to,” I answered.
A short and stocky guy, wearing a chef’s apron, approached the table. He had short dark hair and dark eyes and was very tan. “Hey, Danny-O.” The guy said. “What’s going on?”
The guy sounded like he had just stepped out of Jersey Shore.
When the guy finally noticed me sitting with Daniel, he got a strange look on his face. “Is this the girl?”
The way he said ‘the girl’ made me sound like one of America’s Most Wanted.
Daniel cringed. “This is Lexie,” he introduced. “Lexie, this is my buddy, Joey-G.”
Joey-G put out a hand. “Hey, Lexie, glad to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Daniel gulped and it made me wonder what exactly he had heard about me.
“So, you and Eddie going up the coast this weekend?” Joey-G asked.
Daniel shook his head. “No, man. I’ve got a date with this lovely lady Saturday night.”
“You gotta come, Danny. The wind and waves there can’t be missed. Bring Lexie with you. I bet she’d love it up North.”
Daniel looked very uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was now taking.
“Why don’t you go with your friends, Daniel,” I offered. “We can go out another time.”
Daniel looked like I had just slapped him. He looked down at our hands for a few seconds then looked back up at me. “Have you ever been farther north? The Tampa Bay area?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Would you like to go this weekend?” he asked. I could hear the hesitation in his voice.
“I would like to,” I said, without realizing what I was getting myself into.
Daniel smiled. “It’ll be fun.”
Joey-G slapped Daniel’s back. “It’s gonna be a great weekend. The boys are all back in town.”
I gulped. As much as I wanted Daniel to be happy, I wondered what it would be like spending the weekend with Eddie, too. Yipes!
Joey-G took our orders and promised the grilled cheese was going to be ‘to die for’ and he didn’t lie. The lunch was delicious, especially the pickle.
***
When I got back to my office, there was an email from Mr. LaRoche.
TO: Alexandria Wilkens
FROM: Edward LaRoche
SUBJECT: Client Issue
Alexandria – I believe you have been assigned as the primary therapist to one of the students in my science class. I am having some issues with this student and I would like to discuss them with you. Would it be possible for you to stop by the science classroom this afternoon after four, when the students are released for the day?
Thank you – Mr. LaRoche
I emailed him back.
TO: Edward LaRoche
FROM: Alexandria Wilkens
SUBJECT: RE: Client Issue
Mr. LaRoche – I would be happy to meet with you regarding a student issue. I get off at 4:30.
Sincerely – Lexie Wilkens
I received an email back.
TO: Alexandria Wilkens
FROM: Edward LaRoche
SUBJECT: RE: Client Issue
I definitely want to be there when you get off. ;) See you at 4:30.
Ugh. I stepped right into that one. And why did I have the feeling that Eddie really didn’t want to see me about a student?
The lights were out in the science room when I entered. What little illumination the room had, came through the slats of the blinds that weren’t completely drawn.
I saw Eddie sitting at his desk with his eyes closed. Was he meditating? Taking a nap?
“Mr. LaRoche,” I called out as I walked over to his desk.
He opened his eyes and stared at me. “Alexandria, thanks for agreeing to meet me.”
“So why didn’t you tell me you were a science teacher?”
He gave me a sly grin. “You never asked.”
“Mr. LaRoche doesn’t have a very good reputation with female staff members,” I chided.
“Eddie doesn’t have a good reputation with females either,” he countered.
“At least you’re consistent.”
He rose from his desk. “Let me show you something.”
I met his gaze and our eyes locked for a moment. “You really didn’t have to talk to me about a student, did you?”
He grabbed my elbow. “Come with me.”
Eddie led me toward the back of the room. He unlocked a door and pulled me into a dark storage area. A bit of light was seeping into the small space from under the doorframe. I could barely make out the contents of the shelves, which seemed to be lined with textbooks and an assortment of chemistry equipment. The small space had the faint odor of chemicals, which made me feel like I was in high school again. I just hoped there weren’t any old dissecting pigs nearby.
“What are we doing in here?” I snapped.
Eddie flipped on a small overhead light. “I wanted to