Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Della

I was so getting fired.

But did the threat of unemployment keep me from walking to Jeff’s table? No. No, it did not.

On the drive to the pizza parlor, I’d rationalized this a hundred different ways. It wasn’t a date but an accidental encounter, right? I’d come for pizza and just happened to bump into a student and her father. This was a coincidence—technically, Jeff hadn’t even invited me. And it would be rude to ignore them when we were all, inadvertently, at the same restaurant.

He’d simply mentioned his plans tonight, which had happened to match mine—or the plans I’d made after he’d mentioned his.

Oh, hell. This had disaster written all over it.

But still, I kept walking. As long as I kept this crush to myself, no one could assume this was a date.

Secrets worked. Until you told someone.

The school’s code of conduct didn’t prohibit friendships between teachers and parents. But it did forbid a romantic relationship between a student’s parent and his or her teacher while said student was in the teacher’s class. A rule designed to ensure there was no preferential treatment.

Meaning that while Katy was in my class, Jeff was totally verboten.

I’d read that policy a hundred times in the past two weeks, just to see if maybe it would change.

It hadn’t.

But I could do this. I could have dinner. As long as I didn’t cross the line between friendship and romance, this was just…pizza.

Everyone loved pizza.

“Hi.” Jeff grinned up at me when I reached his table.

“Hey.” My voice was too breathy. I sounded like the awkward teenage girls I caught flirting with the scrawny teenage boys beside their lockers. This was such a bad idea.

“Want to sit?” Jeff nodded to the booth’s bench seat opposite his.

Yes, I wanted to sit. Should I sit was an entirely different question. So I stayed standing beside the table, my gaze darting between his empty pint glass, a menu, the parmesan cheese shaker, the red chili flakes and the booth’s smooth vinyl, begging for my rear end.

“Della.”

I gulped. “This isn’t a date.”

“This is pizza.”

“Exactly.” With a sure nod, I shrugged off my coat, laying it in the booth before sliding into my seat. Then I did a quick scan of the restaurant, my frame relaxing when I didn’t recognize a single face.

“Here.” Jeff slid a glass of ice water across the table. “It’s Katy’s, but she hasn’t touched it yet. She’s too busy trying to win a stuffie from the claw grab machine.”

Past the booth, in the arcade, Katy was at her game, her eyes narrowed as she moved the claw with the joystick. “She’s adorable.”

“I think so too.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “So what do you normally do on Friday nights?”

“Clean.” And until this very moment, I hadn’t realized just how pathetic that sounded.

Wow. I needed to get a freaking life.

Luka was usually gone on Friday nights, off to meet friends or hit up a bar downtown. He used to invite me along, but I’d gotten so tired of watching him pick up women that I’d said no more often than yes, so much so that my invitations had stopped.

Which meant on Fridays, I had the house to myself and would take advantage, cleaning my bedroom and bathroom while I ran a couple loads of laundry.

Boring. Dull.

Time to stop talking about me.

“What about you?” I asked.

“On the Fridays when I have Katy, usually we go out to dinner, then play games at home. When she’s with Rosalie, I usually do some cleaning too.”

“So we’re both boring.”

He chuckled. “Instead of calling it boring, how about efficient? We use our free time wisely.”

“I like that.”

“Me too. I guess we’re kindred spirits.”

Kindred spirits. I liked that too.

My cheeks flushed as I met his hazel eyes, taking in the swirls of color. The intensity of his gaze only made the blush flame hotter, so I took a drink of the ice water.

This connection between us was so…potent. Tangible. It was like a thread stretched between us, a single fiber that kept growing and growing, weaving thicker and tighter, forming a rope.

“How does it feel like I’ve known you for years?” I whispered.

“I don’t know,” he murmured. “But I feel the same.”

Beneath the table, his shoe brushed mine. A touch so innocent, so simple, but my breath hitched.

“I, um…” Why was it so hot in here? I took another drink of water, then steered the conversation away from anything that would get me in trouble. Well, more trouble. “So Rosalie is sick?”

“No.” Jeff sighed, his foot staying exactly where it was, pressed against mine. “Yes. Maybe. It’s complicated.”

From everything he’d told me, everything about his relationship with Rosalie was complicated.

“She is sick a lot,” he said. “More often than not, she’s got no symptoms. The doctors won’t find a thing physically wrong with her. But I think…she likes to be sick. Or the illusion of sick. Earn that sympathy. I don’t know. When I say it out loud, I sound like an asshole. But it’s just my opinion. Maybe there is something wrong with her the doctors can’t find.”

“Ah.”

“It’s a sore subject,” he said, glancing behind him to make sure Katy was still at her game. “We didn’t have good insurance when we were married. After Katy was born, there were bills, but I was on a payment plan, taking care of it. Rosalie would get ‘sick’”—he added air quotes—“and rush off to the doctor. Over and over and over again. At one point, she was going weekly. The bills just piled up. Made it feel like I was in quicksand. Just when I thought I’d caught up on payments, she’d sink me a little deeper.”

I gave him a sad smile. “I’m sorry.”

He opened his mouth, about to say something, then clamped it shut. “Here I am again, telling you way more than you probably care about.”

“I care.”

He huffed a dry laugh. “What is it about you that makes it impossible for me to shut up?”

“I don’t know.” But I liked it. I liked that he confided in me when I doubted he confided in anyone else.

Jeff stared at the table for a long moment. He was debating whether or not to continue, wasn’t he?

I hoped he kept talking. His sharing made me feel important. Trusted. Special.

All my life, I’d just wanted a man who’d make me feel special.

“Rosalie didn’t want a divorce.” He spoke on a low sigh, like he’d accepted this urge to share the whole story. Like the only way he’d be able to stop talking was if I left the booth.

I was not leaving this booth.

“Why didn’t she want a divorce?” I asked. Was she still in love with him?

“Security, I think. We weren’t happy. We were never in love. Like I told you the other night, I didn’t want to admit I’d failed at my marriage. But I realized one day that the misery just wasn’t worth it. I didn’t want Katy growing up in that environment. So I told Rosalie it was over. She flipped. Flat out told me no. When she realized I wasn’t going to change my mind, she got a lawyer.”

And that was when he must have started referring to her as a vicious bitch.

“During the divorce, these sicknesses of hers became a nightmare. It was like she was purposefully trying to shove me into bankruptcy.”

“Why would she do that?”

“She was angry. Knew the thing I loved most was Katy. So she tried to take her away. Ruin my chances at shared custody.”

“What?” I gasped. “But if she was sick all the time, wouldn’t she want help with Katy?”

“If she had full custody, then I was paying higher child support. Enough to where she wouldn’t have to get a job.”

So she’d tried to take advantage. Vicious bitch.

“She racked up a bunch of bills,” he said. “We were still married so they were all in my name. Do you know how much it costs to go to the ER with abdominal pain every day for three weeks?”

“Every day for three weeks?” Oh my God. “How much?”

“A fuckton.” Jeff dragged a hand over his face. “The hospital ended up garnishing my wages. I was buried in debt. It was awful. But I got lucky. That lawyer I told you I hired? He was a referral from my boss at the time. Took me on pro bono. He was good. Very good. Made sure I didn’t lose Katy.”

I officially hated his ex-wife. “I’m sorry.”

“It all worked out.” He checked to make sure Katy wasn’t close by again. “Rosalie isn’t a bad mom, but she’s not a great mom. I have a great mom, so I know the difference. And I can’t even say it’s Rosalie’s fault. It’s just what she knows. Her own mother is exactly the same. Always sick. Never working. There’s always…something. And whatever that something is, it will always take priority over Katy.”

Then it was good she could always count on Jeff.

“Thanks for telling me,” I said.

“Christ.” He shook his head. “You’re the first person I’ve told in years. Ready to run for the door yet?”

“Nope.” I patted the bench. “I like this seat.”

His eyes softened, a few crinkles forming at the sides. “Glad you came tonight.”

“Me too.”

This was the riskiest move I’d ever made. Even as a kid, I’d never tried shoplifting a lip gloss or going to a party and lying to my parents about what I was doing. I’d been the good girl, happy to abide by the rules.

With Jeff, the stakes were sky-high. My career was one of the single most important things in my life. But I didn’t regret coming tonight. I just couldn’t. I liked him too much.

“Miss Adler!” Katy came to a sliding stop beside the table. A wide smile illuminated her face. Beneath her arm was a fuzzy, hot pink duck. “You came!”

“I decided pizza sounded really yummy. Hope you don’t mind if I sit with you and your dad.”

“No way.” She slid into the booth beside me, handing the duck to Jeff. “Look what I won.”

“Nice work, Dandelion.” He tucked the duck beside him, then handed over a paper kids’ menu with a four pack of crayons.

“Thanks. Coloring with crayons is kind of for little kids, but it’s all they have here so…oh well.” She gave me another blinding smile, then went to work. “What’s your favorite kind of pizza?”

“The works.”

“That’s ours too.” She colored as she spoke. “Dad is a landscaper. Did you know that?”

“I did, actually.” Jeff’s gaze was waiting when I looked over. “What’s your favorite part about it?”

“Making someone’s yard their sanctuary.”

Great answer. “I bet you have an amazing yard, don’t you?”

“Ha.” Katy scoffed. “Dad spends all his time on other people’s yards and saves ours for last.”

Jeff just shrugged. “She’s not wrong.”

Something in my chest melted. Maybe it was the way she teased him. The way he took it. They were so comfortable together. We were all so comfortable, like people who’d been spending Friday nights at Village Inn Pizza for a decade.

Or maybe it was the fact that Jeff gave his energy to others. His daughter. Clients.

There wasn’t a self-important bone in his body, was there?

“Here you go.” The waitress appeared with a pan, sliding it to the center of the table. “Can I get you anything else?”

“Another round of waters, please,” Jeff ordered, handing out plates already on the table.

Three plates.

There were three plates. I hadn’t noticed before but…

Our gazes met. He’d asked for three plates in case I came tonight. My heart swelled, so full it threatened to burst.

When was the last time someone had hoped for me?

“Can I have two pieces?” Katy’s question broke the moment, snaring Jeff’s attention.

He took two slices of pizza from the pan, lifted them to her plate and used his fork to pick off the olives.

This man doted on his daughter. He didn’t spoil her, just loved.

“Thank you,” I said as Jeff handed me my plate loaded with two slices.

We ate in an easy silence, the noise from the restaurant a backdrop to the meal. Katy continued to color on her page as she chewed, then challenged me to a game of tic-tac-toe. And though I was full, I hated the sight of my empty plate. I wasn’t ready to go home yet to a lonely house.

“Should we head home?” Jeff asked her after paying the check—refusing when I’d offered to chip in.

“Do you want to come over for game night?” Katy clasped my forearm. “Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease. It would be way more fun with three people. When it’s just me and Daddy we can only pick from like, four games and if I have to play cribbage again I might die. It’s his favorite but it’s boring.”

Jeff huffed. “Gee. Thanks.”

She ignored him. “Have you ever played Ticket to Ride? It’s this train game and it’s so much fun. Or we could play Settlers of Catan. It’s my other favorite.”

“Katy, I’m sure Miss Ad—”

“I’m in.”

Reckless. Foolish. But I really wanted to go to game night. “Is that okay?” I asked Jeff.

“Yeah.” He looked like he was fighting a smile. “More than okay. Let’s go.”

“One thing.” I held up a finger. “Katy, it’s probably best that the other kids in your class don’t know I’m coming to game night.”

“Oh, because they’d get jealous.”

“Exactly.” And because I’d lose my job.

She pretended to zip her lips shut, then let out a giggle. “Ticket to Ride first. Then Settlers.”

“I’ll just follow you.” I slid out of the booth behind her, snagging my coat. Then I followed them outside, climbing in my Jeep as they loaded into Jeff’s truck.

What was I doing? This was far beyond a coincidental meeting. But I stayed close to his truck, not wanting to miss a single turn as he led the way home.

His house wasn’t far from my place, ten blocks at most. I parked behind him on the street, taking in the charming, cottage-style house with gray siding and white trim. The front door was wooden with a large, marbled-glass inset. The second floor had a peaked roof, a square window in the triangle’s face, and beside it a cute dormer.

The landscaping was simple with a row of hedges beneath the porch railing. But otherwise, it was just a yard, similar to his neighbors’.

Katy beat both Jeff and me to the porch, waving us to hurry inside.

“Want something to drink?” he asked, hanging up my coat.

“Water.”

“Make yourself at home.” He left me in the entryway, his boots thudding on the hardwood floors as he disappeared around a corner.

“We play in here.” Katy took my hand, dragging me through the first open doorway to my left into a dining room.

In its center was a table and six chairs situated below a glass and brass chandelier. Katy went to the buffet against the far wall, opening a cupboard that was stuffed with games.

As she rifled around, I spun in a slow circle, taking in their house. It was older with a classic layout, designed and built before open concept had become so popular. I loved that each room had four walls.

The floors were new—the home had been remodeled and updated—but there were still pieces that seemed original, like the intricate trim around the doorways.

Tacked to the wall adjacent the buffet was a framed chalkboard. Jeff and Katy had written out a list of their games on one side. Then they’d broken it into two columns, one for Dad and another for Dandelion . A scoreboard.

Jeff strode into the room with three glasses of water, setting them on the table.

“She’s kicking your butt,” I said, nodding to the scoreboard.

He winked. “Yeah, she’s cutthroat.”

“What does that mean?” Katy asked.

“Means you never let me win.”

“Why would I let you win, Daddy?”

He reached out and tugged a lock of her hair. “Don’t let me win.”

“I won’t.” Yeah, this girl was cutthroat. I loved it. I laughed. I could spend hours listening to these two banter.

So I did.

We played games until darkness had long fallen outside. Until Katy yawned too many times to hide.

“Okay, time for a shower and bed,” he told her.

“But—”

He cut her off with a pointed finger to the ceiling. “Say good night to Miss Adler.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, even though leaving was the last thing I wanted to do. “I’d better get home.”

“Well, thanks for coming over.” Katy rounded the table, stopping beside my chair for a hug. “That was really fun.”

“Yes, it was. Thanks for inviting me.”

She smiled at her dad, then skipped to the staircase.

As we put away the games, the water turned on above us. “Thank you,” I told Jeff. “I haven’t had a fun Friday night in…a long time.”

“Better than cleaning?”

“Marginally.”

He chuckled, that deep, rich laugh I’d heard all night. It was addicting and unsatisfying all at the same time. Every time he laughed, I needed more. But he sobered too quickly, putting the lid on the game. “What’s the situation with the school? How big of a deal is this?”

“There are no rules against a friendship.”

“And what if I wanted more than friendship?” He relaxed in his chair, holding my gaze for a long moment. There was desire in his eyes. In his voice. Never in my life had anyone so clearly wanted me. Certainly not Luka.

Yes, I wanted more than friendship. I wanted it so badly I ached. But…

“It’s not allowed. Not while Katy is my student.”

“All right.” He leaned forward, elbows to knees. “Friends.”

“Friends.” I forced a smile despite my sinking heart. Standing, I made my way to the entryway, every step heavy like my shoes were wading through wet concrete.

Jeff followed, taking my coat off the hook where he’d hung it earlier. Then he held it open, but instead of sliding my arms inside, I inched closer.

“What if I wanted more than friendship?” I whispered.

What if I wanted him to kiss me? Right here. Right now.

No one in the world would have to know. Just…us.

His eyes flared, his arms dropping to his sides, my coat still clutched in a hand. “Della,” he warned. “You’re shredding my willpower here. You’d better go before it snaps.”

“Then give me my coat.”

He didn’t move.

So I closed the gap between us, feeling bold for the first time in my life. He made me comfortable enough to do that. To break the rules. To throw caution to the wind and just be desired.

His scent, citrus with woodsy undertones, invaded my nose. Damn, but he smelled good.

I was seconds away from rising up on my toes and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth when footsteps pounded down the stairs.

Jeff ran a hand over his face, stepping back.

I did the same, putting a foot between us as Katy appeared at the base of the staircase wearing Star Wars pajamas, her hair wet and combed.

“Bye, Miss Adler.”

“Bye, Katy.” My throat was dry, my voice scratchy. I reached for my coat, trying to take it from Jeff’s hand, but his fist clamped on the fabric, holding it for a long second before finally giving it up.

I put it on, hating its weight as it settled on my shoulders. Then with a wave, I turned and opened the door, stepping into the night.

Wishing I didn’t have to go home.