Page 75 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
“And I’m eighteen. I could just as easily have said no, but I didn’t.”
My dad’s shoulders round. “Because I was pressuring you to go to Baylor. That’s what that MIT conversation was about.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want it now. Not if the price is Ginny’s heart. That’s worth everything to me.”
Nodding, he says, “Okay, but this isn’t over. I need to think it through. Eighteen or not, you’re my child, and it’s my job to protect you. I don’t want to hurt you or your chances with Ginny. From the way you talk about her, she’s sweet, and I’ve never heard a bad word about her. But that doesn’t change what her mom has done. She used you and manipulated you. This goes far beyond the deal, and I’m not sure I can let it go.”
I take a deep breath. He’s doing his best, but he’s right. Ginny’s mom did something pretty sketchy. “I get it.”
“You do?” My dad exhales heavily. “I just don’t want to hurt our relationship.”
“You won’t.” I push out of the seat and stand. “I’m going to go get cleaned up and try to figure out a game plan.”
“Should I order something to eat?”
“Sure. Chow Mein?”
A smile stretches on his lips. “It’s like you read my mind.”
I laugh as I head to the stairs. “See you in a few.” I take the steps two at a time.
Things are messed up. I’m pretty sure my relationship with Ginny has no hope, but I can’t not try. Her favorite movie is about a dude who kills the girl’s boyfriend and eats his brains. What I did can’t be worse than that.
If there is even a sliver of a chance, I’m taking it. I want her, and I’ll wait as long as she needs me to.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ginny
I stopin front of Ronnie’s house and knock on the door. The last thing I want to do is hang out tonight, but she begged me. It’s been weeks since I’ve said more than a few words at a time to her. Anger is eating me alive. I know I shouldn’t be allowing it. It’s just there. As much as I don’t want to feel this way, I don’t see how I can fix it. Not yet.
Mrs. Yates’s class has been hard. Of course, thinking Kaleb and I were still together, she paired us, and we’re supposed to be picking a movie. I refuse. It’s not like he’s gone out of his way either. Although, he did try to say something to me today and I ducked into the girl’s restroom. If I’m not speaking to my mom, I’m definitely not giving him the time of day.
Dixie. I don’t care. She accused me of something I’d never in a million years do, and if she thinks that low of me, then fine. I don’t need her. Why would she want to be friends with someone who would ever do that to her? Now she’s been coming around, lips pooching out, pouting and asking for forgiveness. Forget it.
The door swings open, and Ronnie smiles in greeting. “Hey, thanks for hanging out with me.”
“Yeah, sure.”
She still has no idea what happened. I’ve wrapped that overheard conversation into a nice, neat, tidy box and shoved it as far back in my mind as I can. Oh, she’s asked, but there’s nothing to say.
I pass by her, and we walk to her room.
“My parents are having a date night, so we’ve got the house to ourselves. Cool, right?”
“Sure.” The word is clipped. Honestly, that’s how most of my interactions are now.
My mother has been getting the brunt of it.What’s wrong, Ginny? Why are you fighting me, Ginny?On and on and on. I’ve been biting my tongue to the point of almost severing it. I speak to her when I’m forced to and nothing more.
Ronnie waits for me to enter her room and then locks the door. That’s when Dixie steps out from behind the closet door.
I spin around. “You open that door right now!”
“No. You sit your behind down and listen.”
I know she’s furious. It’s only happened a few times, but when Ronnie gets really mad, it’s next-level. Her mouth is barely moving, and the words come out like a hiss. She gets in my face, towering over me. I should have known that’s why she answered the door in heels.
“Sit,” she barks.
