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He handed me the condom and said, “I better go.”
“You should have your own class,” I said. “We have plenty to learn from you.”
“Maybe someday.” With a wave, he left my office, and I got back to work, using Ollie’s idea to spell out the letters with the shiny side of the condom wrappers.
A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the open door. I turned to see Headmaster Bradford eyeing my bulletin board with a wry smile.
“Birdie,” he said.
I set my glue gun down, rubbing my hands together to rid them of random strands of glue. “Headmaster. How are you?”
He looked away from the board to me. “Great. We’re glad to have you back. However, there is still a protestor in the courtyard. Would you mind going to tell them there’s no need? You already have your job back? I’m tired of dealing with them.”
I chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Sure thing, boss.”
He shook his head. “Come to my office after for a meeting so we can sign your new contract with the updated salary.”
“Sure thing.” I left my office door open, hearing him exchange a few words with Ralphie—no one could be rude to Ralphie—and continued down the empty hallway.
Who could possibly still be protesting? It seemed like every news channel had reported on the news of my rehiring.
I pushed open the double doors and stood at the top of the stairs in awe.
At the bottom of the stairs, Cohen Bardot held a bright pink sign with letters drawn in thick black marker.
BIRDIE, WILL YOU NOT-DATE ME AGAIN?
73
COHEN
My heart had never beat faster than it was right now.
Birdie stared down at me, her hands covering her mouth. I wished I was closer, that I could see what she was thinking behind her pretty blue eyes.
Her hand gripped the rail as she walked down the stairs on her high silver heels. Her dress was bright too, the sequins reflecting the sun. She looked every bit herself and more. I wanted to take her into my arms. To kiss her. To tell her I’d never seen her look more beautiful.
But soon the space between us was gone, and she stood only feet before me. “Cohen,” she breathed, “what are you doing here?”
I lowered the sign, resting it on the ground. “I know you got your job back, but that wasn’t the only thing I was upset about.”
Her lips quirked as her eyes flickered from the sign to me. “Cohen...”
“Wait,” I said. I needed to tell her how I felt. How much she meant to me. But I also needed to tell her how sorry I was. “I was upset when you walked away, but I understand why you did it. I put you in an unfair position, dating me in secret, and I want you to know how sorry I am for not respecting your wishes.”
She shook her head, eyes shining. “Cohen, I wanted to date you too. Rules or not, you are exactly the kind of man I wanted to be with.”
My heart soared and then sank. “Wanted?” I asked, studying her face. I wanted to remember every single thing about her. The dimple on her chin. The flush along her cheekbones. The curls that fluttered in the soft breeze. This could be the last time we spoke. The last time I saw her as more than Ollie’s guidance counselor.
She blinked, sending tears down her cheeks. “Cohen, how could you ever forgive me for leaving you like that? We had such a good thing going, and I ruined it.”
“Birdie...” I cupped her cheeks in my hands, wiping away the tears with my thumbs. “You didn’t ruin anything.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“It means if you’ll have me, I’m yours.”
I’d barely finished the word before she closed the distance and pressed her full lips to mine. It was everything I’d been too afraid to hope for. Everything I wanted. Everything Ineeded. I slipped my arms around her waist, holding her close.