The Teacher

Chapter 17: It's Just Dinner..?

Jake

I pull up to my house, and walk in the door, I toss my keys into my dish and walk into the kitchen to put things away and to at least start the chicken because I want to marinade it for a few hours before I grill it up.

I make the marinade and put the chicken in the fridge to set as I look at the clock it reads 3:45, I decide to go ahead and get a shower in and clean up a bit before she comes over.

I get my shower in and done and pick up around my place a bit it isn't dirty just need some tidying up. After I finish that the clock reads 6:00 I have an hour until she gets here so I start cutting the carrots, and start the potatoes, I finish that and start cooking the chicken. The scents fill the air with a nice sour and sweet combination it smells heavenly. I get distracted by all the cooking that I had noticed 7 rolled around until I hear my doorbell.

I wipe my hands and head to the door to open it, I open it to reveal a smiling Shelly. "Hey, you." She says as she greets me, she steps inside and I embrace her in a hug. "Hey." I say as we release our embrace. She smiles and says "Boy, it smells amazing in here, you making dinner for us?"

"Oh." I say remembering my food cooking. "Yeah, I am, it should be done here in just a bit. Come on in." We head towards the kitchen, her close behind me. She looks at me and stares as I continue cooking. I can't help but notice how nice she looks.

"You look great Shelly." She giggles a little which I'll admit was a bit cute, and responds "Well thank you handsome, you're not looking too bad yourself."

I smile, remembering all the times she's called me that before over the years we have a history I couldn't ignore if I tried. She breaks me out of my thoughts by saying "So you wanna break out the rig to smoke while we wait for our food?" I smile at her "Sure." I turn down the food and let it cook as we walk out on my back patio.

Melinda, didn't even have a chance to see the pool, hot tub, and fire pit and hangout I have out here. She was so mesmerized by everything else and myself she didn't even notice. Shelly looks at me and says "I also came for a dip in the hot tub, we can roll up and smoke while we soak I brought a suit."

I roll my eyes and smile "Sounds great."

After a few minutes of smoking we go back in so I can complete dinner. After it's done I place everything at the table and bring her to the table. She sits down, as I offer her wine. She smiles and accepts.

She wastes no time bringing up the next subject which I wanted to talk about, but am also avoiding. "So, what's going on with, what's her name? Melinda?"

"Yeah." I say before continuing. "Her dad had a stroke and is having a rough time and I'm not sure what I can do to help her."

She looks at me as she takes a bite and moans "Mmmm, Jake, this is amazing."

"Thank you, but Melinda..?"

"Right, right, right, well Jake, she's young. She's going through a lot I don't think there's a lot you can do."

"Yeah."

I wonder if her age may have something to do with it. Her and I continue eating in silence. She looks up at me and says "Do you think if we ever got together that it would have worked out?" I sit and ponder the question as I wasn't expecting it and seriously in thought about it. I clear my throat "Maybe, I'd like to think so." She looks at me and gives me a small smile as she blushes and it makes me realize just how gorgeous she is with her red hair, and green eyes, the freckles right by her nose. "Well, maybe in the future it would work, if the Melinda thing doesn't. If that may be something you're open to?"