MY SISTER CALLS as I’m driving to work. I groan when I see her name come up, knowing I was the topic of family dinner conversation last night. “Good morning, Avi.”
“So Bubbie says you’re getting married.” She cuts right to the point. I appreciate that as I need to go inside and certainly don’t want this conversation overheard.
“Yep, Av, and she’s expecting twins, too. Did she mention that part?”
My sister laughs. “So is there anything to this or has Bubs been huffing glue at yenta craft hour?”
I sigh. “There’s a woman. It’s…new.” She squeals. “Please do not squeal.”
“AJ, do you realize what this means?”
“This means nothing. This means I’m seeing someone.”
“You took her to temple and she met Bubbie.” My sister blows a raspberry. “That ain’t nothing.”
“Look, Avi, I just pulled up at work. I can’t have middle schoolers overhearing this conversation.”
“I’m surprised they don’t know already, what with Bubbie taking out an ad in the newspaper.”
“She did not.”
“Adriel Trachtenberg is officially moving on after the ice bitch stabbed him in the heart.”
“Come on, Avi, please.”
“All right, all right.” My sister sighs. “Can I meet her?”
“Goodbye, Avi.” I hang up before she can come back at me. I don’t get long to recover, though, because Leo and Doug are waiting for me outside the door.
“You’re really putting me through the gauntlet,” I groan, but then I perk up when Doug offers me a wax paper bundle.
“My sister in law made scones,” he says. “I’ll trade you for details about date night.”
I gesture for the pastries as Leo groans that it’s not fair since he didn’t get any carbs. “How did you two even know about date night?” Leo swipes his badge to get us in the door and we make our way up to the teachers’ lounge to drop off our lunches.
Leo looks at me strangely. “You were going on and on about the bird watching,” he says. “You absolutely never take that sort of stance on being the one to do recon on a potential student project.”
“And how exactly does that translate to date night?”
Doug pushes open the door to the lounge and clicks on the lights. “You telling us you didn’t take a certain data analyst along with you to count birds?”
I sigh. “Fine.” I unfold the wax paper and the buttery scent of the scones fills the room. Leo’s stomach growls. I snap it in half and hand it to my friend as I tell them most of the details of my night with Samantha.
Doug is grinning like he just won a contest or something. “I’m really happy for you, man. This is giving me life this week. Did I tell you my oldest needs to start wearing deodorant? Things are not okay for me at home.”
Leo wipes his hands on a paper towel as he finishes chewing the end of his portion of scone. “But something’s off,” he says. “Your shoulders are practically up at your ears.”
“I’m not tense,” I say, as I consciously lower my shoulders and roll my neck, trying to relax.
“What happened,” Leo asks, leaning against the copy machine and then jumping when his hip causes it to whir awake.
I take a bite of the scone, trying to decide how to tell them about the niggling fear eating at me, that Samantha is using my students to bolster her reputation. Using me, too. I dab a napkin at my stubble, which has almost progressed into beard territory. “She’s having some issues with work. Something about bad press.”
Doug’s eyebrows fly up. “I read that article, actually. That reporter seems like a jackass. The whole thing felt uncalled for.”
I nod. “Sam says the IPO is at risk now, that the board is questioning her leadership in response to all the articles.”
A clattering sound comes from outside the room and the three of us turn our heads to the hall. Margot pokes her head into the room, trailing a backpack so heavy she pulls it on wheels like luggage. “Sorry. I got here early to meet with Mr. Rogers about proofreading my profile for the coding camp…”
Doug nods and grins. “I remember, Margot. Let’s go take a look.”
She hesitates. “Mr. T, did you say Samantha is having trouble with Vinea?”
I scowl. But if Doug is reading the media, it’s not like Margot won’t just go do an internet search. “There was a negative article about her company, yes. But I’m sure she and her staff will overcome this.”
“Can we do anything to help? She did so much for us.” Margot squeezes her backpack handle so tightly her fingers turn white.
“Nothing for you to worry about, Margot. I’m sure Ms. Vine wants you to focus on school.”
She nods and follows Doug out of the room. I listen as their voices trail off when they arrive at his classroom. Leo slides in next to where I’m leaning against the counter. “What’s really eating you about what Sam said?”
My heart races and I close my eyes. I feel like I want to just tamp down this hunch, as if saying it out loud will call it to life. “Just…echoes of Lara, I guess.”
Leo snorts. “Sam isn’t Lara, dude.”
I purse my lips. “She’d do anything for this company, though, and if the board is having concerns…”
“Okay, ask yourself this. Would a woman sit with you in the rain to count birds if she was using you to finagle good press?”
I shrug. “I don’t fucking know, man. Clearly I don’t have a good track record understanding women’s motives. I shouldn’t even be allowed to try.”
Leo pats me on the back. “Don’t say that, AJ. You’re a catch. Remember that.” I roll my eyes. “I’m serious. And she’s a catch, too. I’m glad you caught each other.”
“Thanks, Leo.”
“Don’t mention it. Now.” He rubs his palms together. “Let’s say we play rock, paper, scissors for who has to proctor recess this week.”
I laugh. “No way. I’m department head. I have responsibilities. Recess detail is for regular teachers.”
“There it is,” he says, pointing at me. “There’s the grouchy bastard we know and love.”