He's dressed in grey slacks, and a lighter grey button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and the top two buttons undone. Over the shirt, he has on a grey and black argyle vest. I can't keep my eyes from traveling down his magnificent physique as he calls the room to order, and the gang of girls surrounding him take their seats.
The boys in the room are looking less than thrilled with our handsome new teacher. I peek behind me and see most of them are glowering or looking glum, except for the loser jerks at the back of the room. Manny Ortez is slouching in his seat, making eyes at his slutty girlfriend, Gina Herman. Gross. Manny is my boss at Taco, Taco, Taco, where I work part-time. He's a complete jerk, and Gina Herman looks like a streetwalker on meth.
I turn my gaze back to the beautiful teacher and give him my complete and total attention.
"Hey, everybody. I'm Mr. Hayes, and I'm going to be your teacher for the remainder of the school year due to Mrs. Carroll's unfortunate accident."
I exchange breathless looks with Pam and Linda at the sound of his smooth, silky voice.
English Lit just became my favorite class.
Mr. Hayes opens his laptop, grinning at us. "I guess we better start with roll call."
He wanders the room while calling off names, and it's not long before he gets to me.
"Taryn Bishop."
He looks around, and I raise my hand and sit up straighter in my seat.
"Here!"
Mr. Hayes's beautiful blue eyes settle on me, and he walks over to my desk.
"Taryn. I like that. Like Karen, but with a T. Very cool."
I giggle like an idiot and hunch my shoulders up, flushing pink at his compliment.
"Oh, gosh, thank you!"
He laughs and gives me a wink then goes on to the next name.
I turn to Linda and Pam and mouth, "OH MY GOD!"
They are both grinning and clapping their hands silently.
I watch Mr. Hayes finish with the roll call, and then he starts telling us about himself, how he's only recently graduated from college and that he likes to surf and swim and play beach volleyball.
I watch him, my heart pounding, and I know I've found my latest crush!
Chapter Two
Patrick takes me home after school because we both had sports, me tennis, him wrestling. He keeps his hand on my thigh the entire ride home and keeps squeezing me. I really want to slug him, but I just don't feel like having a major fight right now. I feel like one's coming though because I don't know much longer I can pretend I still like him like I used to.
Patrick insists on walking me to the door when we get to my house.
"So, hey, it looks like your parents aren't home." He raises both eyebrows up at me suggestively.
"Mmm, yeah," I bite my lip and sigh. "But I have to get to work. No time to play."
"Damn." Patrick looks crestfallen, and I feel kind of sorry for him. He is dumb as shit, but for the most part, he has been a good boyfriend. I guess it's me who has the problem, not him.
I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him just under his jawbone, which I know he likes.
He puts a hand behind my neck and kisses me hard on the lips.
"Rain check?"
"Sure." I give him a sweet smile, like a good little girlfriend, and let him squeeze my butt, then I scoot inside and close and lock the door before he can muscle his way in.
I do indeed have the place to myself, like most afternoons. Mom is still at work, and Ethan works long hours too. And usually, when they are both finished, they meet up for dinner or some kind of date. They have a busier social life than I do!
I fix myself a quick snack of microwave mac and cheese and sit down in the breakfast nook to eat while working on my English Lit homework. I try to concentrate on Emily Dickinson, but all I can think about is Mr. Hayes and his gorgeous blue eyes. I suddenly wonder if he's on the staff directory on the school web page and grab my laptop, doing a quick search.
Oh my God, there is he! He stares up at me from the web page, looking more like a male model than a high school teacher. I scan his brief bio but don't really find any new info other than what he already told us in class. I'm going to have to print his pic out so I can stare at it every night.
Then I see the phone number. Wow! Teachers don't usually share their cell phone numbers because, naturally, they don't want to be bothered outside of school by annoying students. But Mr. Hayes has his number right here on his bio. Sooo...
I chew on my thumbnail. I can't possibly call him, can I? I mean, what for?? I could ask about the homework. But that's kind of lame since it's just reading and what can I ask about that? Then I remember the school newspaper. Mrs. Carroll was the teacher liaison for the paper, of which I am the editor. Of course! It's only natural that I should give Mr. Hayes a call to see when we can meet about the paper!
I congratulate myself on being such a bloody genius and take out my cell. Kim has texted me about some party this weekend, but I ignore the text and quickly dial Mr. Hayes's number before I can chicken out.
It rings and rings again. It rings a third time, and I'm guessing I'll have to leave a message when he picks up.
"Hello, Hayes."
I don't respond at first. I wasn't expecting him to answer like that, so quick and curt. I guess I was expecting something sweet and sexy.
"Hello?"
Finally, I find my voice and sit up in my seat like he can see me
