Page 35 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
“I’m her boyfriend.”
The room goes silent, and Coach Williams’s face falls. Does it hurt Ginny’s chances if she’s dating a guy like me? I guess I should’ve thought about that before blurting it out.
Principal Gray is quick to intervene. She tries to swing things in her favor. “Ginny is tutoring Kaleb Quinn. He was nearly failing at Shakespeare, and now he’s acing it!”
Good job with the mock enthusiasm. I try to correct her. “I’m actually getting a—”
“An A, Kaleb.” She emphasizes the grade letter. “We’re all happy for you.”
At this point, I’m not even surprised she’s willing to lie anymore. It seems the only thing she’s able to do. For a second, I feel sorry for her. I could see in her eyes when she stopped me near the beach that she absolutely believes she’s doing the right thing. I just wonder when she’ll find the line she’s crossed—what the consequences will be and if she’s thought about it at all.
I stare Principal Gray down, glad that she can’t actually kill me with her eyes. As it stands, I’m guessing she’s pushed me off a building at least a hundred times by now. I narrow my eyes in defiance. IfNormais committed to getting her daughter’s heart broken, she’s going to have to pay the price.
Ginny is clearly uncomfortable and clears her throat. “We’ve seen a lot of improvement. Kaleb is a good pupil.”
I grin at her. After seeing her completely kill it in that volleyball game—she didn’t know I was there—she’s more attractive than ever before. I didn’t realize how much I like athletic girls.
“And you’re a good kisser,” I reply. Again, my mouth isn’t checking in with my brain at all.
The room goes silent again, and I’m wondering if I’m laying it on too thick. Is that even possible? Besides, I’m telling the truth.
Coach Williams laughs nervously and sits back down.
Principal Gray is mortified and desperately tries to change the subject. “Why don’t we eat?”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Coach Williams places her napkin on her lap.
My gaze is still locked with Ginny’s until her mother snaps her finger, sending Ginny into her seat with her head hung down. I wonder if Principal Gray ever stops to consider how her actions affect her daughter. Maybe she knows and she just so bent on getting Ginny into college that she just ignores it.
As I make my way over to the seat beside Ginny, Principal Gray stops me. “Kaleb, you can sit over here.” She motions toward the chair beside Coach Williams.
Reluctantly, I relent. There goes my dream of sitting beside Ginny and surreptitiously putting my hand on her knee. I can only imagine how that would go, but the thought of her warm skin under my hand makes me dizzy.
As I sit, Principal Gray rushes back into the kitchen to get the plates of food.
Coach Williams raises a hand. “Can I help you with that, Norma?”
“No, I’ve got it. Thanks.”
When she returns, Principal Gray is holding a steaming dish of kale—I’m amazed that I predicted that one—and something else that looks like a brown log. What’s wrong with this woman? Can’t she just make a taco or something?
Without realizing it, I’m grimacing. I only know because I catch Ginny trying to hold back a smile by rolling her lips in. How does she eat this stuff? I take a mental note to ask her later. Maybe I’ll start sneaking over after dinner and passing her actual food through the window.
Principal Gray presents the dish. “Vegan meatloaf.” There’s tremendous pride written on her face for something that looks like it should be floating down a river.
“Oh, Norma. That smells amazing.”
Seriously? Is Coach Williams faking it? By the looks of her chiseled I-spend-ten-hours-a-day-in-PE-class arms, she probably eats vegan meatloaf all the time. Besides, she sounds sincere, and based on what I’m seeing, no one is that good of an actor.
“Only the best for a future Olympian.” Principal Gray smiles.
Ginny rolls her eyes and groans. “Come on, Mom.”
“It’s true.” Principal Gray walks back to the kitchen and retrieves a large salad. Between that and the kale, I can confidently say I’ll be getting all my greens for a lifetime. “That was one of your best performances tonight, Ginny.”
Coach Williams nods her head. “I agree.”
I speak up. “So do I.”
