“Last night when I told you to kiss your man, and you kissed me. Face it, Queen Vee, you have yourself a boyfriend.” He wraps an arm around me and pulls me close. “You’re in a relationship. Labels, darlin’. We’re labelin’ everythin’.” He gives me his playful grin, and that dimple makes an appearance. “Even your daddy approves of me, and you said you were givin’ me one chance.” He puts a fingertip underneath my chin and kisses my lips. “Let me walk you to class.” The driver opens the door, and when we step outside, Colt intertwines his fingers with mine. “We would have done this if we went to the same high school.”
I let out a soft chuckle. There are several people in the hallway, all staring and probably biding their time to approach. “I don’t think so, Chastain. I was not the type of girl who held hands in high school.” I was president of the science club. I worked on the school newspaper, and I worked on the yearbook committee. “And I wouldn’t give a jock like you the time of day. And you probably wouldn’t have noticed me anyway.”
“Wrong. I would have noticed you.” He cups my cheeks. “Have you seen you? Those perfect lips.” He kisses me. “This short little body that somehow fits perfectly into mine. Those legs, and that smile.” I do everything I can to suppress my smile, but I can’t. It spreads across my face. “I swear my heart skips a beat every time you smile. I would have come after you, and if you had a boyfriend, I would have beaten him up.” I stop abruptly and stare in this face. “Aah, my lady likes that. You want me to go beat up the principal? What about the gym teacher?” He makes a fist with his free hand. I shake my head and continue our walk inside, but Colt won’t stop talking. “The result would have been the same as it is now. You would have been mine.”
We approach my room, and he opens the door for me and gestures for me to go ahead of him. I wonder how long this gentleman act will last, but for now, I’ll admit to myself that it’s not so bad. We barely have time to close the door before it bursts open and about ten teachers and staff walk in. They circle around Colt like they’re a pack of lions on a lonely antelope, but Colt doesn’t flinch. He’s in his element. I lean against the wall and watch him interact with everyone. He even takes the phone from a teacher who has her husband on FaceTime.
I sigh and turn to my whiteboard.
* * *
It’s ostentatious.I squat down and use all my strength to lift the elaborate bouquet of flowers. It must weigh at least fifteen pounds. I pluck out the card once I put it on my kitchen island. I return to the door and bring in another box.
Queen Vee,
I don’t miss you. I’m not thinking about you. I’m definitely not counting the hours until I can see you again. And I won’t be looking for you in the crowd. And because I know you’d hate it, I won’t have any caveman thoughts about you sitting in the stadium for hours on end watching a sport you hate because your man is playing. And I absolutely don’t want you to wear what I left for you in your top dresser drawer. BTW, I need to revisit that drawer soon.
Your champion
I turn to the other box, which is not quite as heavy as the flowers. This one is cold, and it takes me about five minutes to get it open. It’s a tray of twenty chocolate covered strawberries.
Queen Vee,
I hope you enjoy these. Okay, I admit it. I was thinking of you. I got these in a moment of weakness, but I like imagining you in bed eating these while thinking of me. I’ll stop thinking about you now…..Done. I’m no longer thinking about you.
Your Champion
I’m not the type of girl who swoons. I’m not the type of girl who falls hard for a man. I’m not the girl who believes in happily ever after. People come into your life, and they walk out of it. And it hurts the most when it’s the people you love. The ones you least expect to leave. I’m the pragmatic girl. The one who keeps men at a distance. The one who sets the terms in the relationships. I’m the one who walks away, but when I do, I don’t leave collateral damage.
I drop the card and run to my bedroom. When I open the top drawer, on top of my underwear is a folded jersey. The colors are the same, but this one has more gold than magenta. I lay it on my bed, and without thinking I grab my phone and call him.
He picks up on the third ring.
“My queen, my liege.” His voice is low and husky.
“Did I wake you up?” I ask, horrified. “I’m sorry. I should have realized you’d be resting before your—”
“You didn’t wake me, darlin’, but I’m glad you called. I don’t miss you. I don’t wish you were here with me.”
“I don’t miss you or want to be with you either. You snore. But I do want to thank you for the flowers, the strawberries, and the jersey.”
“You’re beautiful and well mannered.” I bite my bottom lip.
Tara is the pretty one out of the two of us, but it feels good to hear it about me from Colt.
“Good manners aren’t just for southern gentleman. Even Yankee parents try to instill them in their children.”
“There’s nothing gentlemanly about the things I want to do to you right now, Queen Vee. Or the things I want you to do to me. I want your juices on my tongue, baby. I want to eat you until you come on my face.”
I drop myself on my bed and decide to play along. “Really? Well, there are a few things I want to do with you. More like I want to do them to you. One thing specifically.”
“If it’s what I’m thinking, I just might skip tonight’s game.”
“I won’t let you do that, but just know that when I do get you alone again, you’re going to explode.”
“In your mouth, darlin’. I want to explode with those perfect lips wrapped around me. What are you wearin’?” His accent has thickened. “Take your clothes off.”
I undo the button to my jeans and pull down the zipper when I hear a door open and close. “Daddy,” a little voice says, “you’re awake. I was watching the time and waiting.”
