Chapter 10

I don't know how but our apartment is somehow almost filled to capacity and it's not even 11pm.

Lucy invited her new lawyer friends and Josh, the flirty waiter from the diner next to the building, added five friends to his invitation so the combination of them and the two teachers I invited made for an interesting group of people that were quickly going through all the snacks I put out.

"I sent Josh's friends out to get more booze. Can you believe all these people showed up?" Lucy says, entering the kitchen.

"No, I can't." I say with wide eyes hoping she'll get that I'm freaking out a little bit.

"Here.” She says, pouring a clear liquor into the empty shot glass in front of me, "One for the nerves." She lifts the liquid up to my lips and I gag as it slides down my throat, "And another one for a good night." She refills the glass and hands it to me.

I hesitantly take it and Lucy chuckles beside me.

"That's it. I have to be sober since we're hosting and you're already on your third cup." I scold her.

"Yeah, yeah.” She rolls her eyes and kisses my cheek and the smell of vodka soda enters my nose as she does, "Let's change this awful song." She says, dragging me to the living room that is suddenly smaller than I remember.

"Great party, Miss Wallace." I turn to see Mr. Smith smiling at me.

"You can just call me Sunniva, Mr. Smith." I smile back.

"Sure thing and you can just call me Mato or rude for crashing your party." He jokes and his smile is so big that his eyes disappear. It's very cute.

I'm assigned to Miss Porter's and Mr. Smith's third grade classes. They're both very good teachers with different styles. Miss Porter is visual and very interactive where as Mr. Smith runs a tight ship and is into impromptu reading which his class loves. I enjoy the differences between the classes since Miss Porter has the more active class where as Mr. Smith's class is quiet but very inquisitive.

I've made two friends at the school. Ella, another student teacher finishing off in a few months, and Derek, the PE teacher. They're both pretty much the only under 30s at this school besides Mr. Smith who's actually a friend of Derek who I assume invited him tonight. I feel a little bad that I didn't invite him myself since I spend more time with him than both Ella and Derek but I thought it would be inappropriate for him to see me tipsy on a school night.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I didn't invite you in the first place. I guess I thought it would've been strange." I apologize, picking at my hair nervously.

"Miss Wallac- Sunniva, it's okay. I was young once too." He says, laughing and I join in relieved that he's not offended.

"You're not all achey bones yet Mr. Sm- Mato." I giggle, making the same correction he did.

"No but something about being 28 really has a man feeling ready to write up a will." He jokes and I laugh louder than necessary.

Those two shots hit quicker than I thought. I put my hand over my mouth in shock and embarrassment but Mr. Smith just laughs at me and raises a cup in understanding.

I feel a tug at my arm and see Lucy using her other hand to pinch her cheeks. "Two very large, very attractive men just entered the building." She says, wiggling her eyebrows and I roll my eyes at her theatrics.

I see Leo's two friends make their way to us and I catch the one named Edwardo fist bumping Derek while Ella just looks up at them in shock.

Everyone else also seems to be a little on edge as they enter and I feel a bit annoyed at my guests for making them feel out of place. I know they might seem a little intimidating but it's rude to stare. Plus I figured from our two encounters that Edwardo was a bit of a playful jokester despite the scary tattoos he has crawling from his neck to under his shirt and the other friend who's name I don't know yet has a quiet calmness about him but it's almost too calm.

"We brought some booze." Edwardo says, lifting two six packs up to my face.

"Thanks, you didn't have to." I smile, reaching for the one.

"I'm Marc." His friend smiles at me showing off his bright and very handsome smile but his hand reaches out to Lucy who his eyes turn to.

"Your name is Lucy, right?" He says and I hear his voice drop a little lower.

"Oh god, this is gonna take a while." Edwardo says and I look up at him rolling his eyes.

He taps me on my shoulder and walks towards the kitchen, instructing me to do the same but it isn't until I turn to see Lucy smiling from ear to ear that I decide she's okay and I follow Edwardo.

"Leo uh... he couldn't make it tonight... something came up but he says that he's sorry." Edwardo uncomfortably explains and I have a feeling he made up that last part.

I try my best not to look as dejected as I feel, hearing the news. I feel foolish for putting on my nicer perfume. I should've guessed he wouldn't want to hang out with me when it obviously seems like I'm stalking him and now I've even invited his friends over to my home. Dammit I look nutty!

"It's okay." I lie and open the pack of beers.

"You can put these in the freezer. A couple of guys are probably on their way back with some more alcohol." I say and awkwardly look at the empty glass bottles on the counter, "We expected a little less people."

As if on cue Josh and his what were five friends are now seven enter the apartment.

"More people?" I question out loud.

"You want them out?" Edwardo suddenly has a hostile energy and steps away from me.

"No. No, it's okay they're his friends I'm sure.” I hold him in the kitchen by his jacket sleeve, "But thanks for offering." I say and he looks at me and smiles, giving me whiplash.

"No problem, princesa."

Very strange man he is.

"Hey." I greet the Josh and his friends as they enter the kitchen.

Josh looks around in search of something as he puts the pack of beers in his hands down on the counter. His expression falls flat and I follow his gaze to see Marc whispering something into a giggling Lucy's ear.

"Hey Josh, thank you guys for going." I say, hoping to get him to look away from his current view.

"Kinda regret it now." He shrugs and reaches for a beer but his eyes hold a little amusement.

"That teacher friend of yours got a man?" He smiles. Lucy forgotten in a matter of seconds.

I hope I'm doing a good job of hiding my expression but I'm given an answer when Josh begins to chuckle lightly.

"I swear I'm not bothered, Sunny but I am trying to get some tonight so..” He points over my shoulder in Ella's direction, "Your friend?"

I take a second to process his words "No boyfriend that I know of but I don't think th-"

"Thanks baby." He says and taps the neck of his bottle to the empty one in my hand I was in the process of dumping.

"Looks like a lot people came with an agenda tonight." Edwardo laughs from behind me.

"You’re not up for it tonight?" I ask as I turn around to face him and am taken aback at his panicked express.

"I... Yeah, I mean no I'm not.." He struggles and runs his free hand through his hair, "I mean you're very beautiful it's just not... I don't... Leo-"

My face heats up at his words.

"No, no Edwardo... of course not. I didn't mean with me. I'm so sorry that sounded odd." I rush out and see a sigh of relief leave his mouth as an awkward smile rests on his face.

It's awkward for a minute until I note the dim light from behind him.

"So what's up with th-"

"You want some coo-"

We break into laughter and I feel the awkwardness leave the kitchen.

"You go." He says.

"I'm baking some cookies.” I point to the stove behind him, "Would you like some?"

"Cookies at a party?" He chuckles again and even though he's making fun of me I'm only a little shy.

"My mom says they're great." I defend the odd idea of baking at a house party that Lucy specifically advised me against.

"I'd like to be a judge of that too." I turn to see Mr. Sm- Mato now entering the kitchen.

"Of course." I answer, smiling at him but he is looking between me and Edwardo in confusion.

"Where are my manners?" I face palm and turn to stand between the two men.

"Edwardo, this is Mr. Sm- Mato," Mato and I laugh together at my mistake, "He's a teacher at Dolton Elementary and Mato, this is Edwardo he..." I pause and look up at Edwardo realizing I have no connection to him besides Leo.

He smiles in understanding, "I'm a trainer at The Nest gym downtown." He offers his hand to Mato who accepts it.

"Nice to meet you Edwardo."

"Yeah, you too."

The ding of my stove goes off and we all turn our heads towards it.

"It's ready.” I say and smile between the two but stop to look at Mato, "Edwardo thinks it's odd that I'm baking at a house party."

"Well I for one think it should definitely be added to the list of house party etiquette." Mato jokes, making me laugh and when I turn to Edwardo his smile is tight lipped.

"What you doing here man?" Derek asks Edwardo as he enters the kitchen.

I was a little thrown when they greeted earlier but I'm guessing the gym that Derek's mentioned he works out at must be the same one as Edwardo's.

"Wingman I'm guessing." Derek says as I bend to open the oven door.

I know they're talking about Lucy because I see Derek pointing to my friend who is sitting very close to Marc on the sofa.

I see Edwardo frowning slightly in Mato's direction who's smiling at me as I place the tray on the countertop.

"Uh no." Edwardo chuckles dryly, eyes still on Mato who's now making his way around the counter, "Sunny is a friend of a friend." He says.

The two leave the kitchen to chat up Lucy's lawyer friends but Mato sticks around to help me put the cookies on a dish.

I'm unsure whether it's the drinks that's made him looser or if it's just the first time I'm seeing him outside of school but Mato seems way more lax and tells a lot more jokes than what I'm used to. It's usually just funny observations about other teachers or students but tonight he is on fire. In full disclosure though I am also a little tipsy and a measly knock-knock joke could have me rolling on the ground.

"I swear you'd give that Paula Deen a run for her money." He speaks between bites and once again I'm giggling much too loudly.

"You're ridiculous." I say and he shrugs.

His hair is brown and thick and tied in a bun. And he has hazel eyes under his thick frames that he adorably pushes up every few minutes.

“Thanks for inviting me Sunny I had fun." Derek says.

"You sure you don't need any help?" Mato asks for the third time as he reaches for his coat on the rack at the door.

"It'll be fine I swear. Thank you guys for coming." I say.

"It was a pleasure, truly," Mato smiles sincerely, "Goodbye Sunny."

The door closes leaving just four people in the apartment.

Lucy and Marc have now graduated from flirting to making out on the sofa and I duck into the kitchen to avoid their shameless PDA.

"Last few." Edwardo says as I enter the surprisingly clean kitchen.

Bottles clink as he dumps them into the trash.

"You were talking real sweet to Justina. Did you get her number?" I ask.

"Actually... I got a lot bit more than a number. You guys have a really small bathroom by the way." He smirks mischievously.

My eyes go wide and my face heats when I catch the innuendo.

"Oh goodness.” I face palm, "Not our bathroom." I cringe, imagining what needs to be cleaned in the morning.

He chuckles at my mortification.

"And to think I set a bowl of cookies aside for you." I scoff.

"You did? Give it to me now." He playfully demands.

I get up from the stool and open a cupboard to pull out a cling wrapped ceramic bowl.

"I thought it would've been too late for sweet treats unless you want a tummy ache." I say explaining the cling wrap.

Running my words over in my head I realize that they're actually my moms and I'm a little embarrassed at how I must sound.

"You-" He's interrupted by his phone chiming and when he reads something his expression turns sour.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just women. Am I right?" He rolls his eyes.

I smile awkwardly but before I can ask Marc and Lucy enter the kitchen and I notice him holding a jacket.

"We should probably get going." I hear him speak for the third tonight.

"Yeah." Edwardo agrees and catches the jacket Marc throws his way.

"Thanks for the party." Marc says, looking between Lucy and I. More Lucy if I'm being honest.

"I'll return this. It looks expensive." Edwardo says, lifting the bowl and extends his free hand to me.

"Oh you don't have to. It’s really okay. Thanks for coming both of you." I smile and shake his hand.

"Goodbye Sunny... Bye Lucy." Marc's voice deepens at the end and I laugh as Edwardo pulls him away from the kitchen.

When the door closes Lucy turns to me red as a tomato.

"So..." she begins.

"Josh who?" I tease and she rolls her eyes.

"Don't.” She giggles as she hops onto the counter and pulls me to stand between her legs, "Did you see that smile? I can't wait to get on top of him."

"Lucy." I giggle and she pulls my face between her hands.

Yes, she is still a little drunk.

"What about you? You gonna let his friend be the one to finally pop your cherry?" She wiggles her brows suggestively.

"Goodness no.” I pull her hands away from me but she just puts them back and squeezes my face tighter, "He’s just a friend, well hardly but still." I explain between smooshed cheeks.

"What about that Mr. Smith? Huh? He was totally feeling you."

Mato? No way.

"You're still a little drunk."

"No.” She eases her grip on my face and sits up straight on the counter, "I'm very sober and very certain that your Mr. Teacher man is very much into the idea of being into of you." She says, tracing her fingers over my cheekbones and eyebrows.

"Stop." I giggle at my intoxicated roommate.

She shrugs and her eyes are looking straight through me. I detach from her tight embrace and open a cabinet to get a glass and hold it under the tap.

As it runs I look at her smiling down at me sweetly.

"He's got a big dick. I felt it through his jeans."

I almost drop the glass.