Page 9 of The Teacher

“I remember those times. They were fun. Really, really fun.”

“You really did love them.”

“But you broke my heart and now that you’ve shown up and embarrassed me just like you wanted, how about you leave?”

“I don’t want to embarrass you, Sandy.”

“Too late for that.”

“Do you want me to apologize for what happened?”

What? Apologize for what happened eight years ago? Forget it.

“I’m over this conversation and I’m over you, Skipper. I want you to go now and never come back,” I say.

He tuts. “That’s cruel, Sandy.”

“Not as cruel as what you did to me.”

“How about I buy you a drink?”

“No.”

“Have a drink with me, Sandy Finn.”

“No.”

He clasps his hands together mockingly. “Please?” His voice drips in sarcasm. Oh, how I hate him despite his overwhelmingly good looks.

“I will never get a drink with you. Not in a million years. Not with any man and certainly not with you, Skipper Deep.”

Without waiting, or caring, for his response, I immediately turn around from the bar and walk away in the opposite direction. I carry on walking until I reach the front doors of the conference room. I spot a family friend and immediately rush up to greet her. I need to be doing something, anything, to ward Skipper away. To pretend everything’s normal. He doesn’t follow me this time, and I’m relieved.

I’ve got him.

I’m proud of myself and for the way I handled that man, that handsome man who thought he can waltz right on back into my life, and who thought we could get drinks together even after what he did to me eight years ago. That gorgeous, confident man who thought he had me cornered at my brother’s wedding. I’ve beaten him. I’ve rejected him. I’ve got him.

I gush over the family friend’s dress and avoid looking back over to the bar. I avoid looking back at Skipper Deep. I don’t want to give the man the satisfaction of knowing I was still thinking about him. I don’t want him to know I can’t get him, or his delicious face, out of my mind. I continue the conversation with my friend, aware that Skipper’s eyes are still focused on me.

It’s only when more wedding guests have streamed into the conference room that I give in to the temptation to check back on Skipper. I just want to see him one more time.

I turn. And there he is, on the other side of the room, still at the bar.

My heart lodges in my throat.

Oh, God.

He’s still staring at me. From across the room, he’s still staring at me with that gorgeous smirk across his face.

For the second time this evening, my body goes weak at the sight of him.

He truly has stripped me utterly bare.

4

ONE WEEK LATER

SANDY