What if Beetle is disappointed? What if he invites all his friends and they don’t show? He’s only just stopped being bullied. What if it starts it back up?
I grab Glitch’s waist—a silent signal that lets him know I need reassurance.
He cups my chin. “You’ve got this.”
But do I?
Two hours later, he opens the door and an hour after that, Beetle comes in. He drops his bookbag on the floor against the wall and runs to the chair he prefers.
Two more kids come in shortly after. Then another four.
Six.
Two more after that.
Fifteen kids total show up for the first lesson.
“Soccer lets out soon,” a girl says. “I think the team’s all coming. That’s what my mom told me.”
I gawk at Glitch. “We need more chairs.”
“I’m on it.” He gets busy and before I can grasp the situation, the Computer Cave is crammed with kids of varying grade levels. Many know Glitch already, but none of them have met me yet.
“Gentleman, this is Ara. Treat her with respect or you’re out.”
They don’t even try to make a joke about it. Then again, Glitch has a reputation for teaching kids how to show respect.
I blow out a big breath and glance at Glitch, who’s standing by the counter. He winks, and I roll my shoulders back. “Soooo, let’s get started.”
It’s the most fun two hours in a room packed with kids I’ve ever had.
When it’s over and the last kid leaves, I feel so alive, I’m vibrating. “That was fun and exhausting.”
Glitch kisses the side of my neck. “You did amazing.”
Every day we’ll pull a character name out of a box, and I’ll teach them how to draw it. Then I’ll go over the basics of self-portraits, color balance, and the use of negative space. This first lesson was simple and fun and I’m so happy they enjoyed it.
“It gets easier.” Glitch folds up the extra chairs and puts them away. “When I first started letting kids come here after school, it was mayhem. I panic bought a bunch of board games because I didn’t have consoles for everyone to be on an Xbox at the same time and shit. So I busied them with other activities, got them into different conversations. They started treating this place like a second home. Talked around the tables while they played together. Did their homework and helped each other study.”
I’d noticed they put all their trash away and pushed their chairs in before they left too. Glitch is a great role model.
I gather my art supplies. “Did you see their faces tonight when they held up their artwork to show each other?”
“Yeah, I did. They were proud of themselves. You gave them confidence, Ara. That’s no small feat.”
Art does that. Glitch does too.
“I love you,” I say, dragging him in for a kiss.
He bites my lip playfully. “Thank you, Kitty. You’ve made me the happiest motherfucker on the planet.”
“Just the planet?”
“Galaxy.”
“Too late. You blew it.”
“Universe.”
“Too late!” I smack his arm.
He grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles. My big ass engagement ring could chip his tooth. “How do I ever make it up to you?”
I glance down at his hard-on. He’s unbelievably insatiable… just like me. “I’m pretty sure my imagination can conjure up an idea or two.” Or ten.
“You do have a very dirty mind.”
“And you have one hell of a dirty mouth.”
“Speaking of which…” Glitch hands me a pair of Bluetooth cat ear headphones. “I have a new one for you to listen to while we drive home.” He places them over my ears and winks before pulling his phone out and hitting play.
My pussy swells the instant I hear his deep, dirty voice growl in my ear. “Heyyyyy, Kitty.”