The Other Side of the Pillow

“I’d better go check and make sure the hallways are empty, except for security guards. Some of my students will do the most when they think they can get away with it.”

“You have a lot of students play hooky?”

I giggled. “Yeah, there are some usual suspects. Most will straighten up once I alert their parents and they get in trouble. The ones with parents who don’t care are a different issue.”

Lilibeth was knocking on my door.

“Come in!” I winced when I realized that I had screamed in Tevin’s ear. “Sorry for yelling.”

“It’s cool. I’ll let you go so you can go hold down the fort. I have some patient files to look over. My first surgery isn’t until around noon.”

“Sounds good.” I gasped when Lilibeth entered with a bouquet comprised of a few dozen roses and several clusters of baby’s breath. “Oh my goodness!”

“What happened? Is everything okay?” Tevin asked from the other end of the line.

I snickered and grinned from ear to ear. “My secretary just entered with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Thank you.”

Lilibeth set the vase down on my desk and handed me the card that was attached to a plastic stick.

“You’re assuming they’re from me?” he asked. “They could be from one of your other admirers.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re from you.” I blushed, even though he couldn’t see my face. “That was very sweet of you.”

“So am I forgiven about the texting?”

“Yes, you’re forgiven.”

Lilibeth smiled and left out as I opened the card. It read:

Jemistry,

I realize that we just met but I want to be “the example” of what a man should be instead of “another example” of what a man should never be. You are beautiful, smart, and entertaining and I hope to see you again.

xo

xoxo

Tevin

“These are wonderful. Thank you,” I repeated.

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Can I see you again?”

I could tell that he was somewhere between anxious and nervous about my reply.

“Um, sure. I told you last night that we could hang out again.”

“I don’t want to hang with you. I want to court you. There is a difference.”

I sat there in silence for a moment. “Tevin, I agree that there’s a definite chemistry between us, but I don’t necessarily think that I’m relationship material right now. Do you not remember my poem from last night?”

“Yes, I remember your poem. I also remember the painful expression on your face as you recited it. I want to be the one to change that expression to something more exhilarating, more gratified, and more surreal.” He paused. “And while I definitely agree that there is chemistry, I see more than that. I see a possibility.”

Dammit, this man is about to take my breath away! I thought to myself. Then that thought was immediately followed by fear . . . the fear of being hurt again. Tevin’s word game was tight, but I had been hoodwinked by the crème de la crème of slick talkers before.