AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I started to tell him yes when I remembered. “I can’t,” I apologized, loosening my arms from around his shoulders to hold his hands. “I’m chaperoning the Homecoming dance.”
His face fell, and I wished I’d never signed up for duty at the Homecoming dance. All the teachers had to pick one event each year, and I liked to get mine out of the way as early as possible.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“It’s okay.” He smiled, obvious disappointment marking his face. “Maybe we can meet up after the dance?”
He didn’t have to voice what he was thinking. We’d barely spent one day apart since that night of the thunderstorm, since we’d basically declared that we wanted each other exclusively. It had somehow given us permission to obsess over each other ridiculously. We’d seen each other at rehearsal and then fallen into bed together at his place or mine every night since.
“Yeah. We can do that. It might be late.”
“I don’t care,” he admitted without hesitation. “As long as I can be with you by the end of the night.” He squeezed my waist.
I nodded. “I better get back.”
Across the hall, there was a sudden boom of music, then spiraling colored lights flashed in the room.
Bennett chuckled, “Is she playing ‘Staying Alive’ by the Bee Gees?”
“Sounds like it.” I smiled at whatever Lily was getting up to. “She’s got her disco ball going too.”
“Is that part of the curriculum?”
“Nah. Lily has freshmen. She uses a lot of alternative teaching methods. She has to do whatever it takes to get their attention. And keep them awake.”
“And you don’t?”
I scoffed. “Of course, I do. I have seniors. They’re worse.” I beamed up at him and batted my eyelashes. “I just use my sparkling personality.”
That made him laugh, then his smile softened. “I hope you have a great day.”
Still reeling from seeing him unexpectedly, I gripped his shoulder with one hand, the other on the doorknob of my classroom and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “How could I not now?”
His sweet smile was firmly embedded in my brain when I went back inside. Of course, every single student had settled down. Some had actually started the assignment. But then a few like Emmitt still didn’t even have their notebook out.
“Continue with the assignment,” I snapped.
“So you and Mr. Broussard, huh, Ms. B?” asked Trace, the only one brave enough to say it aloud.
“Yes,” I declared, folding my arms over my chest. “Me and Mr. Broussard.”
Emmitt nodded his head toward my desk, where the giant bouquet of flowers stood. “Guess romance isn’t dead.”
I turned my attention back to my desk, a melty sensation fluttering in my tummy. Funny that I’d never considered myself the romantic type.
I remember this guy had brought me roses on our second date back in college. I’d been polite, but I’d inwardly cringed. He was trying desperately to get me to date him and him alone, and I’d already told him I didn’t want anything serious. I never did.
Still, I’d thanked him and put them in the kitchen window of the apartment I shared with Lola. We’d forgotten them till they were nothing but dry husks. We spritzed the dry petals with cheap perfume and used them as potpourri for the bathroom. College girls on a budget.
But this, Bennett delivering an exotic bouquet to my classroom when we’d spent all night and this morning together?
Somehow, that had my entire body giddy with excitement. I wouldn’t even acknowledge that this kind of gesture typically made me uncomfortable. He was my boyfriend now. This was totally normal.
Finally, I dragged my gaze back to the classroom, most of them with knowing smirks on their faces. I’m sure I was broadcasting my feelings loud and clear.
But I simply arched a brow and finally replied, “No, Emmitt. Romance is not dead. And if you know how to do it right, you just might get the girlyouwant.”
That had all the guys, including Trace, turning back to their notebooks with vigor, scribbling away.
