Page 56 of Deadly Knight

The few times guys have indicated interest, I’ve almost never immediately agreed to the date. Usually, there’s a lot of considering, doubting, and even self-loathing. Mix in some fear of repeating the past, of getting close to another person, and fear in general, it requires many deep breaths and recalling old conversations with Ava before agreeing.

But with Caleb, there is no self-hatred or deep consideration. So far, every experience with him has been pleasant, so my agreement slips out easily, albeit a little forced behind the need to propel myself towards Caleb—someone who could be really good for me, going by my session with Ava.

“I’d love to.”

“Great. Dinner at six? I’ll pick you up. I know a great Thai restaurant downtown, if you like that cuisine.”

“Sounds perfect.”Holy crap, I’m doing this.

Caleb stands but doesn’t head for the door. He approaches, and when my lungs stop working, when I’m trying to remember the numerous breathing techniques I teach to kids as terror and panic take hold with his nearness, he bends and reaches by me to snag one of my business cards stored in the holder beside my monitor.

“I’ll need your number.” He winks, flicking his finger against the thick cardstock.

“T-that’s my work phone,” I manage, unable to add the wordsI don’t answer my work phone after working hours.

“Then you’ll need to rectify that and give me your personal number.” He holds the card out towards me, and I jot my cell number on the bottom. He grins like he’s won a prize before slipping the card into his pocket. “Go home and rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He makes it to the door before I manage to find my voice again. “Maybe I’ll take a break tomorrow and swing by your classroom.”

“I’d like that.”

Long after he goes, the light feeling in my chest carries me home.

I almost don’t.I almost talk myself out of it.

By midday, I allow myself a break, thankful to be half caught up on yesterday’s paperwork and, since today is much quieter in terms of appointments, it’ll be done by the end of the day.

I walk down the hallway, greeting the few staff I pass as they leave the break room and head to their rooms for afternoon programming. Some of the kids coming in from outdoor sports bring their energy into the halls, arms thrown around, voices loud.

I’m stopped three times with various greetings, a couple“Guess what I did outside!”comments, and one“Are you coming to get me?”from a girl I once worked with.

I pass Nora, who gives me a knowing look and I make a face that causes her to laugh, gaining the attention of the kids around her.

At the end of the hall, the tutoring classrooms are adjacent to one another, and I stop by the shut door used for the high school students, testing the door with bated breath. It’s unlocked, and when I step inside, Caleb looks up from his phone, grinning. Thankfully, he’s alone, being in between lessons.

“You’ve come. I hoped you would.”

“Yeah?”Why are you questioning him?

“Yeah,” he replies. “I’m glad you’ve made a bit of time for yourself.”

I hold up my travel mug, jiggling the still-hot coffee. “Even brought my drink to truly make this an experience.”

He chuckles and is about to say something else, but a handful of teenagers erupt into the room, some with painstaking groans about being back after lunch, others silently treading to their seats. Some cast looks my way, but most slump into their chairs, heads buried in their phones.

“Take my chair, Miss Terasov. Class is about to begin.” My cheeks flush hotter before I do as he instructed.

Caleb watches me claim his seat before calling his small class of about a dozen to attention. Most begrudgingly tear their attention away from their phones to him.

“Alright”—he lightly claps his hands together—“we’ll focus on math this afternoon. If you’ll all take out your books so we can continue from where we left off yesterday…”

Caleb launches into his lesson, enthralling me with the way he constantly moves around the front of the room, keeping the students’ attention on the otherwise challenging subject. Every once in a while, he sneaks a peek my way, and it feels like a secret we shouldn’t be having.

Sadly, too soon my self-imposed twenty-minute timer I’ve given myself flashes through my head. Before my upcoming sessions, I shouldn’t get further behind on notes, which meansfinishing up yesterday’s before today’s gets added to the virtual pile.

I wait until Caleb has them break off into individual work before passing in front of the class, smiling my goodbye at him.

His gaze stalks me until a sudden snatch of my elbow stops me. He moves closer, enough I feel the heat from his body; much too close for what’s respectable between two coworkers.