I’m definitely not reading too much into it.
“And what about that study session, just you and me?” Henry asks, his throat raspy as he leans closer. “I can make sure your grade gets turned around.”
I’ll bet he can.
“Excuse me?” Ashton overhears Henry. My boyfriend grabs my arm, pulling me behind him as he steps forward, face-to-face with Henry.
Oh, shit.
“She already told you she’s not interested,” Ashton growls at Henry. “Quit asking my girlfriend if she needs a tutor. If someone’s going to help her, it’s going to be me.”
I rest a hand on Ashton’s arm, gently trying to tug him back. I don’t want him getting into a fight with the teaching assistant.
Ashton slings his bag over his shoulder and intertwines his hand with mine. “You ready to grab lunch, babe?”
Is Ashton trying to rub Henry’s nose in the fact that I’m not single, and he’s claiming me? Ordinarily, I’d find it hot and a turn on, but I’m a little worried that Henry might take it out on me next time he’s forced to grade one of my assignments.
We head out of the classroom and Ashton is right beside me, nudging me as we walk to lunch. “Can you believe that asshole? We should go over his head, to the professor or maybe the dean in his department. Someone should be aware that he’s hitting on the students!”
I tug Ashton’s hand, making him pause as I stop.
“I don’t want you making things worse for me.”
“Did you hear him?” Ashton stares at me, mouth agape. “He was hitting on you, and I’m worried if you don’t do as he demands, it’ll affect your grade. He’s slime, Nova!”
I try to shake off the anxiety prickling under my skin. “It’s just one quiz. It’s not worth that much of our grade. Don’t worry.” Although it isn’t the first pop quiz I failed in class.
“It’s the next exam I’m worried about for you,” Ashton says. He tugs me into the dining hall, and we both grab food at opposite ends. He stands in line for a sandwich while I grab a burger and fries.
I glance around while waiting in line, making sure Henry isn’t anywhere to be seen.
My stomach is doing somersaults.
I’ve never run into him outside of class in the past, but it doesn’t mean he may not have followed me. He’s on campus, he eats in the same dining hall, at least at some point, I imagine he does. Hopefully, not today, during this lunch hour.
After I grab my burger and fries, I snatch up a table for Ashton and me to sit. He’s still getting his sandwich, the line a little longer since they’re making his by hand.
I grab my backpack and pull out my criminology textbook. Every extra minute that I cram has to be beneficial. And there’s zero chance that I’d study with Henry alone. I’m not even sure it’s worth continuing the class that I’m in.
My food sits untouched as my eyes glaze over the text from today’s lesson.
Ashton strolls up to the table and shuts the textbook on me.
“What was that for?” I growl.
“Study tonight, when I’m at practice.” At our table, he grabs the seat across from me. “Eat your lunch.”
Sighing, I take the burger and take a bite.
“Happy?” I mumble.
He unwraps his sandwich. “I’d be happier if that douche didn’t ask you out in Criminology. What the hell was that?”
I’m pretty sure his question is rhetorical.
I merely shrug and shove my textbook back into my bag. “I don’t know. Asking me out is weird, right?”
Ashton glares up at me with a fire behind his dark eyes. “It would be weird not to be attracted to you. But asking you to lunch and to study at his place, highly inappropriate.”
