Page 49 of Tangled in His Game

I lift my hand. Extra credit is always good, and I’m glad Emberwell professors care about their students like this. At many other colleges, no one would give a damn if someone was falling behind. It would be up to the student to figure it all out on their own.

“Noemi, great!” The professor smiles at me as everyone else rushes toward the exit. “Thank you.”

I stuff my things in my bag and approach her.

“You know Victor Overton, right?” she asks, and I inwardly curse everything under the sun.

“Um, yeah.”

None of Victor’s bullying happened during this class. Actually, he was always strangely calm and quiet, which might be because he knew he couldn’t afford to mess around. I should’ve figured out something was up.

“With his hockey games and everything... he’s falling behind. Do you think you can help him out?” the professor asks.

“I can try.” I give her a smile.

“Perfect. You’re supposed to meet him at the library in two hours. Is that okay with you? His schedule is a bit complicated, so—”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I understand.”

Victor will probably refuse as soon as he sees me, but that’ll be on him. I want my extra credit for volunteering anyway. He and I can go back to happily ignoring each other, or if he wants, we can say that we aren’t a good fit and someone else should replace me.

If the professor had told us right away it was Victor who needed help, I’m sure she would’ve gotten plenty of volunteers.

But it doesn’t matter. I can talk to Victor for a few moments and survive. And if he wants me to actually help him? Well, that’ll be weird, but whatever.

It’s not like I hate him. Okay, I do. But our relationship is complicated. I don’t know if I’m letting him get away with everything too easily or what—Sebastian told me once that I was a doormat and forgave too quickly—but I know a little about what he’s going through. And I can’t just ignore it.

We don’t have to be friends or anything, but we can keep coexisting in peace.

***

AS I’M ON MY WAY TOthe library, I text my mom not to wait for me with dinner because I’m probably going to stay late to tutor another student.

Even if Victor refuses, I can just study on my own, so it won’t be a big deal. The library is strangely empty, and not even the librarian is here, which is weird.

But Victor is at one of the tables, so I take a seat across from him. His icy gaze lifts to mine.

“Of course.” His lips spread into a smile. “You. Who else would be crazy enough to volunteer for anything?”

“Yes, me.” I smile too. “But we’re both adults, so we can act like it.”

He tilts his head at me. “Fine.”

I furrow my brow as he gets to his feet. He sits down in the chair right next to me, so close that his arm brushes mine. A zap of electricity rushes through me.

Oh hell to the no.

“What’s wrong?” He pulls his textbook from across the table. “I’m right here, so teach me, Emi.”

I stare at his mouth as he says my name. It’s so damn distracting because I know what that mouth can do, and the way his voice turns husky and low...

He keeps watching me, and I clear my throat. I flip through the textbook and start explaining the first thing that comes to my mind.

“You’re so sexy when you get all professional,” he whispers into my ear.

I bite down on my lip as I look into his eyes. “Am I wasting my time here?”

His hand closes over mine on the textbook, and he caresses my fingers. “I can figure it out all on my own. I’ve just been busy. We can do something else. Something far more enjoyable.”

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