Of course, she’d changed in the metaphorical sense. That ten-year gap was still between them. There was so much about her life that he didn’t know. But that wasn’t the change he meant.
Kylee had changed her clothes. She’d gone from her buttoned-up office clothes to something a woman who wanted to impress a man without looking like she was trying too hard would wear. Her blouse wasn’t low cut, but it showed off those collarbones that had mesmerized him earlier. The skirt she wore gave him a teasing display of her knees and just a hint of thigh. But most importantly, she was wearing makeup.
What woman coming home after a long day of work, and then stopping by for an after-school fundraiser, would return home at the very end of the day and make all these changes? A woman who wanted to impress a man.
Ron’s heart did a flip and landed into his belly. Kylee Bauer had gone through all this effort to impress him.
Ron took the doorknob from Kylee’s hand. He closed it behind him, with a quiet snick that reverberated through his entire being. His first steps were tentative, unsure. How often did a man actually walk straight into his dream?
He caught up with Kylee in two strides. The brush of her forearm against his sent a tingle down his spine. Ron gulped, trying to push down his desire. He had to keep repeating the maneuver because his craving for her wouldn’t go away.
“Are you thirsty?” she asked.
“Yes. No. I’m fine.”
They stopped at the couch. Ron waited for Kylee to sit. She slid her hand down her skirt and then, instead of going to the corner where she always sat, she took a place just off the center of the couch.
Ron folded himself down beside her. The sides of their knees brushed. He had to hold himself still as the tingles became electric sparks.
“Where’s Molly?”
“She went to bed early.”
“Oh.”
Here they were again; alone on the couch. This was where the dream always turned, and she landed in his arms. What was hazy was exactly how he got her there in the dream world?
Kylee turned to him. She took a deep breath in through her nostrils, which raised her chest and exposed her collarbones. Ron’s gaze caught and held on those twin peaks.
“Before I forget, here’s your watch. And here’s the pitch information from Thrive Learning Systems since I forgot to give it to you the last time.”
Kylee handed him his watch and a packet. Ron took them and placed them on the coffee table.
“Ron?”
“Yeah, Kylee?” He tried to lift his gaze to hers. He didn’t want her to think he was staring at her chest. He was, in a sense. Just not at the part of her chest that would normally get a guy into trouble for staring at.
“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Ron lifted his gaze to hers. Had he read this whole situation wrong? Was she about to friend zone him?
“I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you these last years until I saw you. Which sounds awful because it makes it seem as though I didn’t think about you. Because I did. I thought about you a lot. And then I tried not to think about you. Because every time I thought about you, I’d come to realize how unlike you the man that I’d chosen to spend my life with was.”
These were the words Ron had always dreamed of hearing coming out of Kylee’s mouth. The problem was, he was having a hard time listening because he was so focused on the shine of her glossed lips.
“I don’t want to lose you again.”
“You won’t,” he said. “I’ve already told you; I’ll kidnap you.”
She tossed her head back and laughed, giving Ron the perfect view of her collarbones again.
"You're so funny," she said. "I forgot how nice it is just to hang out with you. And –"
"Ky?”
"Yes, Ron?"
“I’m going to kiss you."
He watched her response carefully. She didn’t pull away from him. She didn’t stand and demand he leave. She didn’t shove him into the friend zone. Instead, she nodded.
"I suspected it might come to this,” she said.
“You did?”
“Yes, there’s something…” She waved her hand between their chests. “… between us.”
“Yes,” Ron grinned. “There is.”
“So, I came prepared. I brushed my teeth and put on lip gloss.”
“That was very considerate of you, Ace. I had gum on the way over."
“Smart,” she nodded approvingly. “Because you had onions in your tacos? I flossed, too.”
“Wow. You are way more prepared than me.”
She made a tsking sound with her tongue. “I always was.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“Yeah,” she parroted.
They were sitting just inches away from each other. The dream-Ron would’ve had her in his arms by now. The real-Ron was so focused on how to begin.
Should he reach for her? With which arm? His right arm which was on the back of the couch? Or maybe his left arm? But that would box her in, and he didn’t want her to feel trapped. He wanted her to want him.
He decided to just go for it and leaned in.
Kylee blinked, as though she were coming to the realization that this was really about to happen. She took a deep breath and leaned in as well.
Within a half inch of her lips, Ron pulled back. “Isn’t this strange?”
“Totally,” she agreed, straightening to an upright position. “I mean it’s me and you. Kylee and Ron. We’re best friends and we’re about to kiss. Who would have seen this coming?”
“Me. I saw it coming.”
“Really?”
Ron nodded. “I’ve been dreaming about this for years.”
“Years?”
“Since watching Saved by the Bell on Saturday mornings.”
“I used to love that show.”
“I know,” he said. “When Zach kissed Kelly I realized I wanted to do the same to you.”
“You had feelings for me all the way back then?”
“I’ve had feelings for you my whole life, Ky. When we were in elementary school, I knew I wanted to share all my snacks with you. When we were in middle school, I knew I wanted to kiss you. When we got to high school, I knew I wanted you to be my girlfriend.”
“I didn’t know. How didn’t I know this about you? I know everything about you.”
“I didn’t want you to know. Until it was too late.”
“It’s not too late. You’re right on time. Like always.” Kylee shifted until the last remaining inch between them was gone. She was nearly in his lap again. This was where his dream always began.
“Are we gonna do this or what?” she said.
“Quit bossing me, woman.”
“Then get to it already-”
Ron’s lips met hers. He landed softly, his bottom lip gliding across the smooth surface of her glossed lips. It may have been a gentle attack, but the impact was explosive. They both held still, barely breathing as the touch of their lips rocked them to their core.
Ron’s right hand left the back of the couch and cradled Kylee’s head. His left arm came up and boxed her in, wrapping her up inside the cage of his heart where he knew he’d never let her go.
He was certain that time passed as they held each other, explored each other slowly, and shared each other’s breath. But the only time Ron was aware of was the ten-year gulf that had been between them slowly recede away until they could reach each other again.
Yes, things had changed. They would continue to change. But the one thing that would remain the same was Ron’s certainty that Kylee Bauer was the woman of his dreams. Now she would be his in reality.
Chapter Fifteen
Kylee couldn’t stop pressing her fingers to her lips. Her top lip was swollen. Her bottom lip kept spreading wide into a grin.
She and Ron had spent the last few hours kissing. And then kissing some more. And then, for good measure, kissing a bit more.
He’d captur
e her bottom lip for a while and nibble on it. Kylee had let him, soaking in the sheer decadence of resting her head in the cradle of his palm while he explored her mouth. Then they’d break apart to catch their breath. They’d watch television. Inevitably, he’d turn and brush her lower lip, or she’d capture the side of his mouth, and it began all over again.
It had taken them three hours to watch the thirty-minute pilot episode of Saved by the Bell: The College Years because they had to keep rewinding to the place where they stopped watching and started kissing. It had taken another thirty minutes standing on the front stoop in the middle of the night saying goodbye.
At some point, one of the neighbors had flashed their porch lights at them like they were two randy teenagers. Ron had chuckled and pulled her closer. Kylee had giggled as she’d cuddled in the crook of his arms. She never wanted to leave his embrace, but eventually, he’d pulled away from her.
Ron looked different in the moonlight. He was the friend she’d turned to for most of her life. Now before her eyes, he’d transformed into the man she didn’t want to say goodnight to.
Life was so wild. Just a week ago, Kylee had sworn off men. Now she couldn’t wait to see where her relationship with Ron would go. The sun wouldn’t rise fast enough for a new day where she could see him again.
The sound of the doorbell had Kylee sitting bolt upright in her bed. She shoved her feet into slippers to avoid the cold floor. The bell rang again, mirroring the pounding of her heart. He’d come back.
The sun wasn’t anywhere close to rising. It seemed Ron was just as eager for their new life to begin as she was. She wasn’t ready to take her relationship with Ron to the next level. They’d just gotten on the ground floor. But she wouldn’t mind necking on the couch with him a little more.
Apparently, Ron was impatient to get back to it. He leaned on the doorbell letting it make an alarming sound that would wake up not only Molly but others in the neighborhood as well. It was very unlike him to be so impatient. But what did she know?
He’d changed so much over the years she’d been gone, but he was still very much the same. Except he didn’t have slicked back, brown hair. And he’d never worn a leather jacket a day in his life.
Peeking through the peephole, Kylee saw that it wasn’t Ron. It was Jason. He turned and those mischievous eyes glared at her through the one-way glass.
Kylee jerked her face back from the door. She folded her hands behind her back. She’d already opened a new door. She was happy with the scenery she found on the other side. She didn’t want to go back through the dark past by opening a door to let her ex back in.
But Jason didn’t let up on the buzzer. At this rate, he’d definitely wake Molly and the neighbors on the other side of town.
“What are you doing here?” Kylee demanded when she pulled the door open.
And there he was. Jason Romano. The bad boy on the bike who she’d road off into the sunset with and drove straight into a tornado. He was leaning against the doorframe, his dark hair falling into his dark eyes. Kylee had once gone gaga when he struck that pose. Now all she wanted to do was barf all over his leather jacket.
“About time,” Jason grumbled as he pushed his way in. “Where’s Molls?”
“Asleep. It’s one in the morning.”
Jason nodded. “I was hoping to see her. You know, spend some quality time. But if she’s sleeping, I’ll just wait until the morning.”
“Fine,” said Kylee, motioning to the open door. “You can wait wherever you’re staying and come back for breakfast.”
“But I’m already here. No sense in going back out in the middle of the night.”
Kylee stared him down. A sick feeling settling in her stomach where butterflies from kisses from Ron had just been. She knew where this was going.
“I just need to crash for a couple of nights,” said Jason.
“Absolutely not.”
“Mom?” came Molly’s voice from the top of the stairs. “What’s happening?”
“Hey, baby girl,” said Jason.
Molly came down another rung of the staircase. She squinted in the dim light of the hall. “Dad?”
“Surprise.” Jason held out his arms as though presenting himself like he was some great present.
Molly stared mutely.
“I came to see you.” He made his way over to the steps and scooped her up and into his arms. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too.” Molly’s voice was still groggy from being pulled from her sleep so late at night. She found her mom. Then she looked to the couch, likely searching for Ron.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Jason said as he put her back on her feet. “How about we have a sleepover like when you were five?”
“Ok. But I can’t stay up. I have school in the morning.”
Jason blew air through his lips at that idea. “You can blow off school for a day.”
“No, she can’t,” said Kylee, still standing in front of the open door as though there was a chance she could still get her ex out of it. But she knew it was a lost cause.
“Well,” said Jason. “I’ll read you a bedtime story so you can fall back to sleep. How about that?”
“Sure, Dad.”
Jason took to the steps. “See you in the morning, Kylee.”
Kylee closed the door as she watched the two head up the stairs. Before the door closed, a cold gust of air blew in on what had earlier been a warm and sunny day.
Chapter Sixteen
Ron kept pressing his fingers to his lips. He was certain they were still swollen from gorging himself on Kylee’s mouth last night. If people couldn’t tell he’d spent part of the night making out with his new girlfriend, then he was certain they’d be able to tell by the huge grin on his face.
Kylee Bauer was his girlfriend. At last. No, they hadn’t discussed labels. They’d been too busy wrapped up in each other’s embrace and pretending to watch TV. But that’s what they were.
From friends to kissers. After a prescribed amount of time, prescribed by Kylee since he was raring to go now, they’d move to husband and wife.
It was exactly the path Ron always dreamed his life would take. A path he’d walk with Kylee on his arm. And now he’d arrived.
“We need to make a final decision about the test prep company.”
Mrs. Steen’s voice cut through Ron’s daydreaming like a butter knife that had slipped down the sink into a garbage disposal. Unfortunately, he couldn’t flip a switch to stop the grinding sounds. And so, Ron reluctantly left his dream world and came back to the present.
It was an early morning teacher’s meeting. His time was running out. He needed to make a decision on the test prep company by the end of the week. His mind was already made up, but it would look good to show that he’d at least thought about the other companies vying for the job.
“Why not go with what’s tried and true,” said Mrs. Simmons. “We’ve had a relationship with Here 2 Learn for a few years now.”
“Records show they’re not up to date with the latest testing models,” said Mrs. Steen. “I’ve taken a look at Thrive Learning systems and have been really impressed with their innovations.”
“I’m surprised, Martha.” Mrs. Simmons turned her full attention to Mrs. Steen. “You typically prefer to do things old school, as the kids like to say.”
Mrs. Steen nodded. “This is a new generation and they respond to different methods. I think we shoot ourselves in the foot if we don’t change with the times and update what’s not working.”
Ron couldn’t agree with her more. Of course, he didn’t tell her that. He’d let the staff argue it out knowing Mrs. Steen usually got her way in the end.
The small group continued the debate as Ron looked down at Thrive’s pitch packet. The sample questions and language didn’t have Kylee’s name on them, but he knew it was her handiwork. The questions were formed in common sense language, not confusing verbiage that could be interpreted in different ways. That was
his Kylee.
His Kylee. Man, did he like the sound of that.
“Principal Kidd? Ron?”
Ron looked up. All eyes were on him. Brows were raised and pencils twiddling as though they’d been waiting to get his attention for a few minutes now.
“The room is divided,” said Mrs. Steen. “Where are you leaning? With Here 2 Learn or Thrive Learning Systems?”
Ron pursed his lips and drew his brows in as though he were thinking hard on this big decision. It was a big decision. He’d just already made up his mind.
“I think it’s time for a change,” said Ron.
“He’s going with Thrive,” said Mrs. Steen, a rare look of approval on her stern face.
“Of course, he is,” said Mrs. Simmons. “He’s dating one of the company’s personnel who also happens to be a student’s mother.”
The teachers had been gathering their items to leave believing a decision had been made which rendered their services no longer necessary. Now pencils clattered down to the table. Papers stopped shuffling. All eyes, once again, turned to him.
Ron cleared his throat and stood. If he were going to make a stand, he was going to physically stand in his truth. “I’m going with Thrive because, as pointed out by at least half of you, Here 2 Learn has made mistakes that have cost this school and our students in the past. We all know the stakes of these standardized tests. It’s a high price, not only for the students but our job security as well. I’ve seen in their pitch alone that Thrive has clearly demonstrated that they are aware and have protocols to address those issues. The lead preparer also happens to be a mother of a student and a Barton alumna.”
“So is Iman Hilson who works at Here 2 Learn,” said Mr. Stevens.
“True,” said Ron. “But like I said, that company hasn’t addressed the mistakes of the past. We can’t afford to have them repeated yet again. And yes, I’m dating Kylee Bauer.”
A collective murmur went around the room. In a group of adults, Ron felt like he was back in grade school at the response.
The Princess and the Principal Page 7