Page 80 of The Path to Loving Him
“They have?” he asks, raising his brow. “Wow, you must be doing a really good job. I consider myself one of the cooler teachers, and even I don’t get waves.”
I smirk. “Maybe you need to reassess your approach.”
He laughs. “Maybe. I might have to observe you in your classroom and take some pointers.”
I wink at him. “Observe all you want.”
That causes him to raise a brow and turn away, slowly nodding.
Jesus, am I flirting?
I shouldn’t be flirting.
Because . . . well . . . I have a, uh . . . what do I have?
A Ryland.
Uh, pretty sure that’s nothing.
So why shouldn’t I be flirting?
The first thing that comes to mind is Ryland. But that’s stupid because it’s not like we’re dating or anything. The man hasn’t even spoken to me in a few days. When I go to take a shower, he’s nowhere in sight. So why would I even think about him?
No, this is not about Ryland. I shouldn’t be flirting because, well, this is my first week. I can’t be making the moves on a co-worker in the first week.
“Where are you from?” Christian asks, thankfully cutting through the awkwardness that my wink brought upon us both.
I mix my granola and berries into my yogurt and say, “A small town north of here.”
“Still in California or in Oregon?”
“California,” I answer. “About an hour south of Oregon.”
“Nice.”
“What about you?” I ask.
“San Diego,” he answers. “Born and raised.”
“San Diego is gorgeous. How could you leave?”
“Still wondering that myself.” He takes a drink of what seems to be a protein drink. It makes sense, given how shapely his shoulders look under his T-shirt. “But I like Almond Bay. It’s kind of fun living in a town that feels like Stars Hollow.”
“Did you just make aGilmore Girlsreference?”
“Yup, you okay with that?”
I turn toward him just as the door to the lounge opens, and in pops Ryland, looking broody. From the corner of my eye, I catch him pause in his path and do a double take at me, but I ignore him and continue my conversation with Christian.
“I’m more than okay with that. Before I nerd out, have you watched the show?”
“Would I have made a reference if I hadn’t?”
“True.” I take a deep breath and look him in the eyes and ask, “Okay, Team Jess, Team Logan, or Team Dean?”
“How did I know you were going to ask?” He turns toward me as well, and as I look him in the eyes, I can feel Ryland’s gaze on us both, but I ignore him.
“Am I predictable already?”
