Page 22 of Puck'n Bully
“Hayden!” he curses through clenched teeth.
“Alright, I’m going,” I say, lifting my hands in surrender and backing out of the room. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
A big grin spreads on my face as I walk down the corridor. Now that I’ve messed with Liam, I can spend the rest of the day without missing him.
Or so I hope.
8
Liam
Thank God it’s Friday, I repeat to myself as I get ready for my shift at the diner this evening. My nerves feel fried from having to endure Hayden’s presence all week.
The past three sessions have been proof enough that Hayden doesnotneed a tutor to help him with math. He is, in fact, rather smart when it comes to solving differential equations.
He solved every problem I’d suggested, even some that were out of the scope of his syllabus. Each time I showed my surprise, he glowed with pride. My praises left him grinning from ear to ear. I’m starting to feel like he hired a tutor just so they can tell him how smart he is!
As for me, he hired me simply to mess with me.
Hayden enjoys sitting close to me during our sessions, letting his elbow knock against mine. He loves playing with my hair and at times, stares at me with such hungry looks, that my heartbeat spikes up.
I have to keep reminding myself he’s my student and that I must never allow myself to fall for his charm. I try my hardest to stay in control but it all goes to hell when Hayden pops up in my dreams, whispering dirty things and touching me in ways that wake me up with a raging hard-on.
“Hey, are you okay?” Sarah asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“What?”
“You’re spacing out, Liam,” she says, stacking dishes on top of a tray. “Is everything going all right with your master’s project?”
“Yeah, the project’s going fine,” I mutter, tying up my apron. “I just need an evening where I won’t have to think about school.”Or Hayden.
“So, it’s not academics that’s got you all hot and bothered,” Sarah whispers, chuckling like she knows what’s going on in my mind.
“How’s your research project going?” I ask, hoping to distract her.
“It’s all fine but why are you changing the subject,” she says, leaning in. “Come on, now. Tell me, Liam. Who’s been playing your heartstrings?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mutter, desperate to put a stop to this discussion. No one can know I’m crushing over my student!
I’d been hoping for a busy, distracting evening working at the diner to keep my mind occupied but even here, I can’t seem to stop thinking about the infuriating hockey player.
“Take it easy, okay?” Sarah says, patting my shoulder and smiling kindly like she knows exactly what I’m going through.
“It’s nothing—” I attempt one more time but she’s already walked inside the kitchen.
Letting out a sigh, I look around the empty diner. Since it’s early in the evening, the place is yet to liven up.
You’ll be okay, I tell myself.Just get busy and you’ll soon forget all about Hayden’s stupid dark hair, his sharp jawline, and the way he smells like soap and masculine power.
Just as I’m done giving myself a pep-talk, the diner’s door opens and the devil himself appears at the threshold.
Hayden Bastien strides in like he owns the place. He’s dressed in his varsity jacket, something I’m beginning to take a liking to. Hands shoved deep into his jeans pockets, he looks around the dining hall until his gray eyes land on me.
A smirk forms on his handsome face while I freeze on the spot.
No. No, no, no!
I whip around, gripping the counter, wishing I could disappear. But no matter what I do, there’s no place to hide. Hayden has already spotted me.
