I grinned, reached for her, and dragged her onto the bed with me. I made sure to pull her body on top of mine. She shifted, sat up, and adjusted until she was straddling my waist. That provided me the ability to see her face, freeing up her hands and mine so we could talk.
“See, I’m learning already. You sleep on the left side. That means you’re gonna have to be all up on me because I do too. I’m willing to share.”
She smiled, shaking her head.“You can’t make plans for where I sleep.”
Too late for that. The plan was to have her sleeping in my bed, not in my guest room, and I was actively working toward that goal. There was no point in me presenting the argument because she wasn’t ready for it. Instead, I focused on the task at hand, getting to know her.
“Why a teacher?”
She smiled.“I’m not going to tell you because you’ll think it’s dumb.”
“Nah, I won’t. Tell me.”
“Everybody always has that one teacher who changed their lives.”Her brows pinched for a minute before her hands were moving.“I wanted to be to other kids what I hoped for in a teacher.”
“You didn’t have good teachers?”
“They were okay. Some good, some great, some not so great, but none I truly remember. If I ever do something profound, I don’t have that story to tell about the one teacher who changed my life.”
I smiled, because that shit was cute as fuck and she was so serious, but when I didn’t respond right away, she narrowed her eyes and her hands were moving.“See, that’s why I don’t tell people. They think it’s dumb.”
I grinned wider.“It’s not dumb. I fuck with it and agree. We all have those stories. It’s foul that you don’t. Not that it really matters though because you’re doing your thing.”
“Thank you,”she signed, then brushed her shoulder in a flex.“Who’s yours?”
“PE teacher.”
“Right, typical athlete.”
I nodded.“My situation isn’t typical though.”
“I gave you mine, you have to give me yours.”
“I already gave you mine.”I lifted my hips and she narrowed her eyes, making me chuckle before my mood shifted. Here I was again, willing to hand over all my deepest thoughts and insecurities to this woman.
“Sixth grade. We played football in the fall out on the practice fields and my teacher would watch, scouting players because he was also the middle school coach. I was competitiveas hell and always wanted to win. I also wanted to be QB but couldn’t throw for shit. Getting that damn spiral right on the ball is a whole fucking skill that should be respected.”I smirked and she grinned.“I couldn’t throw, but I could protect the QB and make sure nobody got to him. I didn’t really know shit about football. Not officially, like positions and stuff. He asked me to try out for the team but all anyone knows is the QB and wide receiver. I wasn’t trying to be either, so I turned him down. That’s when he schooled me on left tackle. He said I had natural instincts with gauging defense and with training I could be good at it. I joined the team and that’s how I ended up here.”
“Well, I’m certainly glad you did because this mattress is.”She made the sign for chef’s kiss and I laughed.“Let me know your coach’s name and I’ll send them a personal thank you.”
“Orlando Tyler.”
She stared blankly at me for a minute before her hands were moving.“Your dad?”
I nodded.“He realized I was good. Wanted to help me get better by sending me to camps and stuff and F-E-L-I-C-I-A wanted me out of her house. She told him to keep me. It was pretty fucked up that she dumped her kid on someone else but it was always the only thing I will ever respect her for because it provided me a life she never would have. She didn’t give a fuck about me in any other way.”
Somee stared at me for a minute before she leaned down, placed her small hands on my face, and pressed her lips to mine. When she was sitting up again, I arched a brow.
“What was that for?”
“I don’t want to say I’m sorry because I’m not. Your life could have been something completely different if O-R-L-A-N-D-O and M-I-R-A-N-D-A hadn’t adopted you. I’m glad you have them and I’m glad Rylee has you.”
I didn’t want to make this about me or fuck up the vibe, so I nodded and signed,“You’re glad you have this mattress.”
“And is…”Her shoulders bounced, making me laugh.
“See, you’re trying to be all difficult, not wanting to get to know me, and we’re kicking it. You’re gonna be mine sooner or later.”
Something flashed over her face. “What’s up?”