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Chapter 21
-Bad Boy Blues-

*unedited*
- Clover -

- Two Weeks Later -

If I learned anything from that hellhole of a diner, it was how to multitask and make it look easy.

With 20 minutes left on my break, a list full of stuff to buy and a mid afternoon talk with Drew, I was currently the queen of multitasking.

My left hand was busy pushing the cart, while my right held the checklist. My shoulder was up in an awkward position as I needed it to hold the phone up to my ear.

"You should come home sometime, the boys miss you".

Drew was in the process of trying to convince me to visit home by hitting me where he'd know it would hurt which was my guilty conscience of not seeing my nephews as often as I should.

After working at the school for two weeks now with Blair's Kindergarten class it was hard not to miss my nephews.

Loading three dozen eggs into the shopping cart, I headed over to the craft isle to find the last thing on the list.

Green food dye

"How about you and TJ come and visit me soon and bring the boys with you guys?"

"I don't know about that" Drew said unsure. "The boys are too small to travel long distances. Imagine them sitting in a car for six hours just to sit in the car for another six hours to go back home".

He had a point.

"I guess one of these weekends I'll come up for a day or two".

There was a pause on the phone, followed by shuffling around before Drew's voice came through the phone much cleared.

I guess he had me on speaker.

"Did you just agree to coming home?"

Bit my lip, knowing I'll regret the decision when the time to actually go came around.

"Yes, I'll come home one of these weekends," I repeated.

There was a loud clapping sound as Drew laughed out loud. "I knew one day you'd cave but I thought it would take a little more convincing".

I shook my head, letting a small laugh escape my lips as I tried scanning the isle up and down for the food dye.

"I thought the whole point of this conversation was to convince me to come home. Are you trying to get me to change my mind?"

"Nope. Forget what I said. You can stay with me".

"Don't be selfish, maybe TJ wants me to stay with him".

"Unless you want to run into dad, you should probably stay with me".

And just like that my light mood and laughter was gone. How could I forget about him?

Once I left home about a year ago my father passed the family house to TJ and Stacey. It didn't make sense for him to live in a four bedroom house alone so he got an apartment down the street and now the house was TJ's.

But being that he lived down the street meant he probably still hung out at the house often which lead me to no doubt to see him eventually.

"I'll take your silence as you'll stay with me?"

"You win".

"Duh".His voice shifted into his protective brotherly mood. "Will your boyfriend be coming with you?"

I rolled my eyes, spotting the food dye on the top shelf and jump to reach it only to fail.

"Drew, we went through this. I don't have a boyfriend" I reminded him again.

It was getting a little irritating but every time I talked to him or to TJ, they always brought up my nonexistent 'boyfriend'.

Their concern was coming from the right place, but the last thing I wanted was to be constantly reminded of the man who completely disappeared out of my life.

Not a call, not a text.

If I hit my head today and my memory from the past month and a half was erased God would be doing me a favor.

"Right".

Drew was not done prying yet. "So will your friend be coming home with you? Your big brothers would love to meet him" he said sarcastically.

Sighing heavily, I ran my hand threw my hair trying to find the right words.

As far as my brothers knew, Demarco was a guy that was nice enough to help me out in a time of need.

They didn't know about the whole kidnap thing, blackmail, apartment or him getting me this job.

They didn't even know his name, but what they did know was that I liked him...lot.

They were assumed the feeling was mutual.
I thought the feeling was mutual too. After two weeks  if failed attempt of calling and texting him with no reply, it was very clear.

This girl could take a hint.

But what made me even more upset was the fact that I got my feelings hurt in the process.

Last time I seen him we were on a good note. He encouraged me to reach out if I needed him. Fair enough, he never said he'd actually respond.

"He won't be coming with me because we are no longer talking to each other". I was hoping he'd drop the conversation, but I should've known it wouldn't be that easy.

"What happened?"

Becoming frustrated, I shrugged my shoulders before remembering that he couldn't see me. "It didn't work out".

Finally taking the hint Drew didn't try prying any farther. "I'm sorry baby sis".

Trying once again to reach the food dye, I got on my tippy toes and jumped again. Even though it wasn't enough to knock the bottle off the top shelf it was enough for my fingers to brush the bottle and make it wobble on the top shelf.

As if an Angel was watching over me, someone much taller than I was, effortlessly reached the top shelf and brought the bottles to my eye level.

I opened my mouth to thank the stranger, but realized it wasn't a stranger at all.

"I'll call you later." I told Drew hanging up before he could say anything else.

Today had to be his day off. Instead of the clean crisp suits he usually wore, today he was dressed down in a plain black trench coat, black jeans and sneakers. I didn't recognize him right away because of the dark green baseball cap that partial covered his face.

"It looked like you needed a little help" he said smiling down at me.

"Thank you" I said taking the dye out his hands and placing it in my cart.

I was now finished with everything on the list and glancing at the time, I had 10 minutes to get back to school, so I couldn't stay and chat for long

"I didn't recognize you without the suit Mr. Telasio".

"I kind of figured. You passed by me in the freezer section and didn't say anything. Then again you look like you're in a rush" he said looking at the cart questionably which held sandwich meat, eggs and food coloring.

"Today's Doctor Seuss Day, we're making green eggs and ham" I explained.

"Got it. Now it makes sense" he nodded his head.

We both stood there for a minute, neither one of us saying anything. He nervously took his hat off, pushing his hair back as we both spoke at the same time.

"I should be going".

"I'm glad I ran into you".

We both laughed and I shut my mouth to let him continue.

"I'm glad we ran into each other here" he repeated. "Maybe since we aren't on school grounds, and I'm not wearing a suit, I was wondering if you'd accept my offer under these different circumstances".

It was his third time asking out within the past two weeks since I started working at the school.

As a welcome gift for my first day of school, one of the little boys thought it would be funny to massage Hubba Bubba Bubblegum in my hair. That little boy was his little boy, Johnny Telasio Jr. and ever since the incident his father has been nothing but apologetic, especially since I had to cut my hair to a short pixie cut.

He offered to take me out to lunch or dinner but I declined both offers.

There was no way I could go out on a date with one of my students father. Especially since that particular student hated me with a passion and I was in no rush to go bawled anytime soon.

However, after his second time asking me out the word got around to the facility. The last thing I wanted was to be a hot topic, especially since I just started this job, I was the youngest staff member and this job was handed to me with no credentials or application process.

I opened my mouth to say 'no' but the words didn't come out. I stood there like a fish trying to find an excuse but also trying to shut up the part of me that was ready to say 'yes'.

"I don't think Johny would be too happy too see his teacher and father going out on what looks like a date". It was the same excuse I used when he asked me out the first two times.

Pulling his hat back into his head he put both his hands in his pockets. "Don't think of it was a date. We can call it an apology dinner instead".

As if he knew I was close to either saying yes or no, he quickly spoke up again.

"We'll have dinner for one night and if we decide to extend it to a second night then we can discuss how serious this will become. If it turns into multiple dates, we'll discuss when to tell Johnny together".

I was a complete sucker for a man that seemed like a good guy at heart. And if the rumors were true...he was literally a prefect man.

He was a single father and was only 29 years old. He didn't date much and focused all his time and energy on his son and family law firm.

"All I'm asking for is one night".

Jonathan Telasio was serious.

Despite every little excuse that popped up in my head, there was also a part of me that saw no harm in one date with the man.

After all my unanswered calls, voicemails and text messages to a certain someone, I've been feeling really negative towards anyone of the opposite sex.

I was suffering from something Nola likes to call the Bad Boy Blues. It was when you finally  come to terms that the whole time you were falling for someone you knew you couldn't be with and realize he was playing you the entire time.

Even though I was still hurt, maybe this one date will help me at least start to move on.

If Nola were here she'd be one proud mama.

"Okay" I said breathlessly. "One night".

His serious demeanor changed to one of complete joy. His teeth gleamed as he widely smiled, pulling out his phone to take my number. "How does Monday night sound? We can have dinner by the water".

I smiled and nodded my head, feeling slightly light headed as I typed my number into his phone.

I wasn't sure if I should save my name was Ms. Reign or just Clover, so I handed him back his phone once I was done typing in the number.

Being the gentleman that he was, he walked me to the checkout counter and assisted me to the school a couple blocks away.

Once I was back in the domain of the classroom, he thankfully took off before anyone noticed him and the kids could come inside from recess.

The last thing I wanted was for more gossip about me to go around and for Johnny to see his dad and his least favorite teacher getting close.

It's best not to give that little boy a reason to throw a jar of crazy glue in my hair next.

—————
Didn't update last weekend because final exams are officially here. That means presentations, exams, studying, procrastination, no sleep and JuNk FoOd!

Next chapter is already written as well, I'll most likely post it in a couple of hours or tomorrow to make up for last week.

Vote, comment and shareeeee!

K_26ss