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“I brought you in this morning.”
“But it was different; I was late.”
“And we...”
“Be careful what you say,” she interrupted me emphatically, looking from side to side as if we were being watched.
“I'm not kissing you now because I haven't said anything to the girls.”
“Thomas, this is crazy.” He bit his lower lip, and I moistened mine, feeling even more needy for the taste of his mouth.
“I'm quite sober.”
“It's not a joke.”
“I'm sure you don't. I'm ready to answer that I want you. We can be together.”
“I'm not going to get into it without labels.”
“Labels?” I repeated in surprise.
She shook her head.
“My girlfriend. Is that enough for you?”
She uncrossed her arms and took a step back as if she had been hit by something invisible.
“Girlfriend?” it was his turn to repeat.
“I think we'd better start like this and see what happens.”
I hadn't had a girlfriend for years, and starting again gave me a chill in my stomach. If I accepted the challenge, there was a reward that could be very gratifying.
“I...” He began the sentence, but his voice dropped until it disappeared.
“Need some time to think?”
“I just didn't think you'd talk here.” He looked from side to side again.
Most of the parents had already left, but the woman at the gate was staring at us. As much as she couldn't hear our conversation, she was spying on us.
“I thought you enjoyed our evening last night.”
“I loved last night.” Her cheeks blushed.
“So just tell me, yes, then we can discuss the details of this deal.”
“Deal?” She laughed. “Yes, counselor.”
“Daddy!” Mary leaned back in her car seat. “Aren't we going?”
“We're going, child.”
I opened the car door and motioned for Helena to get in. She hesitated a little but eventually got in.
I got behind the wheel and drove away from the school.
“My house is on the other side,” said the teacher when she noticed that I was going the other way.