Fake Marriage Box Set

I looked at him, feeling bad for his predicament. “Did you enjoy them before?”

At first, I thought he was going to say no, but he surprised me. “

I did, but it was mostly because Miriam was there. She was the social butterfly, buzzing about each group, chatting and bringing me in. Granted, they were my friends, but they all seemed to like her. I guess it’s all a part of growing up.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, not sure what he was trying to say.

“Like I said, they were my friends. I spent a lot of time with those guys before Miriam and I hooked—got married. They all got married, and we were no longer a bunch of guys drinking beer and talking about cars and fishing,” he explained. “We were married guys talking about projects around the house and very little fishing.”

I started to see what he was saying. He had transitioned into the next stage of life, the marriage chapter, with Miriam by his side. Now that she was gone, he was back in the pre-marriage stage, and all of his friends were still moving forward. He didn’t have the wife buffer.

“I get it. I’m sorry. That had to be rough, but I’m thinking it will get easier once you get into the swing of things. Not all of your friends can be married. You said your brother wasn’t, right?”

He cringed. “My brother is on my shit list right now.”

“Oh no,” I giggled. “What did he do?”

Ian looked very uncomfortable, and I realized I had asked a personal question. I started to tell him not to answer, but he shook his head.

“He set me up,” he mumbled.

“Set you up?” I asked, thinking along the lines of a set up in terms of a scheme gone bad.

“With a woman from his work,” he said, clearly irritated.

I jerked back. “Oh.”

I was a little jealous, but I had no right or reason to be. Ian wasn’t mine. His brother was trying to set him up with a woman to help him get over his dead wife. It was expected. Ian needed to start dating. I knew that, but it still stung.

He rolled his eyes. “It was awful. I was a complete moron. Don’t worry; it didn’t go anywhere. I don’t even remember her name.”

I looked at him with a mixture of emotions. He told me not to worry as if I had a right to. Deep down, that made me giddy.

As if he realized what he’d said, he looked up at me with a look of horror and embarrassment. “I didn’t mean it like that. You didn’t need to worry, regardless.”

“I knew what you meant. It’s okay,” I assured him. I quickly changed topics to one that was a little safer. “How have the last two days gone? With classes,” I clarified.

He seemed relieved to be talking about something else. “Good, actually. We had some challenges, and I forgot the teaching material here on Monday, but we muddled through. The students seem a little more eager to learn now than they have been the past month.”

I laughed. “Of course. Getting outside and playing in the water is always better than sitting in a stuffy classroom. I know I’m excited to get out of here.”

“I’m sure they will all be thrilled to have you back. I know I am,” he said, in a voice that caused a shiver to run down my spine. “Uh, you really bring an extra something to the class.” He said it as an afterthought, as if to explain or justify what he’d said before.

“I’m glad to be back. I’ll be working around the clock to catch up on everything I missed the past couple of days, but I know I’m going to really like getting off campus and in the water.”

The first student showed up at the door but hesitated. It was then I realized the lights were still off. I walked around Ian, flipped the switch, and invited the young woman in. Looking back at Ian, I could feel his sadness over our time together being interrupted. We had only a few, brief, precious minutes alone together.

I loved talking to him. I didn’t even know why. I talked to people all day, but talking with him was different. He was attentive and seemed to really get me. I know that sounds horribly cliché and like a schoolgirl crush, but it was all very real.

I headed to my desk, and our shoulders brushed as I walked by. I paused, looked at him and smiled. “Until next time,” I whispered.

He smiled, another one of those truly genuine smiles that made me feel like the most important girl in the world. That smile is going to carry me through the whole day. I know it will be a busy one and not doubt stressful, but all I will need to do is think back on that smile.

“Okay, guys, who’s ready to get out of here and get wet?” he was saying from the front of the classroom. “We aren’t going to even bother getting comfortable in here. I want to get out there and get every minute we can in the water.”

I could feel the excitement in the room. Jeff noticed me and waved. “Glad you’re back, Miss Teacher,” he said, with a wink.

“Glad to be back,” I said with a saucy grin.