Page 8 of Silent Count
“Yes, I’m staying here tonight, unless you want me to come with you.” Noelle stands when Chelsea stands from the couch.
“Don’t be silly. Stay. I’m good, I promise.” She walks toward the door and slips her shoes on.
Seeing this as my chance to talk to her alone for the first time tonight, I get up from the chair before she can leave. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
She stops for a second and looks at me. “Oh, okay, thanks.”
I don’t bother looking at Casey and Noelle. I’m sure they’re wondering why I’m walking her out. “No problem.”
I open the door for her, and she walks out before me.
We’re halfway down the walkway when she speaks. “You don’t have to walk me to my car. It’s literally right in front of the house.” She looks up at me.
“No problem at all. But I do have a reason to.” I glance at her, smirking.
“Oh, yeah? What’s the reason?” She turns to face me when we reach her car.
I clear my throat. “Well, it looks like we’ll be spending more time together, so I wanted to talk to you about it so we could coordinate our schedules.”
She looks confused. “What do you mean? Because I come over?”
“Not that. Um, it looks like you’re my tutor.” I hold out my hands.
“Your tutor? For what?” she asks, shaking her head.
“Well, long story, but my advisor made a mistake, and I guess I needed to take a psychology class my freshman year, but didn’t. So, now, I’m in the class, and it’s not exactly in my comfort zone, so I pretty much bombed the first quiz.” I put my hands in my pockets and look down.
“Oh. Wow, okay. Not what I was expecting.” She laughs.
“What were you expecting?” I ask, hoping maybe she was wanting me to ask her out. Because I want to do that too.
“I’m not sure, but I’m just surprised you need tutoring. You seem like you have your shit together, and I know y’all need to keep your grades up to play.” She shrugs and looks down at her shuffling feet.
“Yes, we do, which is exactly why I need your help.” I bend down to try and catch her eye.
“Just because you want me to be your tutor doesn’t mean I automatically am.”
“Oh. You’re right. Coach gave me your number so I assumed?—”
“I have to accept you as someone I’m willing to work with.”
The side of my mouth tips up at the challenge. I kind of like the hard-to-get attitude, even if it’s as my tutor. I give her the California charm. “Well, to start, I’m great company.”
She raises a brow. “You think so, huh?”
“I’m charming, courteous, and an excellent conversationalist.”
Her lips twitch like she’s holding back a smile. “That’s three. Got anything else on your résumé?”
“Plenty. I’m punctual, I listen well, I smell amazing, and I’m very easy on the eyes.” I flash her my most practiced grin.
That finally earns me a laugh. “You smell amazing?”
“Don’t take my word for it.” I lean just a little closer. “Go ahead. Check for yourself.”
She shoves my shoulder with a laugh, cheeks pink. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And fun. Don’t forget fun. I’m basically the full package.”
