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I silently slid his paper to me and quickly worked out all of the problems, checking his answers as I went. I grinned at him as I slid it back to him. “All of them are correct.”
He beamed at me and then down at his paper, like he couldn’t believe it. It was…sweet. And it reminded me that even though he liked to act like he was perfect, he wasn’t. And that made him a bit more human, I guessed.
“Really?” he spluttered. “I’ve been struggling with this for weeks now.” He grinned at me again, his blue eyes bright with happiness and pride. “You’re a fucking genius, Spencer.”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. You just needed a different way to be taught,” I assured him. “Not everyone learns the same, and the assumption that everyone does is a mistake the board of education made.”
He began packing up his things, and as I was standing up to leave, he reached out and grabbed my wrist, stopping me. I looked down at his hand for a moment, butterflies swarming in my belly. I swallowed thickly before lifting my eyes to meet his.
“Will you come to my game tomorrow night?” he blurted.
I’d been expecting anything but that. Maybe a proposition. A flirty, teasing comment. But not him sweetly—and a bit nervously—asking me to come to his game. Ezra Hart didn’t seem like the type of guy who got nervous. But here he was… nervously asking me to come to his game.
My heart pitter-pattered in my chest.
Warmth spread through my chest, and my heart raced. But I couldn’t attend—not as his supporter. I was his tutor. And even though I wasn’t being paid for this, it still wasn’t right. Not to mention, he was one of the most popular guys in this school. Anything between him and me, even something as innocent as flirting or going to his game, would just end in a catastrophe.
Those kinds of relationships always did. We just weren’t compatible.
I shook my head, and my heart clenched at the sad look in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Ezra,” I whispered.
He shook his head and quickly released my wrist. “No biggie,” he rasped. He smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. And it left me feeling like a major asshole. “See you again on Tuesday?”
I forced myself to nod my head before quickly turning on my heel and scurrying out of the library.
All the way home, I continuously told myself that I was doing the right thing. That I was protecting myself from a broken heart. Because guys like Ezra were always the same, and I would only be fun for him until the next, better person came along.
But if I was so sure it was the right decision, why did it feel so damn wrong?
* * *
My phone pinged with a message. Groaning, I opened my eyes and snatched my phone up, frowning at Ezra’s name on my screen.
It was after eleven at night. Weren’t normal people asleep by now? Like I had been? I should have turned my stupid phone on vibrate or silent, but then, half the time, my alarm didn’t want to work. And I had school tomorrow morning.
Ezra: You up?
Spencer: This better be important. I was asleep.
Ezra: Shit. I’m sorry. It’s not important. I didn’t mean to wake you up. Please go back to sleep.
I sighed. Again—endearing. And sweet. Why did he have to be the opposite of everything I’d been expecting?
Spencer: I’m awake now, Ezra. What is it?
Ezra: I feel like such a douche for texting you this late for something you already said no to, but I have to ask again. Will you PLEASE come to my game tomorrow night?
Seriously? I secretly loved that he wanted me there so badly, but also…it was eleven at night. I needed to sleep. I didn’t operate well when I hadn’t had a solid eight hours.
Spencer: Why?
Ezra: Because I like you, Spencer. And I want you there. I want to look up into the crowd and see you cheering for me. It would mean everything.
Jesus effin’ Christ. Ezra was ripping my heart right out of my chest, popping off each vein, artery, and vena cava one by one.
Spencer: We barely know each other, Ezra, and I’m your tutor.
Ezra: I know when I want someone, Spencer, and I want you. Pretty please?
