I guffawed, turning down the road as the realization hit me. I would have to wait, just one more day. “Touché, my friend. But remember, if you ever give me a chance, I’m here, waiting for you.”
“Give it a rest, man,” he sighed, edging his elbow into my side. “I can’t handle it.”
Chapter 3
Angie
I watched the children dart from school for the day, my brain still spinning with news of my mother. It had been a day since I’d spoken to my parents, but even now, the conversation weighed heavily on me.
My fingers twitched, already wanting to head back into my classroom and dial the familiar number again. Maybe I could even call my mother’s doctor, I considered. I could get the lowdown from the direct source, without my father trying to keep things from me, thinking that that way, he might keep me safe.
The last of the children scampered from the inner yard, diving into their parents’ cars. I moved toward the front gate, preparing to lock it. After a moment, I realized that a man was poised to the side of the entrance, peering at me.
The man looked completely different than most of the other parents. Although he wore plain street clothes—a pair of jeans and a button-up—he was clearly one of the more handsome men I’d ever seen in Al-Jarra. With wide-set brown eyes, thick lips, and a chorus of thick, dark hair, his looks alone sent a shiver up my spine. Realizing I was staring, I averted my eyes, knowing I couldn’t be caught checking out the father of one of my students.
“Hello? Can I help you?” I heard myself ask, my voice suddenly high-pitched. “Are you a parent? I don’t think we’ve met…”
I trailed off, noticing his hands, strong and dominant. The hair on his chest snuck out from his shirt, adding to his masculine aura. His eyes were now completely focused on me, inhaling me. I felt, in that moment, like I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. I never felt that way.
“Um. I’m sorry,” he said, chuckling slightly. His voice was warm in my ears, something I wanted to cling to. “I just saw you from the road, and I was so curious about you. Somehow, I felt we’d met before.”
I felt my eyebrows lower on my forehead. This line lacked creativity. I couldn’t link it up in my mind. Why was he spying on me? Why was he walking by—this handsome man, eyeing me like that?
“Well, I don’t think we have,” I said, swiping my hair behind my ears. “I think I would have remembered. And I haven’t lived here that long, so…”
“You just moved to Al-Jarra?” he asked, cocking his head to the left. As if he was actually interested. As if this wasn’t just another line.
“No,” I sighed, my nostrils flared. Why was my heart beating so quickly in my chest? I took a step back, creating more distance between us. “I’ve lived in Al-Jarra almost two years now. But I’ve only just moved to this area. It’s a bit different over here.”
“Oh, you must have been out east?” he asked, as if the country was big enough to warrant an “out east” expression.
I nodded, just wanting to give him something. An answer that would be enough for him.
“So, you live around here?” I asked him, unsure of why I wanted to dig our conversation in deeper. Something about his eyes, sparkling.
“A bit further into the city, actually,” he said, taking a step toward me. He was still so focused on me, making heavy eye contact. “I was just on a walk with a friend, who’s since taken his leave. Just daydreaming. Wandering.”
“The kind of thing you do if you don’t have a job?” I said, chuckling slightly.
“It’s true. I’m playing hooky today,” he told me.
“That’s not the kind of thing I can get away with,” I said, hearing warmth grow in my voice.
“As a teacher, I would think not. A whole classroom of people relying on you. A fearless leader.”
“Something like that,” I said.
“You know, I hate being so forward like this,” the man said, stepping even closer, “but your beauty drew me over here. And now, it’s your smile, your laugh, that’s preventing me from leaving. I must ask. What is your name?”