Page 37 of Dock

Or…can it?

No.

Not for me.

Not for someone like me.

Not for someone whose biggest adventure was her senior year high school field trip to the Dalvegan Public Library in Texas to see their rare and exotic book collection featuring forgotten texts about herbalism, hexes, and honoring your ancestors through tree work – all subjects Gam Gam approved of.

I don’t do wild or weird or adventurous things.

That’s future me, not current me.

Although, the only way I suppose to get from current me to future me is to bridge the gap but again, that doesn’t sound like me.

Not plain and simple and should be lesson planning with a glass of bubbly imported from Applecourt apple cider teacher me.

The one Gam Gam would be offering to drink for on my behalf while I go out and live a little.

“You want to,” declares the student I’m still unsure if I should be excited or freaked out that he managed to find where I live. “You know you do.”

My lips press together to maintain my silence; however, Noodle howls, “Mooowwww.”

An arrogant smirk – that I swear doesn’t look nearly as sexy on anyone else – slips back onto his face. “See.”

“Don’t read into that,” I rush to insist on a shake of the head. “Something must be going on with him. He clearly needs a trip to the vet.”

The V word gets the golden creature wiggling in displeasure.

Uh-huh.

Thought that might correct his treacherous ways.

“And you’re clearly ready to stop dreaming,” his frame needlessly takes a step closer, “and start doing, Teach.”

Am I?

“Do um…” another small adjustment is made to my grip on Noodle, “I need to like…wear…something…uh…in…particular?” Becoming self-conscious once more immediately kicks in, leading me to try to close the robe a second time. “Like um…leather?”

The corner of his mouth slowly curls upward. “Do you own leather?”

“No.”

“Then how would you wear it?”

Ugh!

Fuck him for logic!

“I…I…I…um…”

“Got jeans?” He sweetly investigates. “Long sleeve shirt? Jacket?”

“It’s summer!”

“That’s safety.”

“You’re not wearing that shit!”