I knew the truth. She was scared.
Kara was my opposite. I fell in love on the second date and got married the year after I graduated college. Kara refused to let anyone get that close to her. Her defenses were thicker than the Great Wall of China. She let very few people in.
I was one of the lucky ones.
Kent was cool though and he’d always been nice to me. I wished- silently, of course, because I valued not having my hair ripped out-that she’d give him a chance.
Eli leaned in with a crooked half-smile. “Hey.”
I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling wider. “Hey.”
“Did you get your name on the list?” His head tilted toward the stage.
“It was the first thing I did when I walked in.”
His smile widened and straight, white teeth winked at me from behind his full lips. “Liar,” he teased. “You walked straight to the bar.”
I took a sip of my new drink and felt a blush spread out on both of my cheeks. I blamed the alcohol. “And you didn’t?”
“Of course I did,” he chuckled. “This has been a shit week.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. The cops had been called yesterday after two kids beat the shit out of each other during lunch. Today someone pulled the fire alarm and interrupted second period. That was on top of all of the other day-to-day drama this year seemed filled with.
“You are not wrong,” I agreed.
We sat silently while new teachers took the stage. The beginning notes to Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing came on and I took a quick drink to hide my excitement.
Eli’s breath brushed over my neck. “I saw that.” His low voice rumbled in my ear.
I looked up at him from beneath my eyelashes and asked innocently, “Saw what?”
“You like this song,” he accused.
“Everybody likes this song!” My defense was ruined with laughter. “It’s maybe the most likable song in the history of songs.”
His dark eyes lit up, glittering in the dim lights of the dingy bar. “Did you want to join them? I’m sure we could find you a mic.”
“Just a small town girl,” I mouthed to him. “Living in a lonely world.” I held my tumbler to my lips, gripping it dramatically. “She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere!”
Eli’s head tipped back as he laughed out loud. “What will it take to get you to do that on stage?”
“A million dollars and your first born child.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but it might be worth it.” He leaned closer again and I inhaled his cologne. My stomach flipped and a shiver skittered down my back. “Would you like me to sign that contract with blood? Or will a regular old pen work.”
“Blood, if you please.”
I expected something witty and charming, but instead his laughter died and his expression turned serious. “It’s nice to see you smiling again, Kate. It looks good on you.”
My blush turned into a blanket of tomato-red and I wanted to press my ice-cold glass against my cheek. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Is there room?”
My head snapped up and I forced a smile on my face. Our private moment was interrupted by more co-workers. I could feel Kara’s glare across the table, but I couldn’t look at her or I would burst into laughter.
Andrea Turner and Meg Halston joined our group, dragging chairs with them. Eli and I were forced apart so they could squeeze between us.
I took a long drink and braced myself for two of the most annoying people I had ever met. Andrea and Meg worked in the office. Meg was the school nurse and Andrea worked at the front desk. They were both in their late thirties and the center of the gossip control tower at Hamilton.
I had never gotten along with Andrea. She had been snide with me from day one and I had no reason to try and get on her good side. I avoided her as much as I could, especially after I’d overheard her tell Meg that Nick left me because I was as frigid in the bedroom as I was in the classroom.