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I spent all Sunday mulling over my evening with Felicity. I tried to come up with a sexy response to her text, but all I managed was the lame See you soon! Ugh, I sounded like a clueless teenager. No wonder she never replied.
By the time Monday rolls around, I’m up at six and ready for a full day of chaperoning Felicity’s pupils. I hope we get a bit of time alone to talk.
Scrap that. I hope I survive the day. I park my bike in the school’s parking lot where Felicity is lining up her class. Screaming, crying, and awful singing hit my ears all at once. Yeah, this day might result in a sensory overload, but at least I get to spend it with the woman I can’t get enough of.
Felicity catches sight of me and waves me over.
“Hey,” I say, trying to stay cool in her presence.
“My god, I’m so happy you’re here. One of our teachers called in sick. How am I supposed to wrangle forty kids into this bus without any help? My colleague has already left with a bus full of pupils and two moms who volunteered, thank goodness.”
The panicked look on her face tells me that now’s not the time to start a conversation about our almost-kiss. I switch into management mode, and within five minutes, everyone’s on the bus and accounted for.
“Would you mind sitting in the back?” Felicity asks before I can take a seat next to her. “The backseats are notorious for needing a chaperone.”
“Of course. I’m here to help.”
I make my way to the back of the bus while several kids stare at me. When everyone’s seated and the bus driver is ready to go, Felicity stands and introduces me as her “helper friend.” She then goes over a list of bus rules. I can tell she runs a pretty tight ship. The kids all listen to her, which is a relief. Them behaving well will make this trip a bit easier on me.
I truly admire Felicity. She’s smart and kind and always ensures her pupils feel good in the classroom. The work she puts in is amazing. She never reuses her old lesson plans but tries to come up with fun and creative ideas each year. Even though her teacher’s salary isn’t big, she still uses a portion of it to buy her pupils crafting supplies and books they can use in the classroom. I love a woman who’s passionate about her job. I feel the same way about being a car mechanic and would hate to be with someone who doesn’t have any passion in her life.
The drive to the dinosaur experience center takes about an hour. Once the kids are all off the bus, Felicity joins her colleague at the ticket counter, where they’re sorting out the reservation.
I’m left watching the kids with the two other volunteers, both moms like Felicity told me.
“Hello. I don’t think we’ve met before,” one of them says. “I’m Stacy, Lou’s mom. He’s in Felicity’s class. Are you new here?”
I run a hand through my hair and laugh. “I don’t have any kids. I’m a friend of your son’s teacher and offered to help today. My name is Colin, by the way.”
“No kids, huh?” the other mom says. “I’m Jane. My daughter is over there.”
She points to a girl with pigtails who is wrestling with a boy.
“Shouldn’t we intervene?” I ask, worried these kids might hurt themselves.
“Nah, they’re just playing. It’s all innocent fun. So, Colin, are you planning on having kids or...?”
I chuckle at Jane’s straightforwardness. “I’d love to have kids, but I’m single.”
She puts her finger on her lip. “Interesting.”
“I’m divorced,” Stacy cuts in. “I guess that means we’re both single.”
“I guess.”
Jane touches my bicep way longer than necessary, making me uncomfortable. “I’m divorced too. It’s rough, you know? Heaven knows I long for a strong man to sweep me off my feet again.”
I look over at the ticket counter, hoping to catch Felicity’s eye and signal that I need help, but she’s too busy to notice me.
“I’m sure you’ll meet someone sooner or later.” I try to sound diplomatic. The last thing I want is for them to think I’d be interested in either of them. Jane and Stacy are both gorgeous women, and I’m sure they’re sweet and all, but they’re not Felicity. She’s the only woman I want.
Jane winks at me. “Maybe I’ve already met him.”
“I’m open to that possibility as well,” Stacy says.
Shit. I need to shut this down before it goes too far.
“So, Colin, what do you do for a living?”
I’m relieved they’re changing the subject. “I’m a car mechanic. It’s a fun job with lots of variation.”
“I bet you get all greasy and dirty when working, don’t you?” Jane asks.
Stacy nods vigorously. “And smell like motor oil every day? You’re probably good with a wrench too.”
Sheesh, they don’t give up, do they? Thankfully, Felicity and her colleague return to us with wrist bracelets for everyone. I excuse myself and tell Jane and Stacy that I’m going to help Felicity do a head count.
Five minutes and a successful head count later, we start our tour. The guide is already waiting for us in the first exposition space, where a giant dinosaur replica towers over us. The kids all ooh and aah at the sight.
I don’t usually like museums or expos, but this one is quite interesting. One hour later, the kids are in the giant excavation pit—a giant sandbox with fake dinosaur bones—and we adults get a moment to rest.
Felicity finally joins me on one of the wooden benches scattered around the sandbox. “Thanks again for volunteering today, Colin. You’re the best. The others think so as well.”
“You mean Jane and Stacy?”
“Yeah. They can’t stop talking about you. I can’t blame them. You’re an amazing catch.”
The worried look on her face clues me in that she’s not convinced of my loyalty toward her yet.
“Hey, don’t worry, okay? I’m not interested in them.”
“You aren’t?”
“What I said the other night about having feelings for you hasn’t changed. I meant it,” I say, my voice low and husky as I run my thumb over her hand. “You’re the only one for me.”
Her face lights up with a dazzling smile. “Thanks, Colin. And I’m sorry I never replied to your text message. I didn’t know what to say except that I couldn’t wait for you to continue that night.”
“You mean, kiss you?”
“Yes.” She bites her lip. “There’s one thing I wanted to talk to you about first.”
“Okay.”
She takes a deep breath as if trying to suck in the courage to speak. “I deeply value our friendship, Colin. And I’ve had feelings for you for longer than I dare to admit.”
“I feel the same way.”
“And that’s awesome. I just... If we give in to our feelings, I want it to work. I don’t want to lose the connection we have.”
I scoot closer and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before whispering, “The moment my lips land on yours, you’re mine, Felicity. Crossing that line means I’m never letting you go.”
“Prove it.”
Fuck. I’d kiss her here and now, but this is not the spot to do it. I need her in my bedroom. Just the two of us and nothing but an endless sea of time at our disposal so I can make her come over and over again.
“Tonight,” I whisper. “Tonight, I’m making you mine.”