“I can use your driver’s license photo.” Jack paused. Gabriel just blinked at him. Jack laughed, and said, “I’m joking, relax.”
“Well, you did say you liked it,” Gabriel said.
“I did, and I do,” Jack answered quietly. “But if you want to send something a bit more…informal…”
“I wasn’t thinking anything, uh…you know…”
“Neither was I,” Jack said. He smiled. “I like your eyes. I wouldn’t object to seeing them on my screen whenever you decide to call me.”
Gabriel laughed again. “I’m so bad at this,” he muttered.
“You’re really not,” Jack assured him.
“If you don’t mind people seeing my face on your screen,” Gabriel said.
“If you don’t mind,” Jack returned, and he saw Gabriel considering.
“I’ll send you one if you send me one,” he finally said, and his smile was shy; endearing.
“Deal,” Jack said. He stuck his hand through the window. Gabriel appeared startled, but he shook it automatically. His palm was warm against Jack’s, and Jack was surprised by how much the innocent touch affected him. He squeezed Gabriel’s fingers for a moment before releasing his hand. “And I owe you a ringtone, but I’m gonna have to think about it,” Jack said. “I’m a little sleep-deprived at the moment.” He looked up as a car drove past. The driver saw the cop’s car, and Jack saw a flash of brake lights. He turned his attention back to Gabriel. “But you took care of three out of four,” he said.
He thought Gabriel might ask what he meant, but instead, the other man grinned. “I might have something for the fourth, too,” he said, turning away for a moment. “Do you want coffee, or soda?” he asked, straightening with a coffee cup in one hand and a bottle of Pepsi in the other.
Jack laughed. “God, you really are the cutest, you know that?” Gabriel gave his head a little shake, embarrassed, and Jack said, “Sweet and adorable.” He eyed the two caffeinated drinks. “Can I have both of those? I might need both.”
Gabriel handed them over. Jack put the bottle of soda into the sack with his sandwich, and held the coffee cup in the same hand. He looked in at Gabriel. He knew he should get back into his car and let Gabriel head home, but Jack was struck by an overwhelming urge to stick his head through the window and kiss him.
It was strange to feel like that would be a big move, when Jack had come within inches of having a lot more than Gabriel’s tongue in his mouth the night they’d met. A kiss now, however, would feel more intimate, and Gabriel wasn’t the only one afraid of moving too quickly.
“Text me when you get home?” Jack asked.
Gabriel smiled. “Yes.”
“Just to let me know you got there,” Jack clarified. “You don’t have to stay up. I have food and caffeine,” he laughed.
Gabriel nodded. He was fidgeting again.
He wants me to kiss him, Jack realized. He adjusted his grip on the coffee cup and sack; the crinkle of paper seemed loud, even with both cars’ engines running. Jack leaned his head in through the open window. His heart was thumping, hard but steady. He held Gabriel’s gaze in the glow.
Gabriel swallowed and shifted, tipping his head forward to meet Jack’s kiss halfway. When their lips met, Gabriel’s hand went to Jack’s jaw; his touch was light, and so was the kiss. Gabriel’s lips parted, and Jack leaned further into the car, but he kept the pressure of his mouth gentle. This would be a bad time to get carried away, and the hot flare of desire spreading through him was already threatening to rob him of rational thought.
Jesus God, he’s a good kisser, Jack thought. I can’t wait to see what he can—He broke that thought off before it could take root, and drew back. His eyes dropped to Gabriel’s mouth, and it took all of his willpower not to claim it again—more thoroughly, this time.
He dragged his gaze up to Gabriel’s as Gabriel lowered his hand back to his thigh.
“This night took an…unexpectedly pleasant turn,” Jack muttered, and Gabriel laughed. The sound was huskier than usual, and Jack did his best to ignore his body’s reaction. He also studiously kept his eyes from straying into Gabriel’s lap to check for a similar reaction, but Gabriel’s small shift in his seat was a telltale sign.
“I should go…” Gabriel said. “I’ve distracted you long enough.”
“A more than welcome distraction, believe me,” Jack answered. He sighed. “Alright. Goodnight, Gabe.”
“Goodnight, Jack.”
Jack straightened before he could kiss the other man again, and took a step back. He held up the paper sack and coffee. “Thank you,” he said, and Gabriel nodded in acknowledgement before putting his car into gear.
“I’ll text in a few,” Gabriel said, and Jack watched as he pulled forward and turned his car in a half-circle back toward the road. Then, with a quick wave through the open window, Gabriel was on the highway and picking up speed.
Jack stared after him, drawing a deep breath. “Alright,” he mumbled. His lips still felt tingly from Gabriel’s kiss, and his body was still flushed with desire. He turned and got back into his car, setting the coffee in his cup holder. He looked into the paper sack.
He made me a sandwich, he thought.
And drove out here in his pajamas at midnight to give it to you, a soft voice answered. He must’ve gone in someplace to buy you those drinks, too.
Jack smiled at the thought of Gabriel in the convenience store in his sweats and t-shirt, buying coffee and soda.
Bored, hungry, tired, and cranky, Jack thought. He grinned into the paper bag.
***
Home.
Thank you. Go to bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?
Are you sure you don’t want me to keep texting?
I’m good. In the home stretch now. Thanks to you :)
Glad I could help. Haha. And then: Oh. Here. Gabriel sent a picture he’d taken of himself two minutes earlier, sitting on the sofa—one of perhaps five selfies he’d ever taken, and he’d felt like an idiot doing it. He didn’t think it was half-bad, though. His hair was messy, and his jaw was rough with graying stubble, and he thought his smile looked a bit sheepish, but overall…he didn’t hate it.
I like that one even better than the license. Wait, I can’t take a pic now, I’ll look like a vampire. I’ll send you one from my phone. There was a short delay, and then a photo came through: Jack, outside, his blue eyes squinted against the sun and his blonde hair blown across his forehead. Someone else had been cropped from the photo, but Gabriel didn’t dwell on that. I’ll send you a better one tomorrow.
I thought you said you weren’t photogenic? You look pretty hot in that pic. Do people still say hot?
Thank you. You actually made me blush.
Gabriel laughed. Happens to me a lot lately. Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Gabriel set his phone down and sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face. His alarm would be blaring all too soon, and he knew that Natalie was going to have a rough morning. Between his lack of sleep, and her hangover, they should be a load of fun by the time they got to school.
For him, the night had been worth whatever misery the morning might bring, though. He could only hope that Natalie felt the same. Lots of big changes, indeed, he thought as he headed toward his bedroom.
Chapter Five
You feeling ok this morning?
I’m ok but you should still be sleeping, Gabriel answered with a smile as he sipped from his thermos of coffee. He glanced up at his classroom; students were milling about, laughing and talking, gradually settling into their seats. They still had a couple of minutes before the first bell of the day would ring.
I’m going back to bed now. Just wanted to check in after keeping you awake half the night.
I thought I was keeping you awake?
Ha. Both, I guess. Thank you again. Btw I was listening to the oldies station and heard a song that reminded me of you.
Oldies, huh? Haha.
Baby you’re a rich m
an by the Beatles, you know it?
Uh. Yeah? But?
What’s the first line?
Gabriel thought about it for a few seconds, and then started laughing. How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people? Ha, I could use that as a ringtone because it’d make me think of YOU.
:) Actually I have one for you. Here. Jack sent a link.
Gabriel glanced at his class again as he tucked his earbuds into his ears. There was no preview in the text, so Gabriel had no idea what to expect when he tapped the link. When the song started playing, he leaned his head back, laughing quietly. In spite of his amusement, he was also flattered, though. He’d always known that Natalie found him attractive; they’d had a good physical relationship, based on trust and love and attentiveness—but no one had ever made him feel the way Jack did.
Really? One Direction? he asked after closing out of “What Makes You Beautiful.”
OK I have a real one but I’m afraid you’ll think it’s too
Something
Personal or sentimental or
Well anyway it made me think of you so here you go
The second link had a preview: “Beautiful,” by Clem Snide. Gabriel chewed the corner of his lip as he opened the video. There was certainly a beautiful theme, but the first two had been somewhat amusing. Jack was worried about this one being too personal or sentimental, which had Gabriel’s interest piqued before the song started.
He realized quickly enough that it was a cover of the Christina Aguilera song—or at least a different version, as he wasn’t really sure if hers had been first or not—but he’d never paid much attention to the lyrics before. It felt different, hearing a male voice singing the words, especially knowing it had made Jack think of him.
Gabriel looked up when the bell rang, and stopped the song with a tap of his finger. While the students took their seats, Gabriel sent an answer to Jack. Thank you, Jack. I have to go and I can’t get a link right now, but if you need help sleeping, try the spaniels’ “goodnight sweetheart goodnight” ;) I’ll talk to you later?
That’s the song from 3 Men and a Baby or the sequel, right? I’ll play it and imagine you singing it in my ear. Have a good day.
“What’s so funny, Mr. S? Got some inappropriate videos to share with the class?”
“I do not, Mr. Johnson,” Gabriel answered, looking up at Carter. “I do, however, have something personal to tell you all.”
“Uh-oh,” Carter said. “Mr. S, we already had the sex ed stuff, you remember that, right?”
Gabriel smiled. “I do remember—I had the privilege of teaching that class, if you recall?”
Carter rolled his eyes. “Privilege, yeah. Well, I’m glad we had you instead of Mr. Shafer. You know he’s making them put condoms on bananas?”
“You don’t think that’s a valuable skill to have?” Gabriel asked.
“It’s just that bananas are so small—”
“Mr. Johnson,” Gabriel said, and the warning in his voice was mild but unmistakable.
“Alright, alright,” Carter said, holding up a hand. “Just a joke. But it’s still shitty that Mr. Sanderson’s all over your ass, what does Mr. Shafer know about sex?”
Gabriel put his elbows on his desk and laced his fingers together, regarding the teenager. “I’m in a pretty good mood this morning, Carter, let’s not ruin that, alright?” he said, and Carter grinned as a ripple of laughter passed through the class. “Be respectful, yes?” He waited, eyebrows raised, until Carter nodded. “Good. Now. I’m going to put this out here and then we can move on and get back to Virginia Woolf.” He laughed when Carter and a few other students groaned. “It could be worse, guys,” he said. He paused, considering the best way to broach what he wanted to say.
“Something wrong, Mr. S?” Becca Adams asked.
“Wanna talk?” Andrew Hibbard added, and there was another bout of laughter. There was an undercurrent of unease now, though.
“Everything’s fine,” Gabriel assured them. “You’re going to hear some rumors. You might’ve already heard some. It’s a small school, and gossip travels quickly.”
“You and Mrs. S are splitting?” Eliza Kaye asked. There were a few murmurs, and then a hush fell over the classroom as all eyes focused on the teacher.
“Yes,” Gabriel said. “Nothing will change here at school, and I expect every one of you to be respectful of her privacy.”
“But she’s dating Mr. Shafer?” Becca asked.
“What?” Carter exclaimed. “Mr. Put-a-condom-on-a-banana is banging your—”
Alex reached out and hit him in the arm, hard. “Shut up,” he said.
“Ow,” Carter answered, glaring at him and rubbing his arm. “You’re gonna pay for that.”
“Mr. McGinty, please keep your hands to yourself,” Gabriel told Alex. “Mr. Johnson, watch the threats, you were out of line and you know it. Who Mrs. Santiago does or does not date is her business, and the same goes for Mr. Shafer.”
“That sucks, Mr. S,” Andrew said. “Sorry, man.”
“I appreciate the concern, guys, really,” Gabriel said, looking from Andrew to Alex, and then skimming his gaze across the rest of his students. “But I meant what I said—I’m in a good mood—”
“’Til Carter ruined it,” someone quipped.
“—and everything’s fine,” Gabriel finished with a smile. “Ms. Santiago is the best friend I’ve ever had, and I won’t tolerate any disrespect,” he said, with a pointed look at Carter. “And Mr. Shafer is a good guy.”
“Well Mr. Sanderson is still a dick,” Carter said.
Gabriel sighed. He didn’t disagree with Carter’s assessment, and while he couldn’t condone such disrespectful language about the principal, Gabriel knew why Carter harbored such strong animosity for Sanderson.
“I do not agree with his methods, you know that,” Gabriel said quietly, holding Carter’s gaze. “What you did was wrong, and you know it was wrong. However, if I’d been there, I would’ve intervened—”
Carter was scowling, scrunched down in his seat, now. “Nah,” he interrupted. “Don’t get yourself in trouble for me,” he said. “Not like he can actually hurt me.”
There was no need for Gabriel to point out that there were different ways to hurt a person; Carter knew, as did the rest of the class, that emotional pain was often worse than physical pain. Sanderson had subjected Carter to public humiliation, and the knowledge still made Gabriel’s stomach churn with anger.
“Don’t get fired before the parent-teacher things, you’re the only one who lies and says nice things about me. My parents love you,” Carter said. He laughed, but the sound was unconvincing.
“I never lie, Mr. Johnson,” Gabriel said. He paused. “Sometimes I simply choose to omit things, like your penchant for profanity,” he added with a wink, and he was rewarded with a more genuine laugh from Carter and the rest of the students. “And Mr. Sanderson cannot fire me, so don’t worry yourselves on my behalf.”
“He can decide what classes you teach,” Becca said. “Right? He already took you outta Sex Ed.”
Gabriel shrugged a shoulder. “To an extent,” he answered. “He can’t take this class, or Spanish. The reproductive education—”
“What about Drama Club?” Alex asked.
Gabriel hesitated. “Listen,” he said. “If I need to fight, I’m more than capable of—and willing to—defend myself, alright? Seriously, don’t worry about this. We’ve gotten way off topic, now, don’t think I don’t know you’re all stalling so you don’t have to read Ms. Woolf.”
“Mr. S?”
“Yes,” Gabriel answered, looking at Becca. She fidgeted, looking uncomfortable. He waited.
“Did she cheat on you with Mr. Shafer? Is that why you’re splitting?”
Gabriel considered telling her that the question was inappropriate, but that would only serve to spread more rumors. “No,” he said.
“Did you cheat on her?” Andrew asked.
“No,” Gabriel a
nswered. “Have you ever known me to lie to you?” he asked, and they shook their heads. “Natalie and I have decided what’s best for us. I expect you to respect that, I expect you to take me at my word no matter what gossip might be floating around. Now. Let’s see those books opening, ladies and gentlemen. Page one-oh-eight, thank you.”
***
“Ugh,” Gabriel said, walking into Natalie’s classroom. She was sitting at her desk, head in hand, staring unhappily at her lunch. “That bad, huh?”
“No one to blame but myself,” she said. “Is it three o’clock yet?”
“Almost,” he answered with a small smile, setting a bottle of 7-Up on the desk.
“Thanks for breakfast—and the coffee and aspirin this morning,” she said as she twisted the cap off the soda. “Sorry I didn’t have a chance to talk to you.” She’d still been in the shower when he left for work, although she’d assured him—at his light knock on the door—that she was fine and would make it to school on time. She took a long drink, grimaced, and said, “And sorry about last night.”
He waved a hand. “Please,” he said. “I’ve known you long enough—” He faltered as his phone buzzed in his other palm, and he glanced down at the screen to see Jack’s name. “—to know you can’t hold your liquor,” he finished, looking up, and she laughed.
“I wish you’d reminded me,” she joked. She really did look miserable. “But seriously. If I said anything that hurt your feelings…”
“No. I haven’t seen Arnie yet, is he alright?”
She made a face and took another drink of soda. “Better than me, apparently,” she said. “You don’t look like you slept much.”
Gabriel laughed. “Oh, great,” he answered. He glanced at his phone as it buzzed again. “Yeah, I…uh…might’ve taken Jack a sandwich last night,” he said, looking up at her. He rolled his eyes. “Just to prove what a sap I am,” he added with a smile.
“Jack…You took him a sandwich—what, out on patrol?”
“Yeah. He said he was hungry,” he said.
She laughed. “Are you sure that wasn’t a euphemism?”
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