The Teacher's Billionaire

her flashlight. Dusk was just starting to fall. An extra long walk tonight was just the thing she needed.
    ***
    Monday was Callie’s least favorite day of the week, always had been. Sitting in her classroom getting ready for the day ahead, the old Bangles song Manic Monday kept running through her head, especially the line about wishing it was Sunday.
    Do I ever.
    “I want to know all the details,” Lauren said bursting into the classroom through the side door.
    Pausing next to a student’s desk, Callie asked, “What details?”
    “Don’t even try to go there.” Lauren wagged a finger in Callie’s direction. “I saw you on television Saturday night looking rather cozy with Dylan Talbot.” Lauren paused for a moment. “Not that I blame you. I wouldn’t mind getting cozy with him myself.”
    On television? What is she talking about?
    “At the Red Sox game,” Lauren explained as if reading her mind. “The cameras showed you guys more than once. Hard not to. You were right behind the batter’s box.”
    “Oh,” Callie replied just as the bell rang.
    Saved by the bell.
    “Darn it.” Lauren moved toward the door that connected their classrooms. “I want to know everything later. And I mean
everything
.”
    Nodding Callie promised they would talk after school. But she wasn’t really sure how much she would tell Lauren. Yes, Lauren was her oldest and closest friend. Still she didn’t know how much she wanted to share just yet. Everything with Dylan seemed to be happening so fast.
    And not just with Dylan. Her whole life seemed to be one giant roller coaster ride lately. Callie wondered if her mom had known how much her letter to Warren would change her life.
    Probably, Ruth Taylor hadn’t been a dumb woman.
    “Morning, Miss Taylor,” one of her students greeted entering the classroom.
    Pushing all thoughts of her parents and Dylan from her mind, Callie smiled. “Good morning Andrew.”
    The students that day were unusually difficult. Callie didn’t know if it was because they were down to the last two weeks of school or because it was so warm in her classroom. Whatever the reason she was actually grateful. They kept her so engaged she didn’t once think about her own mixed up life. Or the fact that she’d told Dylan she would not only go to the fundraiser with him but stay with him as well. Was she ready for that?
    Later that afternoon the side door in her classroom opened, letting Callie know Lauren was back from bus duty ready to pick up their conversation from the morning whether she wanted to or not.
    “Okay Callie, I want all the details.” Lauren pulled a chair over to Callie’s desk. “What is going on between you and that Greek god?”
    Callie laughed at her friend’s comparison. She definitely agreed with it. “He was actually born in England, so that would make him an English god.”
    Not appreciating her humor, Lauren threw her a dirty look.
    “I meet him through my father. Dylan’s mother is married to him,” Callie explained trying to quickly decide how much to share.
    “I know that. But that’s not what I asked.” Lauren shook her head causing her large smiley-faced earrings to move back and forth. Leaning forward Lauren continued, “What’s up between you two? I want all the juicy details. Don’t leave anything out.”
    “We’re... friends,” Callie answered not looking her friend in the eye.
    Lauren snorted. “Friends? You looked like more than friends to me.”
    She wasn’t sure how to answer that. Despite their wonderful weekend together, Callie had no idea where she stood with Dylan. “We spent most of the weekend together,” she explained carefully choosing her words.
    Her friend smiled. “And?”
    “And what?”
    “Are you two a couple?”
    Callie thought about their time together. Last weekend it felt as if they were. Then there was Saturday night and Sunday morning to consider. She could feel herself blushing as memories bombarded her.
    Sighing Callie shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    “So when are you seeing him again?” Lauren asked practically bouncing up and down.
    Should I tell her everything?
    Callie thought about it for a second. It would be nice to see what someone else thought. And there wasn’t anyone she trusted more than Lauren.
    “Remember the fundraiser in New York I told you about?”
    “You weren’t sure you wanted to go.”
    “Well I am. Dylan is picking me up at the train station,” she paused wondering how Lauren would