Someone Like You Read Online Free Page A

that’s a great idea, Luke. We can have it here or outside of school.”
    “Can we do it at the lake where you live?” Luke wheedled.
    “We’ll see.”
    Ian clicked off the computer. “That’s it for now. Time to meet with me.”  He turned to Brie.
    She pointed to the back of the room where she’d partitioned off a space to confer individually with kids in some semblance of privacy. “Who would like to go first?”
    Matt Keller raised his hand, which pleased Brie immensely. “Matt? Go on back with Mr. Lancaster. The rest of you get a laptop from the computer cart so you can go online to finalize your bibliography.” 
    Though the school wasn’t equipped with a laptop for each student, it did have the technology to provide classrooms with the portable computers on an as-needed basis. And thankfully DOC classes were kept small, so supervising student work would be easier.
    The hour went well. Ian managed to meet with half of the kids; he’d return tomorrow to finish with the others. As it was the last period of the day, Brie had arranged to discuss their progress with Ian after class and to make sure the two of them were on the same page. She bade the students goodbye and headed back to the private area. She found Ian sprawled on one of the chairs she’d bought with her own money. Both she and the kids seemed to appreciate the comfort. Sometimes, like today, she brought in fresh flowers for the windowsill, as she’d positioned this area to get natural light. The scent of carnations wafted over to her.
    “How’d it go?”
    “Really well. This is a terrific bunch of kids but they wear me out with all their energy and enthusiasm.” He winked at her. “I think their teacher rubs off on them.”
    Oh, well. “That’s sweet. Can I ask you about one of them?”
    “Yeah, sure. Who?”
    “Matt Keller.”
    “The boy who picked the DV shelter. We’ve had kids volunteer there before.”
    “I know. I’m just surprised this particular boy chose that kind of work.”
    “That’s the beauty of this program, Brie. It brings out sides of the kids we didn’t—and sometimes they didn’t—know they had. It’s why I gave up teaching Math and took over the coordinator position when the state mandated this program.”
    “I’m glad you did. You’re terrific at this job.”
    “So, can I ask you a question?”
    “Um, sure.”
    “Will you have dinner with me Friday night?”
    “Oh!” She’d never dated anyone from school. She’d hardly dated anybody since Jared died.
    “You seem shocked. Surely there are scores of guys beating down your door.”
    “Hardly.”
    “Well then, what about letting me be the first?”
    For some reason, she thought of Nick Corelli and how he danced Friday night at the student mixer held at the school. Damn it. Why would she think of him now, especially after he’d left in a huff?
    “I’d love to go out with you Friday, Ian. What time?”
    o0o
    Nick reached Brie’s room, found the door open, but she wasn’t at her desk or anywhere inside. Then he heard voices behind a partitioned off section in the far corner. He walked to the back and when he got there, he heard the low rumble of male laughter. Maybe he should leave. But then the guy said, “Well then, what about letting me be the first?”
    A pause, then, “I’d love to go out with you Friday night, Ian.”
    Huh? What was that all about?  He moved to the gap in the partition and found Brie seated in a chair, legs crossed in another one of her skinny skirts. This time she wore a pink blouse. And she was cozying up to Ian Lancaster. A teacher he liked.
    “Am I interrupting?” he asked with an unintended snap in his voice. Shit.
    Ian grinned. “Nope. I already talked Brie into a date and I’m leaving before she changes her mind.”
    Both of them stood.
    “I’ll be back tomorrow, Brie. Nick, nice to see to you again.”
    Ian headed out and for some reason that baffled Nick, he felt ticked off. It made him say, “What was