Page 33 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
“It was bad timing. That’s all.”
Ouch. Being kicked by a draft horse would’ve hurt less, but I don’t let it show on my face. I knew this was all pretend, so it’s not his fault my feelings are all over the place.
“Maybe it was too much, in terms of…” I clear my throat. “The plan.”
Kaleb looks down at the table. “Yeah, maybe.”
Despite absolutely knowing what this is, my heart breaks as he agrees with me. For the briefest of seconds, I wanted him to disagree. The kisses, the closeness, the compliments.
Suddenly, it hits me. I’m going to go down in flames. There’s no way I’m going to be able to keep myself from getting hurt, because no matter what my head says, my heart just doesn’t seem to care. What on earth am I going to do?
At the moment? Nothing, so I try to get the conversation back on track.
“Mom doesn’t know that you’re coming to dinner tonight with Coach Williams.”
He shoots me a half-smile. “I know.”
I blink. “What?”
“I ran into your mom on Sunday. I could tell she was clueless.”
“You ran into her?” My voice hits a new octave with each word.
“Well, I was riding my skateboard to the beach, and she drove by.”
“I can imagine how well that went,” I say, shaking my head. I consider that with all this drama going on, I can’t quite fathom my mom’s current state of mind.
With a shrug, he lets go of my hand. “She feels like she has to be cruel to be kind.”
I lower my gaze to my textbook. Cruel to be kind. Right. “That’s a gentle way of putting it.”
Kaleb tips my chin up and looks into my eyes. “She really does care for you.”
I bark a laugh and pull away. “It’s a messed-up way of showing it.”
“I completely agree.” He nods and chews the side of his cheek. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
He hesitates a second. “Am I invited to dinner as revenge?” Kaleb looks mildly disappointed, and my heart skips a beat.
Honestly? “At first it was, but not anymore. I just want you to be there. Maybe it’ll make things easier.”
There’s that twisted grin again. “For emotional support.”
“Something like that.”
Oh boy, I’m in trouble. Yes, I admit to myself that I do want Kaleb there for emotional support. However chaotic my mind and emotions are, he makes me feel safe. Is it weird that the school bad boy makes me feel protected? That’s a few hours on a long couch, and I suspect I still wouldn’t have a good reason.
I look up at the clock, and my jaw nearly drops onto the table. “Oh, crud.”
His eyebrows knit together. “What is it?”
I pop out of my chair and grab my book, clutching it to my pounding heart. “I’m late.”
Those tightly knitted eyebrows pull apart as one arches up. “The game is in two hours.”
“Exactly. You wouldn’t believe the amount of prep I have to do.”
