Jan. Week 3: A Long Weekend-Monday...Lunch with Jonathan: Leah doesn't meet Mr. Howard in the bathroom...(Tenure: -25, Luck:+5)

She pocketed her phone before Jonathan could see the message—no way was she letting him get a look at her lock screen with that notification on it. She forced her mouth into a polite little line and clutched the menu in front of her, letting the shock roll off her in waves. Jonathan was still lost in the menu. She almost wanted to crawl across the table and confess everything right now, just to see how much it would break his heart. Or maybe, selfishly, how much it would heal hers. But she knew she couldn't do that.

She squeezed her thighs together and felt the phantom itch of Mr. Howard’s smirk, the ghost of his cologne floating up her nostrils. She reached for her water glass and took a slow, deliberate sip. The condensation on her fingers did nothing to cool the flush spreading up her neck.

She texted Howard back: “Not happening. NOT in public with Jonathan. You are crazy.” Mr. Howard soon responded to her but she ignored reading them.

Jonathan looked up, still trying to decide what to eat.

“Everything okay?” he said, tapping her shoe under the table.

“Just thinking about work,” she lied. “Can’t believe how fast this semester’s going.”

"Hey that is true--but that just means it will be the wedding before you know it!" He smiled and reached out and touched her hand. His touch was comforting and she couldn't help but smile at him.

The lunch was enjoyable and the time spent with Jonathan during the week was a rare blessing.

The afternoon alone at their place was a relaxing calm before the storm of the work week to come.