Page 78 of Leaning In

My elbows catch in the arm holes and I fail dismally at looking smooth.

“Hello, Miss Robinson,” I tell her, when I finally manage to get my head through the right bit of the shirt. “What a surprise to see you here. Why are you loitering in school car parks after hours?” I wink. But it might be ruined by my lopsided T-shirt and general disarray. Luckily Claire smiles.

“Well, there’s this one teacher I fancy a bit. So I was hanging around trying to catch him after school.”

“Oh really?” I gesture at myself. “You fancy this teacher? Even when he’s been clearing up vomit from a school bus?”

She wrinkles her nose. “Way to kill the mood. And a bit presumptuous to think it was you. I was actually talking about James.”

I clutch my chest in mock outrage. “James? How could you? A maths teacher? After I’ve just given you a romantic bus ride across London with a soundtrack of sugar-fuelled eleven-year-olds.”

“Numbers are very dependable,” she teases. “History’s just… old stuff and vibes.”

“Vibes?” I protest. “History is epic battles, revolutions, the rise and fall of empires. Maths is… fractions.”

She grins. “I’ve always had a weakness for a good fraction.”

“You wound me.” I shake my head. “I was about to offer you a lift home, but maybe James can drive you off into the sunset with his protractor.”

She tilts her head, amused. “Tempting. But I hear history teachers make excellent chauffeurs.”

“Oh?”

“Definitely.” Her eyes are bright. “You’re just lucky I have a thing for grouchy men with encyclopaedic knowledge of the Tudors.”

“I know I’m lucky,” I tell her, all teasing gone from my voice, and she just gives me a soft smile. I finish packing up my stuff, but when I look over again she’s biting her lip looking nervous.

“You alright?” I ask as I load my things into the back of my car.

She smooths her hands on her dress.

“So, fun fact. While you were dealing with the vomit situation, Mary came to chat to me, wanting to know if we were together. She actually said ‘together-together’ or ‘secret-together’. Those were the only two options.”

I groan. “She gave me the full raised eyebrow by one of the display cases. I think she’s onto us.”

“So if she knows it’s only a matter of time before it reaches the staffroom, and the staffroom includes James, a man who is one pint away from yelling it to the whole street. So I think we need to tell Kath.” Claire wraps her arms around herself. “She can’t hear this from someone else. Not after last time. I’m going to tell her next week.”

I close the boot and lean against the car. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel rushed but…” I trail off. “Well, I agree. She should know.”

“I want it to come from me,” Claire continues.

I take a step towards her. “We can do it together?”

She shakes her head with a faint smile. “Thanks, but it’s alright. I want her to know it’s serious, especially after last time.”

Claire looks worried, so I reach for her, brushing my hand down her arm until our fingers link. I love that I can do this now without having to second guess my actions.

“I’m serious too. And if you change your mind at any point and want to do it together just let me know.”

Claire squeezes my hand before dropping it.

“I thought I was promised a ride home?” Her voice is teasing now, and I let her shift the moment.

“Your carriage awaits.” I gesture at the Polo with a flourish.

“Carriage? This thing rattles like a shopping trolley.”

“Hey,” I protest, opening the door for her, “don’t insult her. This is the chariot that’s about to whisk you away in style.”