“Most teachers don’t even understand what they’re teaching that well. They barely pass their own exams and are somehow qualified to teach other people. I never use textbooks in my classroom because I feel like they aren’t good enough. That’s why I create my own problems and my own worksheets.”
He would truly be a godsend for Lizzie. But I would never put him on the spot and directly ask.
“Private tutors are usually better.”
“How much does that cost?”
He shrugged. “Not sure. But I know they aren’t cheap.”
I was making more money now, but I was really stashing my cash away for Lizzie to graduate from college debt free. I didn’t want her to deal with student loans for thirty years like I had to. I could use that money to pay my own student loans, but I would rather give her a head start in life.
We arrived at my apartment building, and I turned to say goodbye. “I’ll—”
“Baby, I’m walking you to the door.”
I hated taking up more of his time when our night was ending prematurely because of my obligations. But I didn’t argue with him.
We reached my floor and walked down the hallway until we were at my front door, my heels clapping against the hard tile. I turned to him to say goodnight, holding her food with both hands so I didn’t have any way to embrace him.
He did the work for me. His arms circled my waist, and he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “Goodnight, baby.”
I wanted to do more, to go home with him and sleep through the night, side by side. I couldn’t give him that at all, and I had no idea when I could. “Goodnight…”
Because the universe hated me, my mom opened the front door like she intended to go across the hall and retrieve something from the apartment she shared with my father. She looked surprised, like she had no idea we were standing there.
My heart dropped to the floor.
Surely, Derek must have assumed this was a possibility when he walked me to my apartment door, so he should have been prepared for it.
My mom stared at him for a few seconds, like she couldn’t believe he was that attractive in real life.
I couldn’t believe it either, every single day.
I didn’t expect Derek to do the talking because I knew he struggled with basic social interactions, so I spoke first. “Mom, this is—”
“Derek Hamilton.” He extended his hand. “Lovely to meet you.”
My mother shut the door behind her like she didn’t want Lizzie to overhear. She took his hand and gave it a quick shake. “You too, Derek. I wish I could say I’ve heard so much about you, but Emmy is pretty tight-lipped about…”
“Mom.” With just a word, I told her to chill out and not make this into something it shouldn’t be. I tried to hand her the food so she would have something else to focus on. “How about you give this to Lizzie—”
“My daughter and granddaughter come as a set. So, if you want to be my daughter’s man, you should step up and be a man and—”
“Mom.” I couldn’t believe she’d just said that, just blurted it out so inappropriately. “Go inside and give this to Lizzie.” Now I was furious my mother would have an outburst like this when it was the first time I’d had a serious relationship with a man since Lizzie was born. Why would she risk losing that?
Derek handled the situation remarkably well and rebounded quickly. “I’m sure I’ll meet Lizzie soon. With everything Emerson has shared with me, she sounds like a very bright young girl.”
My mom stared him down like that wasn’t good enough as she took the food from me. “Hurt my daughter, and I’ll hurt you.” She stormed inside and kicked the door shut behind her.
My hands immediately covered my face in raw humiliation. “Oh my fucking god… This is why I don’t want you to walk me to my door—”
“Baby.” With confidence in his voice, he grabbed my wrists and gently pulled them down so I would look at him. “It’s fine. I will continue to walk you to your door, regardless of your mother’s reception. She can’t scare me away, alright?”
That was not what I expected him to say…at all. “My mother is really a lovely person. She’s not like that…”
“She’s protective of you. I get it. From what I’ve gathered, I sound like your first real relationship, so this is the first time she is going through this scenario. You’re the most selfless person I know, always taking care of everyone else, and she wants you to have the best. I don’t blame her.” He looked into my eyes with that confident gaze, like this event wouldn’t change a single thing between us, like he wasn’t going to get pissed off at me again and stop talking to me.