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  I let the door close behind me, “Well, you might need to cut back on those doughnuts,” I said, pointing at her plate full of junk food.

  “Yeah,” she said as she picked up a doughnut, “well, if that is what it takes, then I am not cut out for it. I need my sweets, honey. No doubt about that.”

  She smiled as I walked to the box of bagels and scooped one out. “Yeah, I hear you. I was that way before I made a change to not eat so many sweets. It’ll come, but I guess until then, enjoy yourself.”

  “I will. Oh, and Derrick is looking for you.”

  I sighed, “Lord, again? What does he want now?”

  “You know what he wants.” She winked her eye at me, “He wants some of that–”

  Principal Jones walked into the room before she could finish her words. “Ladies! Good morning! How are we doing today?”

  Sharon stuffed a doughnut in her mouth to hide her smile. I shook my head, “We are good, Principal Jones. Ready to start the day.”

  “That is good to hear!” He walked over to the doughnuts, then looked back in my direction. “Now, I will trust that neither of you will tell my wife that I was eating doughnuts today, right?”

  I laughed. “Um, Principal Jones, I am not getting in the middle of you and your wife. Let’s just hope that when she visits today, she doesn’t ask me because you know I cannot lie to your sweet wife. She is just too nice for that.”

  He closed the box of doughnuts and grabbed a bagel instead, “Yeah. How about I just grab the bagel and avoid all of that? I remember last time she asked you what I ate in the morning, and you told her the truth. She was mad at me all night. I had to sleep on the couch.”

  I laughed. “I am sorry about that, but you know that you have to watch your blood sugar. I won’t snitch on you, but if she asks, I will tell it. I will tell it all.”

  He smiled. “Yes, I know.” He tossed the bagel a few inches into the air and caught it again, “Well, I’ve got what I needed. You women have a wonderful day, and Bethany, I am sure I will see you again in your office.”

  “Sure will.”

  As soon as he left the room, Sharon spoke up again, “Girl, that man is like my father. Every time he comes in the room, I feel like I have to shut up. He always catches me in the middle of saying something I didn’t need to be saying.”

  “Yeah. Well, as long as you know you didn’t need to say it, we can leave it at that.” I placed my bagels in a small box. “I am on my way to my office. Call me if you need me.”

  “Okay, sweetie.”

  I walked out of the room and headed to my office. A few children smiled and waved at me on my way there. Some of the young girls stopped to give me a hug. They felt like they were my own children. I knew that at some point, I would want to start a family and have kids of my own, but at the rate things were going for me now, that seemed like another dream that would never come true. Especially if I had to choose between my ex or Derrick. I may as well sign up to become a nun.

  Chapter Three

  GAVIN

  When we got home, Vinny went straight to the kitchen to grab something to eat like he always did. I went upstairs to take a quick shower so I could go to the gym. Me and one of my best friends, Mike, usually worked out together for a couple of days during the week. It helped me stay in shape and release stress at the same time. It also wasn’t a bad place to check out women. It was usually the busiest around 5 pm, so we aimed for that time to get things going.

  When I got back downstairs, Vinny was seated at the table, finishing his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “You almost finished, buddy? We’re heading to the gym today.”

  He nodded his head, then got up to clean his plate off. He took a towel and wiped the area he was sitting at, then grabbed his bag. “You’re all set?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m ready.”

  As we drove, we talked about how our days went. Vinny was a straight-A student, and he never gave any of his teachers any trouble. That was a far cry from what I used to be when I was his age. I spent so many days in detention that I lost count by the middle of the school year. It had to be his mother’s genes kicking in. Our personalities were nothing alike, and that was another reason why I think we didn’t mesh the way we should have.

  By the time we got the to the gym, the parking lot was filled with vehicles. I grabbed my phone to call Mike. “Hey, I just showed up. Are you inside?”

  “Yeah, man, I’m in here. There are tons of people though. More than usual.”

  “Alright. I’m on my way in.” He didn’t respond. “Mike? Hello?”

  “Sheesh. I’m sorry, man, but this gorgeous chick just walked by, and I almost forgot who the hell I was for a second, let alone who I was speaking to. Anyways, yeah man, come on in. I just walked out of the locker room, and I’ll be over by the bench press.”

  “Alright.”

  I got out of the car and put my arm around Vinny, and we walked into the gym. Men walked around in compression shirts while women wore tank tops that exposed their mid-sections. “Welcome,” the man behind the desk said as I handed him my card.

  “Hey. How’s it going?”

  “Pretty good, thank you, sir. Enjoy your workout.”

  I kneeled to Vinny, “Alright, bud. Go ahead and go into the kids’ area. I’ll be done working out in about an hour and a half. Did you bring your books?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Okay, if there are any problems, you just come get me, okay?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I kissed him on his forehead and watched him walk into the children’s area. He went to one of the free tables, took out a book from his bag, and started reading as if nobody else was around. On my way to the bench press, I ran into one of the women I used to mess around with almost a year ago, a smoking hot blonde with large breasts and yoga pants who was as aggressive of a woman as I’d ever met.

  “Morgan? How are you doing? Long time no see.”

  She smiled. “Yes, it has been a long time, Gavin. A VERY long time. How have you been?”

  “Oh, I’ve been good. Real good. Do you live around here?”

  “No. I work around here, but I live on the east side. Almost thirty minutes away, you know? I usually come here after I leave work. There isn’t a gym closer to my house.”

  “Okay, okay.” I smiled, admiring the way her flat stomach sat perfectly in her midsection. Her breasts were squeezed tightly beneath her shirt, cultivating their buxom appearance. Her hazel eyes looked more alluring than they did the last time we met and before long, my mind began replaying the intimate times that we shared together.

  “So, um, yeah. Maybe we should hook up again, you know? I don’t live too far from here, and if you’re up for it, I would love to reconnect.”

  She smiled. “So would I, Gavin, but…I’m married.”

  “Married?” I scanned her finger for a ring, but I didn’t spot one.

  “Yes. I’ve been married for about four months now. I don’t wear my ring to the gym because it clangs against the bars and other things that I use. I don’t want to damage it, you know? But yes, I am married.”

  “Wow. I am sorry, I didn’t know. But I should’ve known a woman like you wouldn’t stay single for long.”

  “Well, thank you, Gavin.” She looked at her watch, “And I need to get going. It was good seeing you, though.”

  “You as well.”

  I watched her walk through the doors. Married? I chuckled, then headed to the back of the gym to find Mike. I was surprised that she was married. She didn’t seem like the type of woman who would settle down with one man, but I guess if she was able to, then there was hope for me. I didn’t see it that way though. The only thing I saw in my future was much of the same thing I was experiencing right now: a bunch of different women satisfying me each night until I had enough.

  “About time, man,” Mike said as he loaded another plate onto the weight bar. “I saw you over there talking to some chick, so I didn’t think you would mak
e it. I was expecting you to take a detour with her.”

  I stretched out with a smile on my face, “Nah, man. That was Morgan. I messed around with her a long time ago. I mean, the thought crossed my mind, but she told me she was married.”

  “Married, huh? You said that like it hurt your feelings.”

  “What? Yeah, right. That wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all, but it did get me to think about a few things. Settling down one day, you know? Providing some kind of stable parenthood for Vinny. Two parents under the same roof.”

  “Well, what about his mom? She isn’t in his life anymore?”

  “No, she is there. She just, umm,” I briefly thought back to the relationship we once had. My mother had always told me that she would be the one to get away, and at times, I felt that she was. Even though I knew we weren’t a good fit for each other, I couldn’t shake the “what if” thoughts that popped into my mind from time to time. “She is just doing her own thing, you know? And I am doing mine. I don’t think our paths will ever cross again. Romantically, at least.”

  “Yeah, I hear ya. Well, if you do happen to settle down, please hand that little black book of yours over to me. I’ll take good care of everyone in it.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, man, I’m sure you would.”

  After we finished our workout, Mike suggested that Vinny and I come to his house. He always had some good post-workout drinks to mix up for us, so I never heisatated to stop by when he asked. He lived on the next street over from Vinny and I. “Alright, Vinny, I’ve got some new video games in the room. Why don’t you go on back there and check them out?” Vinny looked at me to make sure it was alright for him to go, then he walked back to Mike’s guest room.

  As he walked back to the room, Mike shook his head. “Man, that boy of yours is quiet, isn’t he? Are you sure there is nothing wrong with him?”

  I took a seat in the front room, “What do you mean? He is just a quiet boy, that’s all. He is more observant than anything else. Far more mature than any 7-year-old should be. Sometimes I look at him and think he has been here before, you know? He acts like it.”

  Mike came back from the kitchen with two drinks in his hand. He tossed me one as he spoke, “Yeah. Maybe he is a boy genius or something. He is probably back there doing algebraic equations instead of playing video games. Little Einstein.”

  “Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”

  He sat down next to me on the couch and flipped on the television. The same dating commercial that replayed earlier this morning flashed across the screen. “Look at this shit, man,” Mike scoffed. “People are so fucking lazy these days. All it takes is for someone to go hang out. Go to the gym, work, school. Hell, you can meet people at church. Shit like this is a handicap.”

  “Well,” I took a sip of my drink. “I mean, I can see the value of it, especially when people don’t have the time to hang out like normal folks.”

  He paused his speech and shifted his attention on me, “Wait a minute, Gavin. You sound like you are giving this thing some thought. You can’t be serious about trying that thing out.”

  “I didn’t say I would, but I’ve considered it. I saw the commercial earlier today, and like I said, I am thinking about settling down. I figured that is one of the best ways to do it. It’s like window shopping.” I took another sip of my drink. “Walk around until you find something that catches your eye and then–”

  “Fuck her brains out.”

  “Mike,” I chuckled, “Come on, man. I am serious right now. I really think I want to settle down.”

  “Listen. I hear ya, completely. That crazy ass thought as crossed my mind once or twice before, but shit, I think that the single life is way better than being hitched to someone else. Getting told what to do, where you have to be. Meeting up with in-laws and other people you don’t like because your wife wants you to do it. Shit, I’ve been there before, and this single life is much better. Freedom, Gavin,” he propped his foot on top of his glass table, “to do anything you want at any time. You can’t beat that.”

  I heard him, but we were on two different wavelengths. Mike had gone through an ugly divorce three years ago, and I could tell that he was still bitter about how it went down. I expected him to have this kind of mindset, but that wouldn’t sway how I felt. I had never been married before, and I felt like it was time for me to go to another stage of life.

  I stayed at Mike’s for another hour before Vinny and I decided to head home. As soon as we got there, Vinny went straight to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed. It was 8:30 pm when he called me into his room to tuck him in. “Hey, buddy, you all set?”

  “Yes, sir.” He climbed into bed and pulled the covers over his body. As I walked closer to him, I noticed a picture of me, him, and his mother just to the side of his pillow. I noticed a few wrinkles on the photo as I picked it up. I smiled with my arm around Karen as Vinny sat between us. He looked to be no more than two years old at the time. It was right before things started going south between me and his mother.

  “How long have you had this picture?”

  “I took it from Mom’s house about a month ago.”

  “Does she know you have it?”

  “No. I mean, I don’t think she cares, but she doesn’t know. I just like to sleep next to it because it reminds me of how things used to be.”

  His words lingered in the air like a strong fragrance as I tapped the picture in my hand. “Alright bud,” I said, sliding the photo next to his pillow, “it's time for some shut eye.” I kissed him on the forehead and tucked the blanket around his body.

  As I walked out of the room, he grabbed my attention. “Dad?”

  I put my hand on the light switch, “Yes?”

  “Do you think you and mom will ever get back together? Like, do you think we will be a family again?”

  I sighed. “I don’t know, Vinny. That’s not my call.” I wanted to put him at ease and tell him that everything would be alright. I knew he was searching for some type of comfort, but I couldn’t give it to him, and I felt horrible because of it. “But, don’t worry about that right now, okay? Just get some rest. We will see how things turn out later.”

  “Alright, Dad. Love you.”

  “Love you too, kid.”

  I shut off his light and left his door cracked, then made my way to the front room. I thought about calling Karen to see what she was up to, but I knew that she would hang up as soon as she found out that I wasn’t calling about Vinny. She didn’t want anything to do with me anymore, and I couldn’t blame her. If I was going to find a wife, I would have to look elsewhere.

  Chapter Four

  BETHANY

  “No, no, Jamie, wait right here.” I reached for her hand and held her close while her parents drove next to the curb. She was one of my favorite students in the school because she reminded me so much of myself when I was her age. Her curiosity and intelligence went hand in hand, and at times, I felt that when she was around, I was speaking to my own daughter.

  “Hey, sweetie,” her mother said as she got out of the car.

  Jamie wrapped her arms around me and held me tight, “Goodbye, Miss Bethany. I will see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes, sweetheart, you sure will.”

  She smiled, then ran to her car while her mother held the door open. “You know,” she said, standing a few feet away from me, “it is amazing how that little girl clings to you. When she gets home, all she talks about is Miss Bethany this and Miss Bethany that. I swear she probably wishes that you were her mother.”

  I laughed. “No, she doesn’t. She is just a friendly little girl.”

  “Friendly? Her?” She looked at her daughter as she pulled the seatbelt around her. “No, she is not friendly at all. You should see how she treats some of my other friends. She does not like them for one reason or another, but somehow, you’ve found a way onto her good side.” She closed the door, then inched closer to me, “Please tell me your secret.”

  “No s
ecrets, Mrs. Jamison. I don’t know what it is; I just love the children.”

  “And they love you. I can clearly see it.” As she spoke, three more young girls ran up to me and clung to my legs. “You see what I mean?” she added, smiling at the young girls. “Well, I’ll let you go. I guess I will see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes. Same place, same time.”

  As she got inside her car, the little girls that were huddled around me beckoned for my attention. I loved my job more and more each day. No matter what I was dealing with in my personal life, it seemed that when I stepped into this building, everything changed. The weight was lifted off my shoulders by warm smiles from the faculty and sweet hugs from the children. I meant a lot to them, and that was all I needed to keep going.

  I stayed outside with the children until the last parent came to pick up their child. I didn’t have to do it, but it was something that I always looked forward to at the end of the day. “Alright, James, you be good tonight, okay? Don’t give your mother a hard time.”

  “Okay, Miss Bethany. I won’t.”

  He climbed into the car, and after they drove away from the school, I heard a voice behind me. “You are so good with them.” I sighed, knowing who it was before I turned around.

  When I faced him, he stood behind me in a short-sleeved dress shirt and khakis. Derrick was handsome, in a normal kind of way. His lips were full, and his hair was thinning around the edges. I forced a smile onto my face, “Yes, I try to be. They are my heart.”

  “I think it is about time for you to have some of your own. What do you think?”

  “Um, I think I need to find a mate before I start having children.”

  “A mate?” he smiled. “Well, I MATE be able to help you with that.” I rolled my eyes at him and kept a blank expression on my face. The silence induced him to speak again, “Mate? Might? Did you get the joke?”