On Tuesday night, Joe and Lila drove up to Hotshots, a warehouse turned bar-and-volleyball play area. He grinned at the pink neon sign.
“Why are you smiling?” Lila asked from the passenger side.
He stared ahead. “This is the place Cassie and Mitch, my dad and Lacey, and Kurt and Zoe went to when they were dating. He chuckled. “They speak highly of it, though I’m sure there were a lot of fireworks going on.”
“Cassie and Zoe are happy, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, they are. Hard won, though.”
“I guess nothing worth having is easy to get.”
Once inside, they headed to the back, grabbed beers from the bar turned to face the court. People had just started to go out to the floor. “You’re going to be a sub tonight when someone needs a break.”
“Just as well. The sport isn’t my forte.”
“I’m going to take great pleasure in being better at something than you are for once.”
“Ha!”
When it was time to assemble, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See ya.”
He watched her as she jogged to the others. She wore a sassy red T-shirt that said, “Teachers have class” and a pair of skintight cropped pants. Joe was pleased to feel a little zing of interest surface inside him.
The teams lined up, Memorial Hospital employees vs. educators. The doctors donned blue shirts with medical sayings on the fronts, and the teachers wore red ones, like Lila’s, with teacher quotes.
Play began. Someone joined him at the bar. “Hey, Olivia. Didn’t know you played.”
“Huh. When Lila found out I was on my college volleyball team, she made me promise to show up here.”
“She got me here, too. Everybody appreciates when administrators participate.”
“I hope I don’t embarrass myself with those young guns out there.”
“That’d be my role, I think.”
“Can I ask you a shop-talk question?” He nodded. “How’s Dash Bodine doing in your class?”
“He’s quiet. His assignments are meticulous, though.”
“Does he get along with the others?”
“He doesn’t interact much. Some of the boys started to murmur things behind his back in class. I kept them afterward, and didn’t mention Dash, but told them to can the talking.”
“If he was in Cassie’s At-Risk class, that wouldn’t happen.”
“Cass said he wanted to be mainstreamed. He doesn’t have any of the behavioral issues the rest of her crew has.”
“All right, then. Keep an eye on him.”
“Will do.”
A whistle blared. Out on the court, a social studies teacher had fallen. One of the docs rushed over. He examined her then helped her up. “We need a sub. It’s only a turn of the ankle, but she needs to come out and put ice on it.”
“I’m too old for this.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “What was I thinking?”
“I’ll go in. You can gather your nerve a while longer.”
Joe took a position in the back of the court. The first shot came to him, and he pumped the ball with his fist—a little too hard. It flew over the net and out-of-bounds.
Lila yelled, “It’s okay, Joey. Next time.” Geez, it was going to be a long night.
It was. The game ended and the players took a break. Lila walked off the court with him. “Don’t worry. You’ll get better.”
“I hope so. What happens at Hotshots stays at Hotshots, right?”
She laughed. He liked the sound of it.
When the night ended—the teachers won, no thanks to Joe—he drove Lila to her apartment complex. “I wish I’d done better, but this was fun. Really fun.”
“I’m impressed that you can enjoy yourself even though you were…”
“So bad at it?”
“I guess.”
He went for the door handle. “Let me walk you up.”
At the entrance, she smiled. “Want to come in?”
“It’s late. Maybe next time.” He looked down at her. What the heck? Lowering his head, he brushed his lips with hers. She took that as a sign and looped her arms around his neck. He tugged her close. The kiss was fun…and foreshadowed more was to come.
At least, he didn’t think about Juliet tonight.
Damn it, except now, when he was kissing another woman.
oOo
On Wednesday evening, Juliet joined the Women Republicans for their monthly dinner in Bayview Heights. Craig had insisted she attend these gatherings, which was fair since he was the town’s sole representative to Congress. What she hated was that she had to speak tonight. She couldn’t let her nervousness show, though.
“And now Juliet Mason will give us the down low on what it’s like to be the wife of a United States congressman.”
Polite applause. Everything about this group was polite, including Juliet. She could shake them up by telling them the truth about her life with Craig, but she wouldn’t. In the end, she knew, she’d be blamed for not being enough for such a powerful man.
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for asking me here. I’m afraid I don’t have anything glamorous to tell you. First off, Craig is out of town a lot.” Thankfully. “He’s a member of several committees and just took a leadership role in the latest inquiry about drone strikes.
“I have a five-year-old daughter so she keeps me company, but I miss her father.” A lie. Things were much calmer when she and Hannah were alone in the house.
With as much enthusiasm as she could muster, she went on to talk about politics and how she was a sounding board for Craig, the kinds of events she attended in DC. She made a few other innocuous statements.
When she finished, she was surprised when someone said, “May we ask a few questions, Juliet?”
“Of course.”
“Why did you go back to work? It would seem you’d be more available to Craig if you didn’t.”
The question irked her, as if that was her only role in life. “I guess because I’m a teacher, and I like having something that’s my own.”
“I get it,” one woman added. “You’re a role model for working women in this country. If Craig ever ascends higher, that will be beneficial for you both.”
The last thing Juliet was or wanted to be was a role model. “I do believe in pay equity for women, something that education has always managed to handle right.”
“I have two teenage boys, Juliet.” The woman shook her head. “God bless you.”
A genuine smile came to her lips. “Many students, especially seniors, are better behaved in the classroom than at home.”
“Why would that be?” someone else asked.
Now, this was her wheelhouse. “Your teens are trying to separate from you because they’re leaving the nest next year. And sometimes, they act out in a misguided attempt to achieve autonomy.”
“Do you have some suggestions for channeling that?” another asked.
“As a matter of fact I do…”
Juliet left the dinner with a spring in her step. She’d contributed to the meeting in a unique way. Her self-confidence had gotten a huge boost. For the last five days, she’d felt guilty she’d spent all of Friday with Joe. Mostly, the guilt came from having enjoyed his company too much. Joe must have experienced something, too, because he was cooperating in maintaining a distance this week. Which was good and bad, because she’d missed not having him in her day.
This was for the best, though. If she stayed away from him, the closeness she felt would dissipate, as it should. She’d have dodged that bullet.
oOo
Joe and Zoe left the teachers’ cafeteria after they’d eaten lunch together. She was now head of the health department, and had been describing the peer leadership class she taught.
“If I wasn’t an English teacher I’d want to be in your area, Zoe.”
“Vice versa for me.”
The bell rang as they turned a corner, and students poured out of a classroom. Joe and Zoe stopped to let them go first. Dash was among the kids, and when he started down the hall, Joe heard, “Hea-then! Hea-then”
Dash halted, looking alert. Suspicious. Joe scanned the crowd. A group of boys in football jerseys stood off to the side. Dave Baker was among them. Joe said, “Go ahead, Zoe, I want to talk to some of these guys.”
He headed to the group. They didn’t see him, as they were staring at Dash. “Where’s your chains, gangbanger?”
From behind, Joe put a hand on Dave’s shoulder. “What’s going on, buddy?”
The boy’s face colored, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Nothing, Mr. Taylor.”
“Hmm. I thought I heard something mean come out of this group.”
Innocence all around.
“Probably not, though. Coach Barona expects you to be role models, not bullies, so I must be mistaken. Take it easy.”
Joe walked away. He knew what he’d heard, and they knew he knew it. This was a second offense for Dave. Next time, if there was one, Joe would take action.
At the end of the day, Joe was tidying up his desk and due at an English Department meeting in a half hour when Dash came to the doorway. “Do you have a minute, Mr. Taylor?”
“Sure, come on in.”
The boy had gained weight since he’d gone to live with Cassie. His face had filled out and his hair was less shaggy. The Lansings were doing with him exactly what they’d done for Johnny—showering him with attention and affection. And it showed.
“What can I do for you?”
At the desk now, he said, “Don’t take this wrong. I mean no disrespect. But please don’t try to fight my battles.”
Joe did the kid a service and didn’t pretend ignorance. “I’m a teacher in this school, and I have to stop bullying when I see it.”
“I can fend for myself.” His gaze pierced Joe, reminding him of a young Johnny. “You’re going to make it worse.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do.”
“Then I’ll respect your wishes as long as I can. But if something blatant happens, especially in our class, I’ll intervene.”
“Fair enough.”
Dash started to turn away and Joe said, “How are things going in general, Dash?”
The boy’s expression lightened. “I’m doin’ real good in my courses.”
“And socially?”
“I haven’t made any friends, if that’s what you mean.”
“Do you want to?”
He shrugged a shoulder, more like a kid now. “I guess.”
“Let me give that some thought.”
Dash rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to save me, Mr. Taylor.”
Teachers can save kids, he thought, picturing Johnny in this very school.
Just as he left, Juliet walked by Joe’s room. He was surprised that she stopped at his door. By tacit agreement, they’d put distance between them after spending so much time together on Friday. But the fact that she went along with staying apart confirmed to Joe that Juliet felt the same way about him as he did her. Their growing attraction was a sentiment that could never be voiced.
“Dash okay?” she asked.
He struggled not to take in how beautiful she looked in the emerald knit top she wore with a swirly print skirt. Or how her makeup subtly accented her eyes. “What?”
“I asked how Dash is.”
His voice was hoarse when he answered, “Some students got wind of his gang background and are being stupid about it.”
She leaned against the jamb. “Did you see it happen?”
“After lunch. I talked to the boys. Dash came in to tell me to back off. He was more polite than that, but the message was the same.”
Her eyes widened.
“Do you think I should, Juliet? I’m torn.”
Pushing off the door frame, she came farther into the room and hitched a hip on the edge of a desk. He got up and stood across from her. This close he could see the scoop of her neckline revealed a delicate chain with a teardrop emerald nested against her creamy skin. “You have to stop bullying, but Dash’s wishes are important. It’s one of the hundreds of dilemmas facing teachers.”
“And parents. When to get involved.”
“Yes, I guess.” She bit off some of the raisin color on her lips.
A slice of desire shot through him. He cleared his throat. “How’s your week going? I haven’t seen much of you.”
Juliet tried to take her eyes off him, but couldn’t seem to accomplish that small thing. “Good. Last night in particular.”
“Why is that?”
“I gave a talk to the Women Republicans at a monthly dinner.”
“Yikes.”
“Mostly, I’m uncomfortable there, but after my talk, the meeting turned into a discussion about education. For once, I was relevant in Craig’s world.” And several people had told her afterward how much they’d learned from her advice.
His brows rose. “Wow, tell me what happened. What you said.”
Joe bent his head in as he listened to her recount the discussion, and as he nodded, a shock of light hair fell onto his forehead. When she finished, he asked a few questions. “That’s terrific, Juliet.”
She basked in his praise.
“But why did you say for once you were relevant to your husband’s work?”
“I came to the conclusion years ago I was pretty much window dressing.”
His eyebrows raised. “You could never, ever be window dressing, Juliet.”
The deepness of his voice, the certainty in his tone made her gravitate toward him. When she found herself leaning in, she slid off the desk. “I’d better get going. I want to visit the ladies’ room and the department meeting starts in five minutes.”
“See you there.”
When she reached the classroom door, she turned around. He was standing where he’d been, his hands jammed into his pockets, staring after her. Electricity arced between them. “Thanks for what you said. I need to hear those things sometimes.”
“You should hear those things all the time, Juliet. You deserve to be spoiled by the man in your life.”
Her eyes welled. She strode away before he could see his effect on her.
Joe Taylor had just shown her how he’d treat her if she was his.
oOo
Chelsea had ducked into the women’s faculty bathroom because she couldn’t make it to the student lav. She rushed to a stall. Hanging on to the edges of the toilet seat, she retched as her stomach cramped and cramped and cramped.
When she finished, her legs like wet noodles, she stayed on her knees for a minute. Then she heard heels clicking on the floor. Oh, hell. Maybe she could hide in here until the person went away. Instead, there was a knock on the door. “Hi. It’s Juliet Mason. I heard you get sick. Can I help you in any way?”
She had to answer. So she cleared her throat and tried to sound older. “No, thanks.”
A pause. “Chelsea? That sounds like you. Are you all right?”
Caught. With no choice in what to do. She had to make up a story quick. Unlatching the door, she drew it back. “Sorry, Mrs. Mason. I know I’m not supposed to use this bathroom, but I couldn’t make it to the student one.”
“I don’t care about that.” Mrs. Mason put a hand on her shoulder, and Chelsea forced herself not to wince. “Come over and sit down.”
Taking a seat on the cushioned couch, Chelsea leaned back. Mrs. Mason wet some paper towels and sat next to her. She began to blot Chelsea’s face. The tender care made her breathe easily again.
“There. Now go rinse your mouth out. You’ll feel better.”
Still shaky from vomiting, Chelsea did what she was told.
“Come sit again.”
She did. And Mrs. Mason took her hand, which was freezing cold.
“What’s going on to make you sick?”
Chelsea sighed. “I’m not pregnant.”
“I didn’t say you were. Do you have a bug?”
“No.”
“Did you eat something bad?”
“Nope.”
“Did you eat anything at all?”
“Yes, breakfast. I get queasy every month when I get my period.” Which was a downright lie. She knew the real reason she was sick.
The hypocrisy of her and Dave being named Homecoming King and Queen made her physically ill.
oOo
Hannah held Juliet’s hand as they walked from the car to the bleachers. The beginning of October was mild with a slight breeze that ruffled their hair. “Brady’s coming tonight. Can we sit with them?”
Oh, dear Lord in heaven. “I told my friend Cassie we’d sit with her and her family.”
Hannah stopped and gave Juliet a very adult look. “Don’t you like Brady and Mr. Taylor anymore?”
“Of course I do.”
“You wouldn’t let me go play over there twice this week when Brady asked.”
“I wanted to spend time with you. And wasn’t it fun to play with Susie, your friend from ballet?”
“She’s nice. But I like Brady best.”
“You got to see him last night at basketball.”
Joe had brought Lacey and Seth to the gym with him, and he’d sat at the other end of the bleachers from her. Afterward, they went for ice cream together. Joe choose a seat next to Hannah, and Juliet talked to Seth. They’d successfully avoided each other.
Her daughter responded with a pout.
“Let’s hurry. I don’t want to miss the introduction of the seniors at the beginning.”
Dragging behind, Hannah showed her disapproval by scraping the toes of her shoes on the grass. Finally, they made it to the stands. Juliet scanned the crowd for Cassie. Hannah said, “Brady’s waving at us.”
Juliet’s heart sank. Joe apparently had come with Cassie, Mitch and the girls. He was at the end closest to the steps. Alexandra and Camille had Brady between them. Resigned, Juliet climbed the steps behind her daughter. Hannah rushed into the row, and Brady made room for her next to him. Juliet looked past Joe and waved. “Hey, Cass.”
“You want to come down here?” she asked. Which would mean she’d have to climb over six people.
“No. We’ll move at halftime.”
She dropped down next to Joe. He didn’t seem any happier about their proximity than she was. But he said lightly, “So, here we are again.”
Damning fate, she thought, Screw it. I’m going to enjoy myself. She squeezed his fingers. “We keep being thrown together.”
He covered her hand with his. “Let’s have fun tonight.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
The game began. Joe was full of comments. “Come in…plug that hole. Hell, somebody’s behind you!” Then, “Yes!” when they made a good play. While he concentrated on the game, she watched him. His thigh brushed hers. At one point, he unconsciously grasped her knee. When the team scored, everybody leaped up. Big hugs all around the stands.
And for the very first time, she was in Joe’s arms. The sensations of his body pressed close to hers made her catch her breath.
At halftime, Brady asked, “Can we get a treat?”
“After the announcements,” Joe told him.
Brady sat back.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the Homecoming Court. First, the princesses.” Three girls’ names were called. Juliet knew two of them. She had the three princes in class. “And here, for the first time, the Homecoming King and Queen, Dave Baker and Chelsea Roberts.”
Tonight, Chelsea was beaming. She held Dave’s hand as they walked out onto the field. He kissed her after they were crowned. And Juliet thought how different this girl was from the fragile, frightened one in the bathroom yesterday.
Which one was the real Chelsea?
oOo
On Sunday afternoon, Joe was tied up in knots about Juliet, so he invited Lila to meet his friends from New York for brunch. Meg and Johnny already sat at a table at Bailey’s Irish Pub in the city. Johnny knew the owners and Joe knew of them, the famous O’Neils, whose daughter had been First Lady.
“Hey, guys,” Joe said as he reached the table. “This is Lila. Lila, John Battaglia and Meg Mancini.”
Lila grinned. What you saw was what you got with her, unlike Juliet who seemed to keep much of herself from others. “Nice to meet you. Joe speaks highly of you both.” She zeroed in on Johnny. “And, of course, you’re famous at our high school.”
“Infamous, I’m afraid.”
“You come out every year for career day.”
“It’s the least I can do for a school and teachers who saved my life.”
They took chairs and a waitress approached them. “Hi, I’m Jamie. Coffee?”
Yeses all around.
After it was delivered, they sipped the java and talked. “These two just got engaged, Lila.” He angled his chin to John. “So when’s the wedding?”
“Christmas Eve.”
“Seriously? You decided?”
“Yes.” John winked at Meg. “That was our first time.”
“Don’t ask him first time for what. He’ll tell you.” Joe gave John a shame frown. “Plans?”
“In Queens, where Meg’s from. At her church. Low-key, though, family and friends.” He raised a brow at Joe. “I need a best man.”
Joe’s jaw dropped. “I assumed that role would be Mitch’s.”
“I wanted two, actually. But he said no, I should have you. So, what do you say?”
Against his will, Joe’s eyes actually teared.
“Holy Christ.” John stood and Joe did, too. “Come’re, man.” They hugged.
When they sat again, Joe rolled his eyes. “How embarrassing.”
“I think it’s awesome when men show emotion,” Lila commented.
Meg couldn’t contain her smile. “My two sisters will be attendants.”
They discussed vows, and food and honeymoons. “Do you know where you’ll go for the latter?”
“Uh-huh,” Meg said. “The day after Christmas we’re heading to Jamaica. Kurt will take over the clinic, and Johnny’s pretty much in control of his time.”
“I thought you were a world-renowned heart surgeon.”
“I was. Now I’m a part-timer.” He grasped Meg’s hand. “I was hurt not too long ago, and I found out what was important to me.”
Meg made moon eyes at him.
And for the first time in his life, Joe was jealous of his friends’ happiness. He wanted that again. He’d been hoping Lila could get Juliet out of his mind. And she had, to a degree, then something would happen to throw him and Juliet together. He had to do better at staying away, cultivating interest in Lila.
So later that day, he agreed to go to Lila’s apartment. She obviously wanted to spend more time with Joe. Brady went to the movies with his uncles, and Joe had a few hours of free time. “This is a great place, Lila.” The apartment was small and decorated eclectically. It had character and said a lot about Lila.
She kicked off her shoes, sat near him on the tapestry couch and curled her legs under her. “Your friends are nice.”
“More than.”
“The two of them seem so close.”
“They always were. They broke up eight years ago over the direction they wanted their lives to go in, and got back together this summer.”
“Wow, you’d never know they had a rocky past.”
“They suffered a lot of pain in their lives because of the split.”
“I guess that’s how relationships go.”
“What about you, Lila. You’re what, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-seven. I’ve been serious about a few guys, but none stuck. My brothers say I’m too picky. I might be. Sure, I want somebody in my life, but I’m happy to concentrate on my career until that happens.”
“Smart move.”
She turned to fully face him. “I’ve got a lot of moves, Joe Taylor. Want to see some of them?”
His first thought was no. He wanted Juliet. Then he checked himself and reached over, tugged on her arms to pull her onto his lap. “I got some of my own, woman. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
She giggled and kissed him.
oOo
Juliet was having a perfectly lovely time playing Candy Crush with Hannah on her tablet when her phone rang. “That’s probably your Dad. I have to answer.”
“He gets mad when you don’t.”
“What?”
“I heard him yell at you about it. I’m gonna go FaceTime Brady.” She stood with the tablet and raced away.
Disconcerted by what her daughter knew, Juliet clicked on her cell. “Hello, Craig.”
“Juliet.” His voice was more clipped than usual.
“How are you?”
“I worked out at the gym in the Capitol this morning. Bob Meacham was there. We had juice afterward.”
“Did you have a good time?”
“No. He told me what a star you were at the Women Republicans’ dinner.”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“He said they all enjoyed talking about your teaching experiences.”
“They asked me about their teenagers. I had professional insights they didn’t.”
“You do understand that when you go to these events, they’re about me and not you.”
“I didn’t make this about me. They asked, Craig.”
“I’m trusting you won’t do this again.”
“Speak at an event? All right. I don’t like those things anyway.”
“Juliet!” His voice rose sharply. At least Hannah wasn’t in the room, because she would have heard it. Thinking of Hannah made her say, “And don’t speak to me like I’m a child, Craig. I don’t appreciate it.”
“And I don’t appreciate you putting yourself before me.”
Juliet stared ahead. He’d never spoken truer words.