Page 45 of Mud, Love, and Chemistry

I let out a sassy snort. “Well, you reacted poorly.”

“At least I have the humility to admit when I’m being an ass.” Leaning back in his chair, he folds his arms.

“Care to show some of that humbleness now?”

He slowly shakes his head as his mouth ticks up in a smirk. “You are one stubborn woman, you know that?”

“Yep, and it’s not surprising that you find it aggravating. Most men do.”

“Did it bother the guy you danced with last night?” A bitterness laces his words, and I notice his jaw is slightly clenched.

I arch an eyebrow. “Why are you concerned with him?”

Sam’s Adam’s apple bobs with a deep swallow before his features relax, a sly grin taking over his face. “Just worried he didn’t know what he was getting into. I mean, you do have a history of sharing intimate moments with men, only to turn on them later.”

“Hmph.” I narrow my eyes. “Well, you can rest assured knowing I didn’t give him the chance. I’ve got enough emotional sewage to wade through after you.”

Sam jerks his head back, his eyes wide. Then, I watch as his whole face softens, like his heart just split right down the middle. “Brynn, I?”

Before he can finish, the classroom door opens, and students file in. I can breathe once more. That conversation was getting too heavy, and I’m glad it flew through the doorway before it became cemented to the floor. I go back to finishing my lesson plan as we wait for everyone to take their seats.

Sam leans over into my space, and I hate, that even after our bickering, I still like his nearness. “Do you need me to do anything?”

I stand instantly, shaking my head. “I’ve got this.”

“Of course you do.” His lips press into a flat line and he nods.

Giving him a sharp glare, I step to the projector and begin the study session. It’s a sixty-minute time slot, which goes by super fast, and before I know it, people are leaving. As I pack up all my transparencies and markers, I smile proudly. That felt like a really good session. It was productive and informative, and I know grades on the next exam will improve. I’m still beaming when the last student leaves.

“Brynn, can I say, you’re brilliant,” Sam says, still perched in his chair.

I ignore the warmth his praise makes me feel, the bright smile I almost shine his way, shrugging instead. “Yes, you certainly can.”

“You’re also very modest.” He chuckles, getting up to walk to the desk. “But can I also say, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, that lecture was fucking boring.”

My mouth drops open as I frown. “Excuse me?”

“All that info was spot on. You know your stuff and it shows in how you deliver it.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Which you did exactly the same way as Professor St. James.”

I blink in disbelief, unable to form words.

“She’s brilliant, too. Don’t get me wrong, but she’s also fucking boring.”

I scoff. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Why do you think the whole class failed that exam? They were all probably lulled to sleep by her mechanical, robot voice. You can’t tell me you don’t hear it.”

My forehead scrunches as I think. I’ve never thought she sounded like a robot, but I guess she does tend to drone on when she gets stuck on a tangent. “Maybe she is a little robotic sometimes.”

“A little? The woman makes Siri sound like Oprah.”

I snort a laugh. “Well, when you put it like that...”

Sam smiles, his gaze lingering on me. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“Only one.”

“What if next week, we do something different? Like a game?”

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