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This was why I needed to be near her twenty-four-seven. Friday night couldn't come soon enough.

Chapter 4

LUCY

"What do you feel like for dinner, Dad? I can rustle up some Spag Bol?" I thumbed out a text message on my phone, replying to my bestie back home. I missed Dina a lot. I missed a lot of things about Koby Plains, too. It was my home for eighteen years, and I never thought I would leave. I had even planned on attending the local community college a few towns over, not wanting to be too far from my Dad.

Now...well, now the possibilities were endless. I was settling into city living better than I expected. I made a couple of friends and joined a book club. I was also relieved to discover that small-town schooling didn't necessarily mean a smaller education, something I had been concerned about. It only took me a few days to realize I was caught up. Ahead in some of the classes, actually.

"...so I was hoping you could make your usual chocolate cake. You know how much I love your cake, Pumpkin."

"Shi-shoot, Dad." I shoved my phone away. "I was texting Dina. What were you saying? You want me to make my chocolate cake?" I only made that for special occasions.

Dad straightened in his seat, his hands flexing against the steering wheel. "Dina?" His voice was hoarse. I frowned, wondering if he was coming down with something. "H-how," he cleared his throat and tried again. "How is she?"

I shrugged. "Fine. Busy with schoolwork. She has a date on Saturday. I think-"

"She's dating?" He shouted.

I reared my head as I observed my Dad and his weird behavior. Dina and I had always been friends, but we became besties when we were ten. She'd stayed over at my house just as often as I did at hers. My Dad knew her well, so maybe he found it alarming that she was old enough to date. It just reminded him that his daughter was also growing up. Lord knows the number of lectures my Dad had given me about boys and drinking.

"Calm down, Dad. She's eighteen." I poked at his knee in jest. "Ya know, like me." My Dad only sent me a brief smile, barely moving his mouth.

"So what were you saying about-"

"Who's it with?"

"What?"

My Dad rolled his hand impatiently. "Dina. Who's her date with?"

"Oh, no," I shook my head in refusal and crossed my arms. "So you can go back and report to her mom? Hell, no. It's none of your business. You're not her father."

My Dad breathed in deeply before releasing it slowly through his nose. "No. I'm definitely not her father." His knuckles werewhite, clenching hard against the wheel before the tension seeped out as he turned into our street.

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my backpack on the floor. "You're being weird," I mumbled.

Once we pulled up to the house, I climbed out of the vehicle, glaring at my Dad when he slammed the door harder than necessary. He suddenly turned around and slapped his head. "I forgot to finish our conversation. Roman Drake, one of the teachers at the school, is coming over for dinner tonight."

"Wha-what? Mr. Drake, my chemistry teacher?" My mouth dropped as butterflies took flight in my stomach.

"Ah, shit," my Dad ran a hand through his dark hair. "I forgot he was your teacher. He approached me in the staff room and invited me for dinner since I was new to town. But I suggested he come here instead. That's why I set everything up so fast this week."

I licked my lips, my throat suddenly feeling dry. I attempted to act casually, but my heart was beating erratically, and my palms were sweating.

I hadn't been able to get Mr. Drake out of my head. I only had Chemistry on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. My body ached the last two days. The back of my neck stayed prickled, the fine hairs raised. I could sense him near me. Which was silly; my classes were nowhere near the science block. I also couldn't spot him during lunch breaks. Yet, I couldfeelhim.

I shrugged, tugging my bag higher up my shoulder. "It's cool. I mean, I don't mind. I don't know him that well, anyway. So don't cancel," I quickly said, just in case he was planning to.

He smiled as he put his arm around my stiff shoulders. "Thanks, Pumpkin." He gave my head a quick kiss. "So, do you think you can make your chocolate cake? He'll be here at six-thirty. I was planning on cooking a roast chicken with veggies."

I fixed my Dad an overly bright smile. "Of course. I'll clean up and get right on it."

As I climbed the stairs, my body screamed to race up and find the perfect outfit. But I didn't want to arouse suspicion from my Dad. Instead, I leisurely took each step one at a time, humming a random tune under my breath.

La, la, la, la, la, nothing to see here. Definitely not becoming wet in my panties at the prospect of sitting across from my hot as fuck teacher, that may or may not have been flirting with me this week.

"Oh, Honey, and don't worry. You can take off after dinner. I'm sure the last thing you wanna do is hang out with a bunch of old guys."