“You look very professional today.” I smiled.
He was wearing a three-piece black suit with a light green shirt and matching tie. Needless to say, he looked hot.
“I have a meeting today with a big client, and he’s the uptight, everything needs to be professional, type of person.”
“So, what brings you here for a visit this early in the morning?” I asked.
“Being a teacher, I knew you’d be up getting ready for work.”
“Follow me to the bathroom. I need to start getting ready,” I said.
Sam got up from the table and stood in the doorway of the bathroom while I put on my makeup.
“I had a great time with Gretchen last night. She’s an amazing person.” He smiled. “I think the four of us should go out.”
I was leaning over the sink, putting on my mascara. “The four of us?” I asked.
“Gretchen, me, you, and Luke.”
“I don’t date,” I said as I looked at my eyes in the mirror.
“I know you don’t, and I’m really sorry to hear that.”
I instantly looked at him. “Gretchen told you, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she told me all about your ex and what had happened at the church.”
“Damn her. Just wait until I talk to her,” I said in anger.
“Don’t, Lily. She’s worried about you. She told me that she’s happy you moved to Santa Monica because then she can keep a closer eye on you. She doesn’t want you to be lonely.”
“I like being lonely. Did she say anything else?” I asked as I ran a brush through my damp hair.
“She told me that your family isn’t dead and that they’re still living in Seattle.”
“My family’s dead to me, Sam. What my sister and mother did is unforgivable. I want you to forget about that conversation, and don’t ever mention it to anyone. Do you understand me? I’m starting my life over, and that’s my story. I never plan on seeing either of them again.”
“Ok, I’ll forget about it, but I want you know that Luke isn’t a bad guy like you think he is. He’s hiding himself, just like you are.”
“I don’t care about Luke, Sam. I’m not interested in men, period. I don’t care who they are. They’re all lying, cheating bastards who break my heart over and over. I refuse to ever let it happen again.”
He put his arm around me and held me tight. “I understand, and don’t worry; your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
“I have to go, or I’ll be late. Have a good day with your students.” He smiled as he turned and left the apartment.
“Have a good, professional meeting!” I yelled from the bathroom.
As I was blow-drying my hair, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Sam had said about Luke; that Luke was hiding himself. I didn’t care about Luke or his life. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and headed out the door.
***
The students were wound up, but we had a productive day. I was sitting at my desk as the students were doing a writing assignment when Charley came up to me.
“Miss Gilmore,” she said.
“Hi, Charley, what’s up?” I asked.
“My uncle’s taking me to the carnival Friday night,” she said with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“Wow, what a nice uncle you have.” I smiled back.
“He’s the best! He takes care of me a lot while my mom’s working. He helps me and my mom out since my daddy isn’t around.”
Hearing Charley say those words broke my heart. I knew what it was like not having your dad around.
“Your uncle sounds like he’s an amazing person.”
“He is, and I love him very much. I think you would like him, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. She died.”
“Oh, Charley, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure that I’d like him.”
The bell rang, and the end of the school day had arrived.
“Bye, Miss Gilmore.” Charley smiled and waved.
“Bye, Charley. See you tomorrow.”
The classroom emptied, so I walked around putting things away and straightening the desks. I grabbed my bags, got in the Explorer, and started driving down the road. As I was driving and listening to my favorite tunes, my car started to shake. I quickly pulled over onto the side of the road, and it stalled. I turned the key to try and start it, but it was dead. I sighed and got out my phone. I tried to call Gretchen and Giselle, but there was no answer. Shit—shit—shit! I said as I got out and leaned up against the side of the Explorer. I tried to call Sam, but he didn’t answer either, so I left a message and told him where I was.
Thirty minutes had passed, and I was getting ready to start walking when a motorcycle pulled up behind me. I was a little nervous. He pulled off his helmet and looked at me. I couldn’t help but smile as Luke got off his bike and started walking towards me.
“So, you’re my knight and shining armor?” I asked.
“Something like that,” he said. “Pop the hood so that I can take a look.”
I popped the hood and stood next to Luke as he examined the engine. “Try and start it,” he said.
I got inside and turned the key—nothing. “Sorry, but it still doesn’t want to start!” I yelled form the driver’s seat.
Luke shut the hood and walked over to me. “It’s probably the alternator. You’re going to have to get this towed.”
“Great,” I said as I put my forehead on the steering wheel.
“My buddy owns a garage not too far from here. I’ll call him and have him come tow it.”
I looked over at him. “Thank you, Luke.”
“No problem,” he said as he walked away and made the phone call.
He walked over to me and handed me his helmet. “Here, put this on.”
I looked at him confusion. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want you on the back of my bike without one on.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “I’m not getting on the back of that thing. I hate motorcycles.”