Page 8 of A Novel Seduction

Once they had grabbed their food, Evie led him into the teachers’ lounge. There was a small table with two chairs that sat up against the window, and Evie headed straight for it. This spot was often left unoccupied due to the draft that came from it in the winter, and she knew that they would be granted a measure of privacy over here.

“So, baseball coach, huh?” she asked timidly, trying to break the awkward silence.

“Yup.”

“You got injured?”

“Remember how I told you I took that fastball to the face?” Evie nodded. “Well, turns out something hitting you square in the nose at ninety-eight miles an hour does some damage. I did the reconstructive surgery, and I look pretty again, but sometimes my depth perception is a little funny…” he trailed off. There was a bit of pain in his voice as he told her this, and it didn’t take her long to figure out why.

“Meaning you can’t focus on the ball properly,” she said. He nodded, a sad smile forming on his lips. She felt her heart ache for him as she said this. Baseball had been his entire life in college; he’d talked about playing pro ball all the time. She couldn’t imagine what he must be feeling.

“Exactly. So, I figured those who can’t do, coach, and here I am,” he said, shrugging.

“You must have been devastated. Baseball was your life.”

“Well, it’s time to figure out a new one, I guess.” He shrugged again, that same sad smile still on his face.

“I had no idea you ever had any interest in teaching,” she said, hoping if she kept him talking it would calm her nerves. She felt like at any moment she could jump out of her own skin.

“I won’t lie—it’s not exactly my lifelong dream. But it keeps me around the game I love, and who knows, maybe I can help some other kid along the way.”

“Maybe.”

“Evie, what’s the matter?” he asked, a concerned look in his eyes.

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you acting so skittish?”

“I’m not,” she insisted.

“You are,” he responded.

“I…I just…I don’t know how to act around you right now.”

“Because of Friday night?”

“Yes!”

“I thought we covered that. There is nothing to be ashamed about. I enjoyed it.”

“But, I’m…I’m not…”

“Not what?”

She paused, biting her bottom lip, looking for the right words. “I’m just not that kind of girl. Not that there is anything wrong with a woman owning her sexuality! I’m just not the kind that does.”

“You just prefer to read about them.”

“I told you, it’s not about the sex. It’s about the emotions, the vulnerability.”

“Then why keep them such a secret?”

“Are you kidding me? I’m an English teacher!”

“So, aren’t you supposed to help instill a love of reading into your students?”

“Yes, but…” she sighed. “Look, romance novels are viewed very poorly in my world. One step above trash. It’s all about serious literature and the classics. And I love those too. I do. I love Shakespeare, and the Brontë sisters, and all that.”