week so I didn’t get distracted, but damn, I really want to see her tonight. She has her job at Archer this afternoon, and I have practice, but running into her like this is only making me miss her more.
She gives me a gorgeous smile. “It’s a date.”
For once, that statement doesn’t make me want to run in the other direction.
42
GABBY
My heels click across the tile floor as I make my way to Mrs. Nolan’s freshman classroom. I’m still smiling from running into Rider and Poppy at the student union.
And those kisses.
God, I love his kisses.
When I poke my head in, Mrs. Nolan is already waiting by the door. “Thank you so much! My sub should be here in a few minutes, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long.”
Her son is sick, and she has to pick him up from his elementary school. Since I’m not credentialed yet, I can’t sub, but I can sit with her class until one shows up.
“It’s not a problem. I’m happy to help.” A real classroom? Yes, please! I’d rather hang out with students than photocopy another worksheet. “What are they working on?”
“Romeo & Juliet packets.”
I may have photocopied those for her. “It’s one of my favorite plays. We’ll be fine.”
She gives me a grateful smile and turns to the class. “Guys, please be on your best behavior for Miss Duran. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
They’re all sitting straight with pleasant expressions.
Until the door closes when every student seems to sag back in relief.
And then they all start talking at once.
Not to me. To each other.
I roll my eyes, put two fingers in my mouth, and blow, the resulting whistle making them all freeze.
“I’m so glad to have your attention now.” I give them a chipper smile. Just because I don’t plan to let them get away with murder doesn’t mean I have to be a jerk about it. “Who wants to explain where we are in the play?”
A few groan, but for the most part, they refocus. One girl raises her hand, and I call on her.
“We just read the part where Tybalt kills Mercutio, and then Romeo kills Tybalt and has to leave town or face death.”
I clutch my heart. “Isn’t that part the saddest!”
The girls nod.
The boys look bored, so I continue. “Romeo just married Juliet that morning, right? But they haven’t spent their wedding night together yet when he gets banished.” I’m totally not going to touch on what consummating their marriage means. Although I’m sure most of them have Netflix and know more than enough, Mrs. Nolan can have that discussion. But I can help them grasp the significance. “Guys, just think. It’s like asking the most popular girl at school to prom and she accepts, but the night of the dance—after you get your tux, buy her corsage, and pay for the tickets—you get expelled for fighting.”
“That would suck!”
“My parents would freak if I got expelled!”
I chuckle to myself at their horrified faces. “Who wants to tell me the significance of Mercutio’s name? Have you discussed this already?”
Everyone shakes their head. “Great. So do you know what ‘mercurial’ means?”
Half an hour later, when the sub finally arrives and says I can go, the kids groan and ask if I can stay.
It’s one of the best moments of my life.
43
GABBY
“And then we started discussing the significance of stars and fate in the play,” I say with a wave of my hands. “You know that quote, right after Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech, where Romeo says, ‘I fear, too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date…’”
My voice fades as I take in Rider’s expression. He and I are studying in his living room with the baby monitor so we can hear Poppy if she wakes up.
I sink into his couch, my face aflame. “I’m going overboard here, aren’t I?”
He chuckles. “You’re adorable. Wish I could quote Shakespeare like that.”
“Sorry. I tend to nerd out sometimes. It was just exciting to really connect with students like that. I can’t wait to have my own classroom.”
He grabs my hand and gives me a little yank until I fall into him. “You’ll be an amazing teacher someday.” He kisses me. “If I had teachers like you when I was in high school, maybe I would’ve cared more, tried harder. English isn’t a strength of mine, but from everything you just said, I’m pretty sure if I’d had your class when I was a