Page 31 of Hot Four Teacher (The Lawson’s #4)

Chapter thirty

That Good Dick!

Michelle

A s I walk into my parents’ house, I can already hear the roaring conversation. The Lawsons are a loud bunch, especially when everyone is under the same roof. As much as I love some family time, tonight, it all just seems very overwhelming.

I could have made up an excuse not to come, but I know my mother would’ve showed up to check out my story. She would’ve seen right through anything that I told her.

Eve and I head toward the kitchen and dining room where everyone is hanging out around the large oak table.

They all give a loud hey when they see us. Jo, my youngest sister, jumps out of her seat and runs over to give us each a hug.

I notice the ring in her nose. “New piercing?”

“Yeah. You like?”

“I don’t think you want to know the answer to that,” I say.

She smiles. “I’ll pretend that’s a yes.”

Then, she moves on from me to Eve. There’s only about a ten-year age gap between the two of them, so, they’ve always been close–or at least they have been when Jo is actually in town.

Ronnie comes walking out of the kitchen with a large margarita in each hand. She gives one to me.

“Really?” I ask.

“You have to spend the next few hours with all of these yahoos. You’re going to need it.”

“You know, you and I are part of those yahoos.”

She shakes her head. “I deny that vehemently.”

We walk over where we are out of earshot of everyone else.

In a low voice, she starts speaking. “What happened yesterday when you went to talk to Dane? We haven’t gotten a chance to talk?”

Yeah. Because I’ve been avoiding you.

“It was fine,” I lie.

I don’t know that I’m in the mood to tell Ronnie what really happened–mainly because I don’t want to make a big deal out of any of it. Tonight is supposed to be about celebrating Jo being in town.

Not my illicit affair with Eve’s teacher.

Especially since Eve knows nothing about any of this.

“Tell me details,” she urges. “Did you end things?”

“Something like that,” I lie again.

Realization suddenly crosses her features. “Michelle Lawson! What did you do?”

“Will you keep it down?” I spit through gritted teeth.

She grabs me by the arm and leads me into the living room. Once in there, she says, “You’ve got some explaining to do, sister.”

Before I can say anything, Jo comes walking in. “Are we talking shit? If so, I want in.”

“Who do you want to talk shit about?” I ask her.

“Doesn’t matter. Anyone will work.”

I open my mouth to veer the conversation off me, but Ronnie is having none of it.

“Michelle, don’t think you are going to get out of this.”

Jo looks between the two of us. “What’s going on?”

Before I have a chance to make up something, Ronnie jumps in yet again. “Michelle has a new boy toy.”

Jo smiles. “Ohhh, look at Stella getting her groove back!”

I narrow my eyes in on her. “I will give you a hundred dollars if you can tell me absolutely anything about the reference you just made.”

I know she’s way too young to know what she’s actually talking about.

She looks at me. “I don’t have to because I know damn well you don’t have a hundred dollars either way.”

The girl has a point.

Jo then asks, “So, who’s the guy?”

Yet again, I don’t get a chance to answer before Ronnie intervenes. “He’s Eve’s teacher.”

“What?”

“And soccer coach,” Ronnie adds.

Jo’s eyes go wide. “I move away from home, and suddenly, you guys get interesting? What the fuck?”

“Oh, hush,” I tell her. “Maybe it was interesting to begin with. But now that I know who he is, I’m ending things.”

“Why?” Jo asks. “I’ve dated a teacher before.”

“Jo,” I begin. “Was he your teacher?”

“Yeah. So?”

I roll my eyes while Ronnie says, “Hey, I’ve dated one of my teachers before too!”

My tongue sucks over my teeth. “You two are really going to bond over this?”

Jo shrugs her shoulders. “Mine was a college professor. You know, before I decided to take some time off. I ended up failing the class.”

I say, “Well, obviously, you weren’t very good at the sex if you failed the class.”

“Is that why you’re sleeping with this guy? Is Eve failing something?”

“No!” I cry. “One, I would never do that. And two, I started seeing him before I knew who he was. I keep trying to end it.”

“Trying?” She questions. “What’s stopping you?”

In a deep voice, Ronnie says, “That good dick!”

Deciding not to fight it anymore, I say, “I can’t help it! Every time I try to end it, I end up jumping his bones instead.”

Ronnie mutters, “I think it’s just one bone you’re interested in.”

“Yes, and for your information, it’s a very nice bone. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I didn’t have sex for a decade, and now, I’m like a dog in heat.”

Jo’s mouth hangs open again. “A decade? As in ten years?”

“Yes, Joanna. Keep up,” I quip.

“Hey, there’s no need for government names,” she whines.

Ronnie shushes us both. “Michelle, what happened last night when you tried to end it?”

“Oh, I yelled at him for being too sexy and then seduced him until he bent me over and fucked me in the equipment shed at the school.”

They both look equally stunned.

“Yep.” I emphasize the P in the word. “I’m a certified horn dog.”

Jo asks, “So, what are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.”

Before either of them can ask any more questions, Mom announces that it’s time for dinner.

Thank God.

** *

Dinner is relatively uneventful…for me anyway. Mom grilled Jo like nobody’s business. That’s what happens when you don’t come home very often. Our mother will take her pound of flesh one way or another.

Meanwhile, our dad just beams at the other end of the table.

Our father, Andre, comes from a huge Greek family.

Every woman in town has probably had a crush on him at one point or another.

They all think he’s extremely good-looking and quite the catch.

But he’s only ever had eyes for our mother.

Moments like these with his wife, kids, and grandkids are what he lives for.

Toward the end of the dinner, Ronnie clinks her spoon on her glass, and I pray to God she isn’t going to say something about me.

But I’m relieved when she just informs us that she’s making another pitcher of margaritas.

“Who wants one?” She asks.

Jo holds up her glass. “Here, here!”

Ronnie points at me. “Don’t even tell me no. I know you’re not working tomorrow.” She then turns to Leah, our brother's girlfriend, “What about you?”

“No, thanks. I’m good.”

“Wait a second,” Ronnie says. “I saw Dylan drinking the one I made you earlier. Oh my gosh. Don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”

Leah’s cheeks turn bright pink, and Ronnie says, “Well, damn.”

Dylan sighs. “We were waiting to share the news until things were a little further along.”

Everyone starts cheering and congratulating them before Dylan adds, “While we are on the subject of spilling secrets, we decided that we didn't want two kids out of wedlock, so I’ve asked Leah to marry me.”

Leah smiles. “I figured it was time I officially became a Lawson.”

Everyone starts cheering again, and mom stands up to wrap Leah in a hug. “Sweetheart, whether it’s official or not, you’ve been a Lawson ever since you walked through the door.”

She has a point. Leah has always just fit with us.

Mom looks around and adds, “You all need to follow suit.”

After everyone has said their congratulations, I help clear the table and then walk out onto the back deck for some air. I love my family, but there are a ton of us now, and sometimes, I just need a break.

I’m sitting at the outdoor table, hoping it doesn’t start to rain. Not long after, my dad comes to join me.

“Hey, kiddo,” he greets.

“Hi, Dad.”

He takes a seat at the table across from me. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah. Just a little tired I think.”

“You sure that’s all it is?” The look he gives me tells me he already knows what it is. When I don’t respond, he adds, “Come on, kid. You know no one around here can keep a secret.”

“Well, it’s annoying.”

“I know, but I think I might have some advice to help you.”

“You also dated one of our teachers when we were growing up?” I joke.

He laughs. “Not exactly. But dating your mom was against the rules.”

“What?” I don’t think I’ve heard this story before.

“Your mom and I met at a bar we were both working at. I was the general manager, and she was a server. Us being together was a big no-no. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was to stay away from her.”

“Well, I think I know the ending to this story. You had five kids. I don’t think you ever stayed away from her.”

He grins. “Nope. Even though they told me I’d get fired, I didn’t care. She was worth all the risk. And things worked out.”

“So, were you able to keep your job?” I ask.

“Nope. I got fired.”

“Alright, I’m not sure that this story is making me feel any better,” I tell him.

“Here’s the thing. Everyone, including your mother, told me it was a bad idea.

They told me I should stay away. They said a woman wasn’t worth giving up a good job–especially when I just met the woman.

And maybe it was crazy. But I made up my own mind because I knew that there was something special about her.

Sure, I lost a job, but I got your mom. We opened our own bar and built the best life I could’ve imagined. ”

“I just don’t know if it would be worth it for him to sacrifice so much for something that may not work out,” I say.

“All I’m saying is maybe don’t push him away just because you’re scared of the consequences. If he thinks it’s worth it, let him decide that for himself.”

“And what about Eve? What if she hates me?” I question.

“Mich, let me clue you in on a little secret. Eve is a teenager. She’s going to hate you one way or another. She’ll get over it.”

When I sit quietly, he says, “Just think about it, okay? You deserve to be happy. You had a baby young. That doesn’t mean your life ended back then.”

Maybe he has a point.

But lord knows I’m going to fret over it for the next few days just to be sure.