’t believe that someone like him would want anything to do with someone like me.
“Come on, June. You’re so pretty,” Angela whined one morning as we were finishing up breakfast before work. “Of course he’d want to go out with you!”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m closer to his son in age than I am to him,” I said. An image of Marlene, angry and flustered, popped into my head. “And besides,” I added miserably. “I might be pretty, but his ex-wife is beautiful.”
“Well obviously, he doesn’t want anyone like her,” Angela said.
“Thanks,” I muttered sarcastically.
“June, I didn’t mean it like that!” Angela flushed. “You know, I just meant…he likes you. He wants to get to know you.” She batted her eyelashes at me. “He’s falling in love!”
“Oh, my god, stop,” I said, getting up from the table and wiping my hands on a dish towel. “I can’t think about that right now. He’s probably just bored and wants to be friends, you know?”
Angela giggled. “I guess you’ll find out,” she said.
I yawned. When I glanced down at the time display on my phone, I yelped in surprise.
“I need to get a move on,” I said quickly, grabbing my coat. “I’m going to be late.”
Angela waved and I opened the door and darted down the hall.
By the time I got to school, I was so distracted that I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus, no matter what. I ran into the break room and stuck my lunch in the fridge, praying that I wouldn’t be late to class. The kids were already here, and I hoped that Ruth was taking charge of the class.
Just as I was about to go to my classroom, Andy stepped into the break room. He grinned when he saw me.
“Hey, June,” Andy said. “Nice morning, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. “I’ve gotta go, I’m gonna be late.”
“Hey, wait a sec.” Andy grabbed my shoulder. “June, look, I really want to talk to you.” He glanced into my eyes and I flushed hotly.
“I’m really sorry,” I said quickly. “But I’ve got to run to class.”
“I didn’t mean here,” Andy said. He smiled, like it was a joke.
I forced a smile right back.
“How about we go out to dinner this Friday?”
“Oh, god, Andy, I’m sorry – I can’t. I actually have plans that night.”
Andy’s eyes flashed. “Oh yeah? With another guy?” I could tell he was struggling to keep his voice neutral and calm.
I blushed. “Uh, no, I’m just going out with my roommate, Angela,” I lied.
“Oh?” Andy raised an eyebrow. “Where are you going?”
Why are you giving me the third degree, I thought in exasperation. Just let me go!
“I don’t know yet,” I said. “Look, I’ve really got to run. Bye, Andy!”
Andy narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know how you can be like this, June.”
“What?” I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t like being toyed with,” Andy continued. “And I hate how you’re trying to play me. Hot and cold, which is it?”
Thankfully the bell rang just as I was about to open my mouth.
“I can’t talk,” I said quickly. “Bye, Andy!”
Andy stood there, glowering at me as I ran off towards my classroom.
Thankfully, the kids were just starting to file in as I took my place at the head of the class. Ruth raised an eyebrow at me.
“Sorry,” I mouthed. “Bad traffic.”
Ruth nodded.
As I called the class to order, I couldn’t quite get Andy’s words out of my mind. What had he been talking about? Hot and cold? I wasn’t even sure what that meant!
The day, thankfully, seemed to speed by. I was afraid of running into Andy, so I stayed in my room for planning and lunch. It was pouring rain, and the kids were so restless by three-thirty that they were practically bouncing off the walls. I was more relieved to see them dismissed than usual, and my stomach was in knots by the time I left school.
At home, Angela was making a batch of sangria. She poured some into a glass and held it out towards me.
“Rough day?”
I rolled my eyes and took a sip. It was good, and I closed my eyes as I savored the fruity tastes bursting on my tongue.
“It was okay,” I said. I shrugged and carried my glass into the living room before flopping down on the couch.
“What happened?” Angela narrowed her eyes. “You nervous about tomorrow?”
I blushed. “Yeah,” I said. I wrinkle
d my nose. “I dunno. Someone I work with said something kind of odd to me.”
Angela snickered. “Oh, girl,” she said. “Like what?”
“It was Andy,” I explained. “You know, that guy I had coffee with last week.”
“He totally has a thing for you,” Angela said.
I laughed. “That can’t be true,” I said. “I think he’s just bored and I’m there, you know? Like he wouldn’t approach me if we didn’t work together every day.”
Angela shook her head. “You’re so naïve,” she said. “He totally wants you.”
My stomach twisted into a knot. “Well, whatever, he told me I was hot and cold with him.”
Angela laughed. “See, girl? He’s totally got it for you, and he’s mad that you’re not draping yourself all over him.”
“Ew!”
“Well, it’s true, he probably wants to sleep with you,” she said smugly, taking a long sip of her drink. “He probably senses there’s some other dude in your life. Men are like that. They can practically smell competition from a mile away.”
I flushed hotly. “Mr. March isn’t anything like Andy,” I said. “And that’s a good thing – definitely.”
“So, why’d you ask him to coffee if you don’t really like him?”
I bit my lip. “I felt guilty.”
“June!”
“What?”
“That’s such a dumb reason,” Angela said. She rolled her eyes. “You can’t do that! It just leads guys on.”
“Well, I felt bad that he asked me out and I said no, so I thought I’d make things right by asking him out.”
“God,” Angela sighed. “You are never gonna learn!”
I frowned. “It was just a coffee thing,” I said. “It didn’t even feel like a date. Besides,” I added. “We ran into Hannah – that assistant that Mr. March has.”
“And another thing,” Angela said sternly. “You’ve got to stop calling him Mr. March! He’s going to be your boyfriend soon.”
I blushed hotly. “It just doesn’t feel right,” I said. “He’s so much older than I am.”
Angela groaned. “Girl, you are going to have so much fun with him. Just please, relax and promise that you’ll start calling him Thomas.”
I could feel my blush deepening into a bright crimson. “Okay.”
“And don’t ask out that other guy again, what’s his name?”
“Andy,” I supplied.
“Yeah, Andy. You stay away from him. If he asks you out again, tell him something came up and you’re no longer available.”
“It doesn’t seem right to lie,” I said slowly. My stomach churned just thinking about it. “I’m sure he could tell.”
Angela sighed in exasperation. “Trust me, June, if he calls you on your lie…is that really the kind of guy you want as a boyfriend?”
I wrinkled my nose. “I guess not.”
“Good,” Angela said. “Now come with me.” She stood up and brushed her hands off on her jeans.
“Where are we going?”
“My room,” Angela said triumphantly. “If you’re out with this silver fox, you’d better have something good to wear.”
I bit my lip. “Oh, you’d really do that?”
“Duh,” Angela said. She rolled her eyes for emphasis. “June, you’re going to kill it on this date. Just trust me, girl. If it goes well, he’ll probably ask you for a second date before he even takes you home. He’s older, men that age don’t like to play games.”
I nodded. “I hope you’re right,” I said softly. “Because I like him so much. I get butterflies in my stomach just listening to his voice.”
Angela pretended to swoon. I threw a couch cushion at her and it bounced off her head. We collapsed in peals of laughter over our sangria – the alcohol was starting to relax me, and take the edge off of some of my nervousness. I didn’t really like being drunk – I’ve only been drunk twice in my life – but a glass of wine (or in this case, sangria) was always nice after a long day.
Angela led me into her room and I flopped on the bed as she opened her closet doors. Immediately, she began grabbing dresses and tossing them towards me. I laughed and dodged the barrage of fabrics as Angela turned around, breathless and excited.
“This one would be perfect,” she said, raising an eyebrow and holding up a tight, black cocktail dress.
“Oh my gosh, no way,” I said, shaking my head. “I couldn’t wear something like that!”
“Why the hell not?” There was a devilish gleam in Angela’s eye. “This would look so great on you, June!”
I blushed. “It’s so tight.” I wrinkled my nose. “Mr. Mar—I mean, Thomas, would think that I was just trying to have sex with him.”
Angela laughed. “Well, you do, right?”
“No!”
“Really?” Angela laughed. “I doubt that, June.”
I colored deeply. “I mean, yeah, I do,” I said softly. “But I want more than that. I want to get to know him.” I swallowed – a lump had been forming in my throat ever since Thomas had first asked me on a date. “I don’t just want him to think that I want him for sex.”
Angela rolled her eyes. “You’re so principled,” she said with a snicker. “But fine, point taken.” Tossing the black cocktail dress on the floor, she started combing through her closet once again. I sat awkwardly on her bed, watching as Angela fumbled with different dresses and outfits, all while making noises under her breath.
After what felt like an eternity, Angela turned to me and held up a green silk dress. “This would be so pretty with your eyes,” she said. “And you’re so pale, you’d look really pretty.”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know….”
“What?” Angela rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong with this one?”
“It’s low in the bust.” I blushed. “I don’t want to make myself look slutty.”
“June!” Angela sighed loudly. “Come on. It’s a gorgeous dress.” She walked closer and dropped it in my lap. The rich silk slithered down to the ground and I picked it up, gazing at it with skepticism.
“Just try it on,” Angela encouraged. “Come on. For me?”
I sighed. “Fine,” I said. “But I’m not making any promises.”
Angela grinned. “You don’t have to,” she said cheekily. “Just try it on and have a look.”
Although the dress looked big, I had a hard time getting it on and zipping it up myself. When I looked in the mirror of Angela’s bathroom, I gasped.
