“And,” she continues, before I manage to fully grasp what she is saying, “with that in mind, I am delighted to announce the engagement of our very own Val Thurston to Dr. Adam Brillstein, who is, of course, also our very own.” With the face of the wisest fairy godmother, Wanda gestures to a place a few rows ahead of me and to the right. Cookie-maker Val and Adam-the-question-guy stand up together, hands clasped, and take a little bow. He pulls her fingers to his mouth and kisses her knuckles. She gazes at him like he’s the answer to every question she can think to ask.
“And now you are all dismissed. Have a wonderful holiday vacation,” Wanda says, smiling as if she knows every secret in the room. Because, of course she knows every secret in the room.
The faculty stands and applauds, and many of the teachers make their way over to Adam Brillstein and Val to offer congratulations, or maybe to discover how they kept this whole thing under wraps.
I look at Ginger, who is laughing that fabulous, percussive laugh. Turning to Dexter, I see Hank giving him an encouraging pat on the back.
Dexter turns and smiles at me. That smile. I can’t. I watch it grow, and it’s perfect. So stunning. So charming. So sincere.
“Looks like nothing’s standing in our way now,” he says, leaning in much closer than he technically needs to in order for me to hear him.
“You better look again,” I say, grinning up at him. “When have I ever made anything easy for you?”
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in close. “Easy is overrated.”
“Is that a challenge, Mr. Kaplan?” I ask, my mouth hungry for his kiss.
“I think you’re up for it,” he says. “Congratulations on the arts chair position,” he says in a whisper, and his smile proves that he means it. “I am so proud of you.”
I blink back a tear that threatens to ruin this moment. “I might need some help now and then,” I say.
He shrugs. “I might oblige.” And here comes that smile again, growing from the left to the right across his handsome face. “Is there anything I can do for you right now?”
“I can think of two things,” I say.
“Only two?”
He did not.
But really, he did.
I try to hide my blush. “Two for now. First, I need you to take me to lunch at Lola’s.”
“Easy,” he says with a nod. “She’s already expecting us.”
Like he can read my mind.
“What’s the second thing?” he asks, his eyes smoldering at me beneath those unbelievable brows.
I beckon him to come closer. He obliges, a hungry look in his eye. He glances from my lips to my eyes. Again. And again. He moves even closer, knowing that I want what he wants. That I love what he loves.
As his mouth touches mine, I whisper, “Find out if Val will stay here and keep making cookies even after she marries the history teacher,” I say.
Dexter’s laugh is swallowed up in a very delicious, very public kiss.