Page 27 of Sin

Away from Sin. My stomach clenches at the idea, but my brain knows it would be for the best.

“I could definitely tutor you,” I tell Chloe. “The way you grasped the concepts after a little bit of help, I see no reason why you couldn’t get an A in the class, if you’re willing to put in the effort.”

“Wait, can you tutor me in astronomy?” asks a stoned-looking ginger wearing the sweatshirt of a well-known frat on campus. “I took it thinking I’d be able to lie around and stare at the stars, and instead it’s full of math and shit.”

“I can help you. I’m certified to tutor all non-major math and science classes, as well as general ed classes in core curriculums.”

I end up with a total of four new tutoring clients. Right as Sin grabs my hand and pulls me up, a dark-haired guy with pretty-boy looks strolls over. Earlier, when Sin was on his phone call, he’d asked how it felt to be the poor relation in the Brandt family. Mercer had slapped him upside the head and told him that if Sin had heard him say that, they’d be finding pieces ofhim all over campus. “I’ll hire you, too,” He looks me up and down and gives me an oily smile. “I could use some help with my anatomy class. If you’re for sale?”

I don’t like him, but he’s a potential client and I’m too broke to be picky. “I can?—”

“Sorry, Tate,” Sin says, looking not the least bit sorry. “Cassidy already agreed to tutor me. Looks like you’ll have to go buy a copy ofAnatomy for Dummiesinstead. From what I’ve heard, your dates will appreciate it.”

Tate flips off a smirking Sin and stalks off. I turn to Sin. “I never agreed to tutor you.”

The smirk instantly transforms into a slight pout, with puppy dog eyes thrown in. “Yeah, I’ve been trying to get the courage up to ask for your help. I could really use your ninja tutoring skills in calculus. I’m failing it and don’t want to have to repeat the class.”

“Of course, I’ll help you!” I rush to tell him. I hate that he needed my help and hesitated to ask me for it. “But you don’t have to pay me. I can take on Tate as a client and still help you.”

“No, you can’t,” he says adamantly. “I’m gonna need more help than you realize. It’s gonna take at least two, maybe three times a week to get me out of trouble in this class.”

Okay,” I agree, glad he’s willing to put so much work in passing the class. Usually, the biggest hurdle to successful tutoring is the lack of motivation in the student. With Sin, that obviously won’t apply. “We can start tackling it once we get home tonight.”

“No,” he says firmly. “I think it’s best if we meet here. I’ll come up with a spot where we can study.”

“Oh, okay, sure. Wherever you think you’ll learn best.” I tell him.

He seems satisfied with that, and it’s not until after he walks me back to the science building and I’m in a class that I realizewhat a lovesick fool I am. Living in the same house with Sin. Riding to and from school with him. Tutoring him. It’s definitely not the way to move on from my feelings for my stepbrother.

Chapter 13

Sin

I fucking hate mornings. They’re too bright and they start way too damned early. Sunrises should be at the end of my day and not at the beginning. Lately, though, each morning I jump up from my bed, no matter how late I went into it.

This morning, having rushed through my shower, I’m buttoning up my pearl snap one-handed as I take the stairs two steps at a time, jonesing to see Cassidy after a long night separated from him.

He’s waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes following me as I make my descent. When I reach him, I noticed his usually ivory skin is flushed.

“Are you feeling all right?”

It seems to take him a minute to process my simple question. “Wh-what did you say?” he croaks.

“I asked if you’re feeling okay?” I place my hand on his forehead. “You’re looking a little flushed.”

“I’m fine. I j-j-just got out of a hot shower,” he says, quickly stepping away from my touch. “We should get going.”

Glad he’s not getting sick, I decide to go ahead with the plans I’d made for our drive to school, so instead of heading to the garage, I go to the main drive where I asked Hal to havemy Mazda coupe ready and waiting. Just as we reach the car, I throw Cassidy the keys.

“You’re driving,” I tell him, and then get in on the passenger side and wait for him as he stands there, cluelessly holding my keys. “I don’t know how to drive.”

“Well, you’re not going to learn out there,” I reply.

He can’t argue with that logic, so he reluctantly climbs into the driver’s seat. As soon as he closes his door, I breathe in the just-showered scent of him, and it sends me spinning.

Maybe I should have grabbed one of the larger vehicles instead of the Mazda. I picked it because it’s not as hair-trigger fast as some of the others in my collection. It’s also compact and easily maneuverable, but being this close to Cassidy is trouble. I’ve been avoiding being in private spaces with him since I gave in to temptation and dropped that light kiss on him the other night in the library. As chaste as that kiss was, it was mind-blowing, and I’m not sure I can walk away if it were to happen again.

He turns to me with a look of terror on his face. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

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