The day dragged on, and the students were in a foul mood. I needed the weekend to start. When the lunchtime bell rang, I walked in my office, plopping in my chair as I let my head fall back. “Jesus,” I muttered. I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to the stillness in the air, since the kids had cleared the building. Two more class periods—I could do it.

I opened my drawer, grabbed my container of leftover pasta, and searched for my phone. I hoped City messaged me—I needed something to brighten up this shit day. I looked at the screen and my stomach fluttered. I was “his” tonight. What did he mean? Sexually?

I never liked to be called Suzette, but the way it sounded coming out of his mouth made my breath hitch. He always seemed to whisper it in my ear or say it against my lips, and it drove me crazy. I wanted to hear him say my name tonight.

Me: Only tonight?

Hell, did I just sound needy?

City: All things are possible.

What the hell did that mean?

“Hello. Suzy, you in here?” I heard Sophia calling from the door.

“In my office,” I yelled, grabbing a forkful of noodles.

Sophia stood in the doorway and made a sound of disgust. “I don’t know how you eat that Ragu shit cold. Bleh.” She scrunched her nose, opened her mouth, and stuck her finger inside, pretending to gag.

“Hey, Mama Guido, what are you doing slumming it down here?” I stuck the noodle in my mouth and made a face at her.

“Kayden and I were talking, and we wanted to know if you and the cock piercing wanted to come over for a barbecue tonight?”

“You just want to molest him with your eyes.”

“No, I don’t. I have my hunk. Kayden still makes me tingle thinking about him.” She made a silly face and shook her body like just the thought of him brought her pleasure. “I want to meet this guy and see if he’s worthy of my little Suzy. Plus, Kayden could use a little pick-me-up. Maybe they can be friends and we can double date.” She rested her body against the door with her leg crossed in front of the other and her arms folded. I always had a hard time saying no to Sophia.

“Well, I’d have to ask him. I don’t know what he had planned.”

“Send me an email after you ask him. It’ll be fun. Don’t take no for an answer. You’ve piqued my curiosity about this man that has you all types of insane. I mean, sweetie, I’ve always known you were crazy, but he has you questioning everything in your perfect little mapped out life. I must meet him.”

“Fine, Soph. Let me ask him.”

Me: BBQ at my friends’ place tonight. You game?

“There, I asked. It’s up to him now. Happy?” I grabbed a huge forkful and slowly placed it in my mouth—anything to gross Sophia out. She was the queen of sauce and meatballs. I missed when the house used to fill with the smell of her cooking. I’d come home after a long day and Kayden would have something divine on the stove. Now it was Ragu and me against the world.

“Ugh, I can’t stand here and watch you eat that shit.”

My phone chirped. “Wait,” I said as she walked away from my office. “Incoming.”

“So?”

City: Sounds fanfuckingtastic. What time shall I give you a “ride”?

“Um,” I said as I felt the heat creep into my cheeks. “He wants to know what time we should arrive.”

“He talks all proper like that?”

“Nope, but that’s all you’re getting. Time, please?”

She sighed. “Eight, okay? If you’re gonna be late just let me know, whoreface. Bye,” she said as the door closed behind her.

Me: Sophia said to be there at eight. Pick me up around ten till to be there on time—Sophia doesn’t do late.

I knew that Sophia would take one look at City and practically be doing cartwheels. She’d never liked any man I had seen since we became friends. I flipped through the paperwork from my mailbox this morning as I waited for City to respond.

City: I’ll be there at six thirty. Be ready for me, because I’m hard as a fuckin’ rock. I have plans for that pussy before we go to the BBQ.

OMG, OMG, OMG.

Me: I’ll be waiting with bells on.

Five minutes left before the next barrage of hooligans walked through the door. My afternoon classes were murder. They weren’t bad kids, but they were challenging and mentally draining.

City: Naked—no fucking bells.

A fire ignited in my body as I read the screen. It’s on like Donkey Kong.