Page 13 of Finding Happily Ever After
Aiden laughed. “No way. I’m like you.” He lifted his cup. “I drink it black because I need it strong to deal with teenagers all day. But I do put a splash of cold water in the first cup each morning.”
“Water?”
He shrugged. “I guess I’m just impatient for that first cup. The water cools it down just enough to start drinking immediately so I can get that caffeine hit.”
“To deal with the teenagers?”
He pointed one finger at her and smiled. “Exactly.”
“They can’t be that bad, are they?”
For Natalie, it sounded like a specific kind of torture to have to spend her days in a high school surrounded by teenagers, but thankfully for society, there were some people—like Aiden—who enjoyed that kind of thing.
“Not at all.” Aiden took a sip of his coffee. “I love the kids. For the most part,” he added quickly. “But they are really great.”
She pressed her lips together.
“You don’t think so?” He frowned. “Were they jerks to you in class the other day, or—”
“Oh goodness, no,” Natalie said quickly. “Your class was great.” Reflecting back on it, they had been kind of great kids. Sure, they were loud and rowdy at the beginning of class, but once she’d started teaching, they’d all responded to her and the first-aid techniques really well. Natalie hadn’t even let herself think about it, but for how worked up she’d been about setting foot in the school, her actual experience had been pretty positive. “I actually really enjoyed it,” she answered honestly.
“You sound surprised.”
“I am,” she answered said. “I didn’t have the best experience in high school and I guess…well, it doesn’t matter.”
The last thing she wanted to talk to Aiden about on their firstcoffeewas how she’d been the most unpopular person in school. That was definitely not the way to set the tone with a man who was no doubt the most popular guy in school. How could he not be? With a sexy smile like that, no doubt he’d had the girls lined up around the block. Maybe he was even one of those guys who datedallthe girls. And like Brandon Ryan, had made it a point tosleepwith all of the girls. Or, when the girl said no,telleveryone he’d slept with her and that she was a total slut.
The coffee soured in Natalie’s stomach and she pushed away the plate with the honey bun.
“Are you okay? You look…”
“I’m fine.” She nodded but she was anythingbutfine. She hadn’t thought about Brandon Ryan and the rumors that had ruined her life inyears.And then the moment she stepped foot in the high school, it had all come back. It was ridiculous. All of those old feelings had no place in her brain anymore. Especially now, when she was sitting with a gorgeous man who was actually interested in her.
“Are you sure?” Aiden had jumped up from his seat. “Let me get you some water.”
While he was gone, Natalie used the opportunity to take a few deep breaths and pull herself together.
You are not that girl anymore.
You are not in high school.
You are a strong, confident woman.
That is all in the past.
By the time Aiden returned to the table, Natalie once more had herself under control. She accepted the glass of water from him with an embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t know what happened there, but…”
“Don’t worry about it. I have that effect on women sometimes.”
She choked on the water in her mouth and had to reach for a napkin to keep from spitting it out on the table, and Aiden. He laughed as she wiped at her face. “Oh my goodness, I’m sorry. You just…”
“I also havethateffect on women.”
He definitely had some kind of effect on women. At least, he did on her. And for the life of her, Natalie couldn’t decide whether that was a good thing or not.
Aiden couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself so much.
Spending time with Natalie was easy.
