Page 9 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
He pushes a chair closer to mine and sits, setting his bag on the table. “But you shouldn’t have to. I was a real jerk the other day, and there was no reason for it. I just...hate it when people feel sorry for me. Since my mom left, it seems all anyone can do is pretend like nothing happened or give me sad looks.”
“I get it. Plus, my mom hasn’t exactly been friendly to you.” My mom’s been unfriendly to almost everyone when it comes to me and her plans for my life. If she perceives a threat, she goes into full-on combat mode.
“That doesn’t make it okay. My problems aren’t yours.”
When I don’t respond, he touches my shoulder. Tingles race down my arm, but I ignore them. What’s the point of dissecting them when I’m under guard? I work to shake off the warm zing working its way into my bones and look at him.
“I’m serious. I’ll be on time and lose the attitude from now on.” One side of his lips tugs upward. “I’ll even let you yell at me again, but that’s a limited-time offer.”
The little mischievous glint in his eyes takes him from hot to blazing. That smile is lighting up the butterflies in my stomach. It adds to the charm he’s dishing out. But those butterflies need to scatter. Even if my mom allowed me to date, I’m not interested…much.
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “Whatever. We were in a library. Anything above a whisper was yelling.”
“We did get ashush,remember?”
I push on his shoulder. “Would you stop? Now, tell me where you’re having trouble.”
He gives me a small groan. “All of it.”
“That doesn’t help.” I slap his hand away from his notebook and glance over his notes. “What part is the problem? Isn’t your class reading some of it aloud?”
“They are, but most of the time they sound like they don’t understand it either. It’s hard for me to get into it. I don’t get a few lines read before I’m dozing off.” He feigns a yawn. “It’s so boring.”
I scoff. “You think Shakespeare is boring?”
“Yeah, you don’t?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I lived in Nashville before we moved here. My mom took me toSummer Shakespeareevery year. I love it. But I guess that’s different from reading it.” Honestly, that was the reason for signing up for the class in the first place. My schedule was hectic, and I needed at least one class that I could practically sleep through and still get an A.
Kaleb sets his elbow on the desk and his head in his hand. Now that my eyes aren’t clouded with stupid tears, I can see what he’s wearing and smell a woodsy scent floating from him. Not only do I like his jeans and t-shirt, but he also smells great too. I like how his hair isn’t super long. It doesn’t touch his collar like most of the guys, but it's long enough that I can see myself running my fingers through it.
When he smiles again, I notice his braces are gone. The other day I could have sworn he had braces. “Okay, am I seeing things, or did you get your braces out?”
The lopsided smile made my stomach tickle, butthissmile makes my skin warm uncomfortably. It’s big and wide and there’s a delight in his eyes. “Yeah, this morning. I’ve had them for four years, my second round of braces. I keep running my tongue over my teeth, expecting them to be there. My mouth feels weird without them.”
All of a sudden, I’m keenly aware of his lips as his tongue skates across his straight pearly whites. What would it be like to be kissed by him? “I bet kissing will be different.” Oh. Crud. I didn’t think that thought. I spoke it. Aloud. To Kaleb.
He blinks, and my face burns like I’ve fallen asleep on the beach without sunscreen. His head tips back as he laughs, and the mortification showing on my face soaks into my skin as it races to my core. I’m not sure I’ll be able to look him in the eyes ever again.
Covering my face with my hands, I squeeze my eyes shut and wish the earth was flat so I could walk off the edge. Anything to disappear.
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t really kissed anyone. At least, no one that matters or would give me the ability to compare.” His voice is husky, and there’s a flirty edge to it.
I peek at him through my fingers and groan as his blue eyes meet mine. “I can’t believe I said that.”
“It’s not like I haven’t thought about it.” His cheeks turn pink like he’s embarrassed. “I haven’t really been interested in anyone in a while. My parents…”
Right. The thought sobers me. All the flirty feelings flit away, and my feet find the floor. Aside from the fact that my mom would chain me in my room if I was interested in anyone, I’m too busy with school, volleyball…and now tutoring.
“I haven’t been interested in anyone either.” Even as the words pour out, I know that’s not entirely true. I haven’t allowed myself to think about it. What’s the point when I know my mom will go ballistic?
The clearing of a throat pulls my attention from Kaleb. It’s Oliver Reeves, the librarian and my mom’s friend. Although, I get the impression sometimes that he wishes it was more than friendship.
I suspect she’s asked him to keep an eye on me. “Hi, Ginny. Your mom just wanted me to remind you to be aware of the time. You can’t be late to practice. You’ve got—”
“Scouts coming this weekend, and I need to be at the top of my game,” I say, finishing the sentence with an exasperated sigh. It’s all the time. She never lets up.
Oliver lifts his hands as if to say,Don’t shoot the messenger. “I’m just doing what she asked me to.”
