CHAPTER FIVE - CHANCE
Star’s teacher helped her into the car as I pulled to a stop in the circle. “Have a good weekend, sweetie,” she said before she shut the door.
I drove us away as she hooked her seatbelt around her and Jackie. I’d remembered to bring the doll every day since she’d asked, but for one, and after the look of disappointment on her face, I’d make damned sure not to do that again.
“Can we get pizza?”
“Do you remember I told you how that nice lady from the diner was going to come over and help you with your reading?” She looked over at me with a solemn expression.
“I thought we’d wait and see if she would like to have pizza with us. Would you be okay with that?
“She doesn’t like pizza,” Star said, very matter of fact.
“Now, how do you know that? It might be her very favorite, and besides, we don’t want to be rude and start without her. She’s going out of her way to help us both.”
“I don’t want to read.” Star poked out her bottom lip and crossed her arms.
“I know you don’t like the way you read, Star, but Dream is not going to laugh at you. She’s really excited to help you a better reader. Think of this as having your own special teacher; one the other kids don’t get to have.”
She turned her head to look up at me, but she didn’t say anything else. I hoped she’d lighten up a little by the time Dream arrived, and not shut down completely. I’d seen her do that before. The day before she’d started school, she’d locked herself in the bathroom and wouldn’t come out. I finally, after an hour of begging, took the door off the hinges, and she was mad at me for the rest of the night.
For the most part, she was a reasonable kid, but she was extremely guarded in who she let in. I was just starting to break through to her myself.
We arrived home, and she went to take a bath, and while she was changing, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and my breath was taken away by the angel on the other side.
Dream stood there, wearing a white fitted tee and tight jeans that showed off every curve. My cock grew, tenting my pants and though I needed to adjust it, I wasn’t about to touch the damned thing. Instead, I hid behind the door and opened it wide enough for her to step in.
“Come on in. Star’s in a strange mood. I think she’s a bit embarrassed by the tutoring. She should be out any minute.”
“She’ll be fine once she sees it’s going to be fun. I brought some really cute books for us to read.”
I was glad to see she’d come prepared.
A moment later, Star came out of her room dressed in her pajamas and carrying Jackie, who had on a little nightgown. She padded across the floor and stood beside me holding onto my good leg.
I looked at Dream who was smiling down at her. “We were just going to order some pizzas if you’d like to join us, then I thought you could get started with your lesson.”
“I’m tired. I want to go to bed.” Star turned and headed to her room, and I realized what she was up to. She’d rather go to bed hungry than be humiliated by reading with Dream.
Before I could get onto her, Dream stepped forward.
“Really? I was hoping I could read this book to you before you went to bed. It’s one of my favorites, and I used to read it to my first-grade class all the time. I really miss being able to teach.” She hung her head in disappointment, and Star’s little shoulders relaxed a bit.
“Dream was a teacher back in Chicago,” I told her.
Dream walked over to the couch and continued her sob story. “I miss those little ones so much. It hurt my heart to have to move away. It’s tough making new friends, and no one needs me to teach them around here.” She looked to her lap and held the book tight. “I was so hoping you’d want to be my friend.”
Star walked over to the couch and climbed up beside Dream. “You’re a teacher?”
“Yes, I taught a first-grade class at a place called Oak Brook Elementary. But I had to move away.”
Star seemed to contemplate that for a moment before nodding at Dream. “You can read to me. Do you like pepperoni and ham?”
Dream’s face lit up. “Is that your favorite too?”
Star nodded quickly and smiled.
“I’ll just go order us a couple and let you two ladies get better acquainted.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked into the kitchen to get the number. I peeked out to see that Dream was still working her magic with Star, and dialed the phone.
Once the order was made, I went back into the room and tried to act busy while the girls worked.
Dream read the book through and then went over a few words with Star. “You’re doing really well, Star, and I think before you know it, you’ll be able to read this book to me.”
“Do you have Dr. Seuss?” Star leaned closer to Dream and took Jackie from where she had her stuffed between them. She’d used the doll as her shield, and it seemed now she was warming up where she didn’t need the buffer.
“You know, I might be able to find one of those books around here. I’ll go to the library tomorrow and get anyone you want. How about we make a list of the books you like, and I’ll bring them when I come?”
Star’s eyes lit up, and she jumped down from the couch and ran up to her room. Once she was out of earshot, Dream turned to me.
“I think she’s going to do just fine. She just needs to get comfortable enough with me to not be embarrassed to try.”
“You’re doing great so far,” I told her. About that time, Star ran out with her tablet and a box of crayons.
“This is for the list.” She placed the items on the coffee table between them, and then went around to sit next to Dream.
“Excellent. Now, let’s make that list.” Dream took a crayon, and they went back and forth naming titles. One by one she’d mark them down, and now and then she’d pass the crayon to Star and have her write a word from the title; simple words like ham, fox, cat, and hat.
When the pizza came, I placed it on the table and brought some paper plates and sodas. “We usually eat at the kitchen table, but since this is a special night, we can eat in here.” Star’s eyes lit up, and she moved the list aside and opened the pizza box.
“I was hoping the ham would be green,” she said with a giggle.
I scrunched my nose and made a face. “I’m glad it’s not.”
“Do you not like green eggs and ham?” asked Dream.
“I do not like them near or far; I do not like them with Dream and Star.” They both laughed until I thought Star was going to bust, and then we all sat eating and chatting about our favorite books. I even named a couple that were my brother’s favorites when we were kids, and Star, with Dream’s help, added them to the list.
Soon we were done with the pizza, and then Dream went over the book again at Star’s request. A half hour later, Star opened her mouth, letting a big yawn escape her. Our chat had taken up most of the tutoring time, but I knew it was necessary so Star would get comfortable with Dream.
“That was a big yawn for a little girl; I think someone’s ready for their bedtime.” I stood from my chair. “I think it’s time you tell Dream goodnight and I’ll tuck you in.”
“Yes. I should be going. It’s almost my bedtime as well.”
“No, I want to show you my room.” Star’s voice was so whiny that I knew she was worn out. Just as I was about to tell her that Dream had to go, Dream looked up at me with sympathetic eyes.
“I could if it’s okay with your uncle?” I could tell she wasn’t sure she should impose, but I wanted her around as long as possible too. And besides, if she tucked her in, then I could walk her out to her car.
“I think that would be all right.” I gave a shrug then picked up the pizza boxes and took them to the kitchen while the girls headed up to Star’s room. I tossed the empty cans into the trash along with the paper plates, and then went in to check on them.
Star was climbing into bed, and Dream sat at the foot of it. “You have a pretty room.” I’d bought a bedroom set and some pretty bedding, and since her birthday she actually had a few toys that she kept picked up. Her play kitchen was tidy in the corner of her room.
“Thanks. I just got my kitchen.”
“It’s beautiful. I wish I had a kitchen as pretty at that one. I’d bake us a big cake.”
“I had a birthday cake last weekend. It was pink and blue. It had a tiara.” She pointed up at her headboard where her little crown was, and pulled the covers up to her neck.
“That’s beautiful too. You’ll have to wear it sometime for our lessons. We’ll have a lot of them.”
“Next time can you wear your pajamas?”
Dream’s face turned red as she glanced back at me, and my ears went hot.“We’ll have to see about that.”
“You could wear them and sleep over sometime if you want.”
I had to stifle a groan. If Dream were to ever spend the night in my house, she would not be wearing any pajamas, that’s for damn sure. “Star, Dream has her own house and her own bed, and I’m sure she’s really ready to get in it. It’s been a long night.” I didn’t want to sound rude, but Star was fighting sleep, and I knew she’d keep talking as long as she could. Not to mention, if I kept entertaining the thought of a sleepover, my erection would be impossible to hide.
“Yes, and my roommate, Liza. She’s going to want me to read to her little boy too. Maybe you can meet him sometime. He’s two, and his name is Brady.”
“Okay. But you’ll come back, right?”
“Of course, as long as your uncle thinks I need to. Now you should really get some sleep, sweetie. Being rested will help you do better too.” Dream stood up and tucked the covers up to her chin. “I’m so glad we’re friends, now Star. We’ll have a lot of fun, you’ll see.” She kissed her hand and then patted Star’s little head.
Star seemed pleased to hear that, and she didn’t complain as I walked Dream out.
I walked her to her car, and we both reached for the door at the same moment, our fingers brushing against one another briefly. She pulled her hand away as if she’d been burned, and a surge of electricity shot up my arm. I took a slight step back as she opened the door and stood behind it, putting a barrier between us. I couldn’t tell if it was because she was afraid of me, or because she’d felt the same lightning bolt I had.
I cleared my throat to break the tension. “Well, I guess I’ll see you next week.”
“Thanks for dinner and for letting me tuck Star in. I know it wasn’t really in the agreement.”
“Nonsense, I know she’s in need of a little extra TLC, and I’m fine with it if it helps her warm up to the idea of tutoring.”
“You’re amazing.” She looked deep into my eyes as we exchanged a glance that had my blood heating up.
I knew if I didn’t walk away right then, I’d have her spread out on the hood of her car, doing unspeakable things to her body in a matter of minutes.
I clapped my hands to break the mood. “Goodnight.” As she slid inside, I shut the door and watched her drive away.
Once she was out of sight, I jogged into the house and made sure Star was asleep before I stripped and jumped into the shower, wrapping my large hand around my thick, hard cock. I was going to have to relieve myself if I was going to be able to spend any time around Dream without mauling her.