Chapter Five
June
For the next few days, all I could think about was Mr. March. I still couldn’t believe that someone like him would want anything to do with someone like me.
“Come on, June. You’re so pretty,” Angela whined one morning as we were finishing up breakfast before work. “Of course he’d want to go out with you!”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m closer to his son in age than I am to him,” I said. An image of Marlene, angry and flustered, popped into my head. “And besides,” I added miserably. “I might be pretty, but his ex-wife is beautiful .”
“Well obviously, he doesn’t want anyone like her,” Angela said.
“Thanks,” I muttered sarcastically.
“June, I didn’t mean it like that!” Angela flushed. “You know, I just meant…he likes you. He wants to get to know you.” She batted her eyelashes at me. “He’s falling in love!”
“Oh, my god, stop,” I said, getting up from the table and wiping my hands on a dish towel. “I can’t think about that right now. He’s probably just bored and wants to be friends, you know?”
Angela giggled. “I guess you’ll find out,” she said.
I yawned. When I glanced down at the time display on my phone, I yelped in surprise.
“I need to get a move on,” I said quickly, grabbing my coat. “I’m going to be late.”
Angela waved and I opened the door and darted down the hall.
By the time I got to school, I was so distracted that I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus, no matter what. I ran into the break room and stuck my lunch in the fridge, praying that I wouldn’t be late to class. The kids were already here, and I hoped that Ruth was taking charge of the class.
Just as I was about to go to my classroom, Andy stepped into the break room. He grinned when he saw me.
“Hey, June,” Andy said. “Nice morning, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. “I’ve gotta go, I’m gonna be late.”
“Hey, wait a sec.” Andy grabbed my shoulder. “June, look, I really want to talk to you.” He glanced into my eyes and I flushed hotly.
“I’m really sorry,” I said quickly. “But I’ve got to run to class.”
“I didn’t mean here,” Andy said. He smiled, like it was a joke.
I forced a smile right back.
“How about we go out to dinner this Friday?”
“Oh, god, Andy, I’m sorry – I can’t. I actually have plans that night.”
Andy’s eyes flashed. “Oh yeah? With another guy?” I could tell he was struggling to keep his voice neutral and calm.
I blushed. “Uh, no, I’m just going out with my roommate, Angela,” I lied.
“Oh?” Andy raised an eyebrow. “Where are you going?”
Why are you giving me the third degree , I thought in exasperation. Just let me go!
“I don’t know yet,” I said. “Look, I’ve really got to run. Bye, Andy!”
Andy narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know how you can be like this, June.”
“What?” I frowned. “What are you talking about?”