Read Teach Me for Free Online Page A

her face, and her graying hair is in a bun on her head.
                  “Ryan,” she coos. I let Ali go and hug the crazy aunt. “Well, come in,” she says. Allison shrugs, and I step inside.
                  “Aunt Trudy, we talked about this,” Ali says with her eyes pleading. I smile, I do love this girl.
                  “Ali, be a doll and go find my glasses,” Trudy says. “They’re in my room.” I can tell Ali wants to say something but decides against it and disappears. Trudy turns slowly toward me.
                  “I am assuming you have something you want to say to me, beautiful Trudy?” I ask quietly, attempting to butter her up. Her answer is a mischievous smile.
                  “I like you, Ryan, and I know how Ali feels about you,” she starts. “I just want to say my piece, then be on your way.” I nod. “She has been through a lot of pain, and I can’t bare it if she is hurt again.”
                  “Trudy, I would never—” She holds up her hand.
                  “I know, Ryan, I know. It is just it is your last night together, and I know that there might seem some pressure to . . .” She looked down, then back to me. “You know, seal the deal or something.” Oh my gosh . I could literally die right now. Instead I just nod politely. “Just, be careful, okay?”
                  “Trudy.” I clear my throat. “I love your niece and respect her, and just so you know, there are no plans to . . .” I can’t even say the words.
                  “I can’t find your glasses anywhere,” Allison said as she came back into the room—thank God. She looked between the two of us, probably sensing the awkwardness. “You ready?” she asks, locking her beautiful brown eyes on to mine.
                  I reached for her hand. “Yes, I am.” I glanced at Trudy, hoping she doesn’t misinterpret that, but she just nodded as we left. Once in the truck, Ali turned toward me.
                  “Would you like to share with me what that was all about?”
                  I smiled, embarrassed. “Your aunt wanted to know if we were planning on, you know—how did she say it?— ‘seal the deal’ tonight.” Ali put her head in her hands and groaned.
                  “I am so embarrassed and so sorry,” she said through her fingers. I pulled the truck to the curb once we were around the corner. She didn’t look up, and I could see the red in her face. I touched her hand, and she flinched away. That was a first.
                  “Look at me please,” I pleaded.
                  “I can’t.” Her voice is shaking. I pull her hands away from her face, and her eyes are tightly closed. I pull her across the seat and hold her close. I could smell the coconut scent that just seemed to be part of her. I kiss her neck and rub small circles on her back, trying to coax her into relaxing.
                  “You can talk to me,” I encourage. Ali sits up and gains composure.
                  “Later,” she said quickly. I watch her and decide she wasn’t ready to talk now, but I would make her open up to me later. We drove in silence toward the beach and the surprise I’ve planned for tonight. I keep glancing at Ali from the corner of my eye. She keeps biting her finger and looking out the window; she looks upset. I want to know what is going on in that big brain of hers, but she closed up like a clam. I want her to be able to talk to me, to trust me with her feelings.
                  Tonight I am taking Allison to the place where this all began for me. She may not realize that day we first saw each other, but I saw her before she noticed me.
    This small part of the beach changed my life, and the girl holding my hand changed my heart. My heart that completely belongs to her. Where