Sweetest Taboo by Eva Márquez Read Free Book Online Page B

opportunity. And here it goes .
Once I decided that I was going to write this letter, I wasn’t sure how to go about it. I wanted to be prim and proper and superficial in this letter, to be respectful, but what’s the point of that? I’ve decided to be honest instead, though that’s just a tiny first step. This is the first time I’ve done something so … well, bold, and the truth is that it scares me. You’re a teacher more than twice my age, and I know you’re married with kids, but I feel extremely attracted to you, and it’s getting worse every day .
There, it’s said, and no going back now .
This attraction, it seems to come out of nowhere, but it makes me feel happy and safe. There’s something about you that’s so warm and tender, and I love the way your eyes sparkle when you smile at me, the way you steal sneak peeks at me during the school day. And yes, I’ve seen you do that .
I realize that I might be way out of line here, but you asked for the truth and I hope you’re prepared to deal with it. I’m sure this is not the first time a younger girl has flirted with you, and I would completely understand if you take the contents of this letter as a schoolgirl’s crush. I wouldn’t think any less of you. But in some weird way, I sense a spark, a connection between us. This is all very new for me, and I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I’ve never thought that anyone else felt this way about me. But my heart skips a beat every time you smile at me. Am I crazy, or do you feel it too? I guess as a teacher, you probably have to be guarded with your feelings, right? You’re probably not allowed to tell me what you’re feeling, though I wish you would .
You know, I reserve certain smiles for you, certain glances, and certain laughs … my best expressions, all saved just for you. In the last few weeks, I’ve noticed that you’ve gone out of your way to find me during the school day and speak to me at practice, and I think you might be saving your best smiles for me too. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I sit very close to you in the truck when you drive us home, even when I’m the only one left in the truck and there’s space to spare. And I can’t stop thinking about how it would feel to have your lips meet mine .
Well, there it is. I don’t know if you’ll agree or if you’ll make fun of me for this, but you asked for a letter. You asked for honesty, and here it is; totally inappropriate, but honest. I hope that I haven’t been too out of line, and that you can still bear to be around me. If nothing is to come of this, so be it. I hope that we can at least continue to be friends .
Hugs (maybe kisses) ,
Isabel
    I had moved on to breaststroke now, and punctuated my breaths with thoughts and silent comments. Who was I kidding? There were thousands of ways he could have taken my letter, though none of them were innocent. The more important thing would be his reaction.
    As I came up for air during my last lap of the afternoon, I saw Liz standing with Mr. Stevens near the benches. She was serious as she spoke and was shaking her head. They were both looking my way.
    I got out of the swimming pool and dripped my way toward them, my body covered with goose bumps from the evaporating water. I didn’t care about the chill, though; I wanted to know what was being said about me. Liz took one look at my chilled arms and beat Mr. Stevens to my swim bag. She threw my towel at me, laughing.
    “Here you go sweetie,” she joked. “Get that wrapped around you before you catch cold!”
    Mr. Stevens gave Liz a pointed look as he came closer to give me my jewelry. I thanked him and continued to hold his gaze while re-fastening the towel around my waist.
    “So Mr. Stevens, do you think Isabel looks better dry or wet?” Liz quipped, and my mouth dropped open in shock. I glanced from Liz back to Mr. Stevens, horrified, but saw that he was taking the question in stride, and chuckling.
    “Well, I’m