The Junior (College Years 3)

“I love my class,” I say, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside when I think of that rambunctious group of mostly seven-year-olds I teach every day. “They’re a handful, but for the most part, they’re so sweet. And really smart too.”

They’re also exhausting, but I’m starting to get used to it. Being with Caleb is exhausting too, but in a good way. As in, he’s keeping me satisfied every night.

The sex hasn’t slowed down. If anything, it’s completely ramped up, which still surprises me.

Who knew it could be like this?

“I don’t know,” Hayden says, surprising both of us. We turn to look at her.

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” I ask.

“I thought I wanted to teach kindergarten, but I’m not sure if I’m cut out for it.” She shrugs, her expression turning miserable. “They’re so damn needy.”

I burst out laughing. I blame the alcohol. “Of course they are. They’re little! Practically babies still.”

“Yeah, I thought they would be sweet and lovable and want hugs all of the time, which some of them do, don’t get me wrong. But they can get whiny. They’re so easily distracted. They’re smart little boogers, but they’d rather go outside and play,” Hayden explains.

“I don’t blame them,” I tell her.

“What are you going to do?” Ellie asks, concern lacing her voice.

“I’ll finish out the school year, of course. I’m no quitter. But I might reconsider teaching kindergarten or first grade. I’m envious of Gracie’s third grade class,” she says, glancing over at me.

“Young enough to be adorable, old enough to be fairly independent,” I add.

“That makes sense,” Ellie says, glancing from Hayden to me. “And what’s going on with you and Caleb, hmm?”

Oh. I can actually feel my cheeks turn warm, and that’s kind of embarrassing. Why does it make me blush when anyone asks me about him? It’s silly. “Nothing much,” I croak, clearing my throat the moment I get the words out.

Hayden and Ellie laugh at me while I glare at them.

So rude.

“They’re together,” Hayden tells Ellie. “Though I’m sure you figured that out, with the way he stares at her as if she’s the best thing he’s ever seen.”

“That’s not true,” I immediately protest.

Hayden shakes her head. “It’s so true. He looks at you like you’re a big, juicy steak and he can’t wait to take a bite.”

“It’s true,” Ellie confirms. “I noticed it at dinner earlier. Every time you spoke, he watched you with hearts in his eyes.”

“It’s really cute,” Hayden adds.

I cover my face with my hands, mortified, though I shouldn’t be, considering they’re my friends and I appreciate their honesty. But it’s so weird to think Caleb is completely enamored of me. I mean, I know he is. We are totally into each other; it’s a mutual thing. But most of the time we feel lost in our own little world, not worrying about what anyone else thinks. We’re all so busy that we don’t see our friends too often. This is the first time we’ve had a get-together in a while.

“You thinking about bailing yet?” Ellie asks.

She’s got my number because we would have long, deep talks last year about relationships, before she and Jackson got together. She would share her woes over that oblivious jackass, while I would share my woes over the various jackasses I was dating. She used to tell me I just hadn’t found the right guy for me yet, and she was probably right.

But is Caleb that guy?

He feels like he could be. The possibility is there.

“Not yet,” I say, and she smiles.

“He’s your lobster,” Ellie says, making me frown. “It’s a Friends’ reference. I watched it a lot while we were on tour.”

“What are you even talking about?” I watch Friends sometimes, but not consistently enough to get the reference.