Page 115 of Mr. Edwards

“Can I see you after class next week? I know you havework in the afternoon, but I’d like to spend some time with you before you go. I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.”

“I’ll see what I can work out,” she says, giving me a small smile before she closes the door and turns toward the gym.

I wait until she’s safely inside before I start the engine. It almost kills me to drive away, leaving her behind, but I’ll be back next week, she can count on that.

Chapter 26

Carlee

The week goes by agonizingly slow, but when Saturdayfinallyarrives, so do the nerves. Although I’m worried about what the implications of having Grayson around may bring, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eager to see him again today. He’s been consuming my thoughts all week. I even changed my shift with one of the girls at the bar so I could start later.

Grayson said he wants to spend time with me, and I want that too.So damn much.Granted I’m scared, but there’s been no ramifications since his last visit. Am I pushing it? Possibly, but I’m not ready to let him go yet. His mere presence gives me life.

I venture downstairs earlier than usual with a tiny pep in my step. I’m secretly hoping he’s already here, so I can spend some alone time with him before the other students arrive, but when I reach the main floor, I don’t find him anywhere.

Pushing down my disappointment, I head toward the mats piled up by the far wall and start laying them out on the floor.

By the time the first of my students roll in, there’s stillno sign of Grayson. It has me on edge. Has he changed his mind? Given the circumstances, I should be relieved, but I’m not.

Internally, I’m so messed up. I’ve been yearning for this man for what feels like forever, it’s hard to let that go, even though in my heart I know I have to.

“Miss Carlee,” a small voice says, tugging on the leg of my pants, pulling me out of my daze. I look down and see Timmy staring up at me. “Is Gray here yet?”

“Gray?”

“You know Grayson. He told me to call him Gray because we’re friends now.”

“No, not yet, but I’m happy to hear you two are friends, Grayson’s a good guy.” Reaching down, I ruffle his hair.

“I know, he’s the best.”

Yeah, kid, he is.

I delay starting the class for as long as I can, but as the minutes tick by, and the kids become rowdier, I gather them in a circle, ready to bow in.

Plastering a smile on my face, I try not to let my disappointment show.

This is what I wanted right?

We are twenty minutes into the class when I look up and catch Grayson walking through the front door. Every head in the vicinity swings in his direction. He’s a man who can’t help garnering attention wherever he goes. He has this presence about him.

His gaze, however, immediately zeroes in on me, and my heart does a silly little flip-flop. That beautiful smile, the one that ignites that ridiculously gorgeous face of his, is present. It makes me feel giddy inside.

Punctuality is everything in this class. It’s a major component of the discipline we try and instill in the kids.I’m sure Grayson has a good reason though. He has a long way to travel… maybe he caught traffic or had car troubles. None of that matters now.

He’s here.

He came.

And that little zing coursing through my body, the one only he can bring, lights me up from the inside out.

“Are you going to tell me why you were late this morning?” I ask once we’ve taken a seat in one of the booths toward the rear of the café.

I purposely led him back here, not because I wanted the privacy, but because it would be near impossible for anyone walking past to see us through the window. Being here is risky, I should’ve chosen somewhere far, far away. My gut screams I’m taking too many chances, but my heart is giving the rest of my body a big fuck you. When Grayson is near, nothing else seems to matter.

“I got into town earlier than last week,” he answers as his eyes scan over my face. “I was eager to see you again. Today couldn’t have come fast enough.” He chuckles slightly as he reaches across the table and links his pinky finger with mine.

It’s the barest touch, but the electric current that it evokes has tingles shooting up my arm. It was like the kiss he’d given me last week. Just a simple union of our mouths pressed together, a pale comparison to the all-consuming passion we once shared, but it was enough toawaken something deep inside of me. A part that’s laid dormant for far too long.