“Tell me about it,” I mutter.
The bell rings, and we both head off in our own directions. I can totally keep this fling with Ev in perspective.
Chapter 16
Everett
“Remind me again what this is exactly,” I say as I reach Val, waiting for me on the sidewalk outside Livi’s school, just like when we came for the parent teacher conference. I let go of Livi’s hand so she can give her mother a hug, and I smile at the memory of that day over a month ago. If I hadn’t run into Watson that day, would I ever have worked up the courage to go back into Jack’s to talk to him again?
What a tragedy that would’ve been.
We’ve managed to find time for a couple more interesting phone calls this week, and in exactly twenty-four hours, he’ll be all mine again.
“It’s a fun fair,” Val answers my question. “It’s to raise money for…something, I can’t remember.”
Inside, the place is crawling with kids and harassed looking parents. There are colorful decorations made from construction paper hanging from the ceiling and taped up on the walls. We follow the arrows to the gymnasium where there are all kinds of booths—games to play, overpriced food to buy, you name it.
“Oh look, I can win a pet fish at that game,” Livi says, tugging on my hand and pointing at the nearest booth.
“I think we have to buy tickets to play the games. Come on.” I point at the ticket stand. The three of us get in line.
While we wait, Val tells me all about her week, and I fill her in on everything Livi and I did together as well.
As we near the front of the line, the ticket counter comes into view, and I spot Watson manning the register. My heart stops beating and then kicks into overdrive. He looks up, and our eyes lock, a slow smile spreading over his lips.
I’ve built such a firm mental wall between Watson and everything else that it didn’t even occur to me that he would be here today.
“Daddy, you’re squeezing my hand,” Livi complains.
“Sorry.” I mutter, releasing my grip and shoving my hands into my pockets.
Luckily, Val doesn’t seem to notice my sudden fidgeting. She starts gossiping about one of the mothers she knows who apparently found some incriminating texts on her husband’s phone. I’m only half listening, nodding and mmhmm-ing while continuing to stare at the man who’s been front and center in my mind for the past few weeks. He blushes and smiles while helping the people in front of us.
“Next,” Watson calls as the people in front of us walk away with their stack of game tickets. “Oh, hi there.” He smiles politely, acting surprised to see us as if he wasn’t squirming under my gaze for the last five minutes.
“Hi, it’s good to see you,” Val says sweetly.
I order enough tickets for Livi to play every game twice if she wants, and as I’m handing over the cash, our fingers brush, a jolt of warmth flowing from his hand to mine.
“You’re not going to be stuck doing tickets all day, are you? It would be a shame if you missed out on playing the games,” I say casually.
“My ticket shift ends in an hour, so plenty of time to play games,” he assures me with a grin.
“Good,” I say, and he nods in agreement.
“Have fun, Livi,” he says, waving to her before we walk away.
“That was weird. Didn’t he call her Olivia the last time we met with him?” Val asks.
Oh shit. “No, uh, I don’t think so,” I lie quickly. She crinkles her forehead, clearly trying hard to remember correctly, and then simply shrugs.
“Weird, I must’ve misremembered.”
“Guess so,” I agree.
We spend the next hour working our way through the games and booths, not to mention a ridiculous amount of cotton candy. And Livi does manage to win a fish, which the lady running the booth graciously agrees to let us pick up before we leave so it won’t die being carried around in a plastic bag all afternoon. All the while, I keep one eye on the ticket booth.
When Watson is finally replaced by another teacher, I jump at the chance for just a minute alone with him.
“I’m going to run find a bathroom,” I tell Val.
“Okay.”
I slip away, heading out through the same side door into the gym that Watson disappeared through. I’m trying to remember the way to his classroom when I round the corner to find him leaning against a set of lockers.
“Hey, stranger,” he greets me with a flirtatious smile.
“Hey.” I lick my lips and check behind me to make sure we’re alone.
“Come with me,” Watson says, jerking his head and leading me a little farther down the hallway with a conspiratorial grin. He pulls open a door labeled janitor’s closet, and excitement skitters over my skin. I glance around quickly again and then follow him inside, pulling the door closed quickly behind us.
The space is as cramped as one would expect for a closet filled with cleaning supplies and a mop bucket. It’s so tight, in fact, that I’m forced to stand pressed up against Watson, so close our noses are nearly touching.
“Hi,” he says again, slipping a finger through the belt loop on my jeans.
“Hi,” I reply with a low rumble of a laugh that turns into a quiet moan when he presses his lips against mine.
My cock swells as his tongue teases mine. I can feel the answering bulge in the front of his pants, and my whole body heats. I loop my arms around his neck and run my fingers through the short hairs at the base of his neck, pressing my body more firmly against his, letting myself get lost in him.
Someone could stumble on us at any moment, pull open the door and catch me with my tongue down Watson’s throat. That thought is equal parts terrifying and thrilling and somehow hot as hell.
“God, I can’t get enough of you,” he murmurs against my lips.
“I know. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I can’t think of anything except you,” I confess in a whisper.
Watson groans quietly, tugging on my belt loop and nipping at my bottom lip before soothing it with his tongue.
“How long until our second date?” he asks.
“Twenty-three hours.” I press chaste kisses all along his jaw and down his throat, telling myself I need to stop and go back to find Val before she gets suspicious, but unable to actually pull away from him.
“That’s too fucking long,” he complains.
“Tell me about it.”
My lips find his again, and we sink into another kiss.
I’m not sure how long I’m lost in the feeling of Watson’s mouth against mine when my pocket starts to vibrate.
“Oh,” Watson gasps and then giggles. “There’s an interesting feeling.”
“What that…Oh shit, it’s a text from Val.” Unsurprisingly, she’s wondering where the hell I disappeared to. “I’d better go.”
“Yeah,” he agrees. “Twenty-three hours.”
I grin and nod. Less than one day. I can wait that long. I reach for the door handle and start to open the door when a voice reaches my ears.
“Olivia is always so helpful with the other students,” someone says.
“That’s good to hear. I know we’ve had a bit of a problem with her language, but we’re working on it.” Val’s voice makes my heart clench and ice fill my veins. I pull the door closed as quickly and quietly as I can manage.