Bad Teacher

He’s got a point. Under normal circumstances, Thomas wouldn’t just show up at my door. He’s got better things to do. I’m just his girlfriend’s best friend.

But I wonder why. “Right,” I mutter, and I fold my arms. “So what’s the plan?”

“Just follow me,” he says, beckoning me with just a look as he walks off.

“Okay … can I get my coat at least?” He doesn’t even stop, so I quickly snatch it and put it on while following him out. Goddammit, I wish I knew what was going on. I don’t know why, but I have this feeling Hailey and TJ are in cahoots. I hate not knowing what’s going to happen.

Thomas walks me outside and points me to his car. “Get in.”

I give him a quick glance, wondering what he’s up to, but then I get inside. He sits down behind the wheel and drives off. It’s quiet the whole way there. Exactly the way it always is when we’re on our own. He and I just don’t share a lot of common ground. That, and I bet all he can think of is Hailey with that super dirty mind of his. Goddammit, I wish I could forget seeing them together when I was in college. My teacher with my best friend. It was so damn weird.

But I guess it all worked out for them. I mean, Hailey’s happier than I’ve ever seen her, and Thomas seems content too. And if they’re happy, then I’m happy for them.

After just a few blocks, we stop, and he gets out. I follow him, and we go into the park. It’s the same one I first walked through with Pepper after meeting her for the first time. It brings back such good memories; I can’t help but smile as we walk over that same path down toward the lake.

“So what does she have planned?” I ask Thomas.

He just shrugs, ignoring my question. Either he’s forbidden to tell me, or he actually doesn’t know.

Right in front of us is the edge of the lake where I fell with TJ, and in front of it is a bench. Thomas sits down and pats it, inviting me to come sit down too.

“What are you doing?” I ask, confused.

“C’mon.” He beckons me, so I do what he asks.

I wonder what this is all about.

“Why are you being so secretive? And where’s Hailey?” I ask.

Music in the distance seems to come closer. Too close. Because the herd of people playing the music stops walking … right in front of me. And the music instantly stops … only to be replaced by something else entirely.

The moment I hear what it is, I begin to laugh.

“Sexy and I Know It.”

Shaking my head, I watch them dance, and suddenly, Thomas gets up from the bench and moves away. “Where are you going?” I ask, but he doesn’t respond; he just winks and walks off.

What the fuck?

That’s when the whole pack of people looks at me … and begin a synchronized dance.

My eyes widen.

In the middle of it all is Hailey, dancing alongside them.

What the hell is going on?

I feel lost in the sea of people, not knowing whether to laugh, cry, or run away … or all at the same time. Meanwhile, shirts are thrown overboard, and pants are flying everywhere. Soon, everybody’s stripped down to something that looks like swimwear, and all of them are doing vulgar dances.

After a while, I notice Flynn is in there too, dancing his ass off. With that body of his, he’s attracting most of the eyes that surround us. People from all over the park have gathered here to watch the show, and boy … it is one heck of a dance.

Near the end of the song, the group splits into two halves, creating an opening. In the midst of it all, a figure bursts out into the front.

It’s none other than TJ motherfucking Morrows.

He’s in a Speedo doing the wiggle-dick dance.

And I lose it.

Like for real, I’m laughing my ass off, crying so hard that I almost feel sorry. I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. It’s crazy. Too crazy, even for him.

He mouths the lyrics to the song while everyone goes nuts with their dance, breaking a sweat to impress me. But most of all, he’s doing his best to make me laugh and smile.

And when the song nears the end, he strides through the opening toward me. “Hi!”

“Oh, my god …”

“No, it’s just TJ,” he says with a wink, making me chuckle.

“Are you crazy?” I murmur, still laughing. “Am I dreaming?”

“No, I’m not crazy, and no, you’re not dreaming. This is real, and it is happening.”

Suddenly, he goes down on one knee.

My laughter stops immediately.

And my eyes widen the moment he grabs my hand and stares straight into my eyes. “Lesley Fischer … you know I love you.”