Page 17 of Stay
He grins. “After careful consideration and interviewing several potential candidates, I believe you’re the best tutor for me.”
His words have me biting down on my lower lip. It would seem like I’m not much of ageniusafter all.
“Fine, let’s just get started.” So we can get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
“Great.” A satisfied smile trembles around the corners of his lips as he pulls out his calculus book and notepad. It’s enough to make my belly hollow out. Honestly, you’d think I’d be used to the feeling by now. Instead, it throws me off every time it happens.
“Your name is Cassidy, huh?”
Since we both know it is, I don’t bother dignifying the question with a response.
I clear my throat. “Why don’t you show me what you’re having trouble with.” I need to get this show on the road and him out the door, not to mention out of my life.
Is that even possible anymore?
Unconsciously, my gaze falls to his lips as that kiss tumbles its way through my head for probably the hundredth time. It takes everything I have inside to force it away.
Unaware of my discomfort, he flips open his book, thumbing through a few pages before turning it around until I’m able to see the problems. After a few moments, he gets up and resettles on the chair next to me so we’re both able study the page together. “I can’t wrap my brain around the unit on parametric equations.”
Distracted by his nearness, I nod, attempting to focus on the concepts, which is a challenge because he smells damn near edible. It’s a potent concoction of the ocean and citrusy sunshine. I hate how intoxicating it is.
It takes a few attempts to forget about his delicious scent and slip into tutor mode, as I do my best to re-explain parametric equations in a way that makes sense. By the time sixty minutes have slipped by, Cole has plowed his way through four challenging problems.
What this hour has taught me is that Cole is smart and focused. He grasps complicated concepts easily when they’re broken down into manageable chunks and explained properly.
Ugh.
Like I need anything else to like about him.
Once the last problem has been tackled, we both sit back in our plastic chairs before stretching out cramped muscles.
He rubs the back of his neck, shifting it one way and then the other. “Thanks. That makes so much more sense now. I wish Professor Ling could have explained it like that the first time.”
Cole has him for Calc II this semester, and I have him for Calc III. Luckily, math has always come easily, so I don’t struggle. I don’t need to attend the lectures to understand the concepts. I could easily getthrough the book on my own. But most people don’t grasp mathematics like I do, which is why tutoring in my spare time works well for me. I can set my own schedule, and in the two weeks I’ve been working in the tutoring lab, there have been no shortage of students to help.
With his golden-brown gaze locked on mine, Cole asks, “Are you done for the day?”
“Yup.” I roll my aching shoulders, trying to work out all the kinks. I’ve been tutoring for three straight hours. Not only am I tired, but I have my own studies to get through. When his knee brushes against mine, my thoughts arrow straight back to him and those pesky butterflies in the pit of my belly wing their way back to life again. I’m left feeling both uncomfortable and slightly shaken. No one has ever affected me this way.
He makes everything worse by leaning into my personal space. Now I’m able to see the ridiculous amount of gold flecks churning in his whiskey-colored depths.
Nope. I definitely don’t like the effect he has on me.
“Want to grab something to eat? All this calculus has made me work up an appetite. I’m starving.”
My stomach takes this opportunity to embarrass me by rumbling in agreement.
One side of his mouth lifts into a knowing grin. “Should I take that as a yes?”
I shake my head. The fragile comradery we’ve carefully forged over the previous hour dissolves as I draw my protective armor around myself.
“Sorry, can’t. I have a protein bar in my backpack. I need to head over to the library and study for a few hours.”
“Come on, Cassidy,” he cajoles, dimples flashing enticingly.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit, at least privately to myself, that the sound of my name rolling off his lips does funny things to my insides. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one more reason to stay far away from Cole.
The worddangercontinues to flash like a bright neon sign in my brain. I’m smart enough not to ignore a warning when I see one.
