I groaned, sitting up and rubbing at the desk’s indent on my forehead. I pulled on the bucket hat to make sure it was secure before facing Noah. “Well, it’s only true if you consider seven-year-olds and gum in hair a party.”
One corner of Noah’s lips tilted up in amusement. “Do you make a habit of hanging out with children?”
“Only for work. I was supposed to be studying last night, but instead I was up until four in the morning trying to get the gum out with peanut butter and ice cubes.”
“Kids never learn, do they?”
My frown deepened. “It wasmyhair.”
His brow pinched, and he leaned against the chair’s back. “This may be an ignorant question, but how did you manage to get chewing gum in your hair?”
“Ididn’t do it,” I said as my head jerked back. That was just insulting. “The little brat I tutor in piano did when I was teaching her note values.”
If it was possible, Noah looked even more lost. He smoothed a hand down the front of his grey blazer. “I didn’t know you tutored.”
“Yeah, you know—molding young minds and all that jazz.”
“And you let these children put gum in your hair while you tutor?”
I grumbled and crossed my arms. “I mean, I didn’tlether. But I couldn’t exactly stop her without using bodily force, either.”
“And you’d never hurt a child…?”
“I’m not saying I didn’t try.” I fought not to let the anger rise to the surface again. “But do you know how hard it is to move on a marble floor while wearing socks? It’s not a walk in the park, and she’s a slippery little demon spawn. I couldn’t get a good shot at her.”
“That sounds… challenging.”
“Well, it wasn’t all for nothing.” I uncrossed my arms and stretched the sore limbs. Cleaning gum out of hair really did a number on the arms. “After taking out the money for a cheeseburger and budgeting for food, plus buying a pack of gum I couldn’t resist, I’m ten dollars closer to buying you another pen.”
Noah did a double take, and his lips parted. “You took a job just to pay me back?”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “I tookthisjob to avoid starving. I took thecateringjob to pay you back. It just ends up I break things a lot, which isn’t fun for my paycheck. Speaking of, do you think they’d still be allowed to dock my pay if we unionized?”
“I already told you I don’t need the pen—or any money,” Noah said, completely ignoring my question.
I shrugged. “Tough luck. A debt’s a debt.”
Noah’s mouth opened—I’m guessing to argue again—when Blaise appeared beside us with impeccable timing. I never thought I’d be happy to see her, until I noticed the papers in her hand.
Blaise dropped my quiz on the desk without a word, and a bright redDwas circled on the front for all to see.
My stomach dropped.
I got aD.
And this time, I could only blame myself. I hadn’t studied enough.
That didn’t stop my eyelids from working overtime to block an unwelcome rush of tears. I took a deep breath and flipped the quiz over—but not before catching Noah’s eyes staring at the top of it.
Lovely.
“Tough luck again,” Blaise said to me as she tucked a curl behind her ear. “I offer study sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Slade recommends them for struggling students. I think he mentioned them to you? You’d do yourself a favor if you stop by.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. I offered a smile that was surely more of a grimace.
A hint of a smirk teased her lips. “Oh, and tell your mom I said hi.”
I blinked back at her as my cheeks heated, really wishing Noah hadn’t heard that. Pursing my lips, I absolutely wanted to die on the spot when she turned to him and smiled.
