Noah quirked a brow. “Weren’t you the one wearing Hello Kitty underwear?”
My cheeks warmed. So, he hadn’t forgotten about that. “You should know that I don’t tutor because I’m a good person. I do it to make money.”
Noah’s lips tightened like he was holding in a laugh. “I don’t think there’s enough money in the world to tolerate children sticking chewing gum in your hair.”
There had to be a catch. Nobody just offered help to someone who destroyed their property. “You seriously don’t want anything in return?”
His eyes focused on mine, and his finger tapped against the desk between us in a steady beat that matched the thumping of my heart. “I want our project to do well, and that’ll be a little difficult if my duet partner drops out of the class.”
I held in a groan, glancing over to where Blaise sat talking with Slade. “But if I drop out, you’ll be paired back with Blaise. I don’t think you’d have to worry about failing with her.”
“Probably not,” Noah said, and the skin between his brows pinched. “But who would that make me if I stood aside when I could’ve helped? I’ve spent most of my life studying this instrument and everything about it. Let me help you.”
I looked around the room, and other students were still working in pairs with their partners. Two were packing up to leave already, and Slade was still grading quizzes up front.
It was tempting—unbelievably tempting and an absolute godsend to my sinking scholarship. But the etiquette classes my mom forced me to attend every summer of my childhood reared their ugly heads and wouldn’t let me say yes that easily. “I don’t feel comfortable with this. It’s not fair to you.”
“Life isn’t fair,” Noah shot back lightly. “The only reason I went to a private high school was because of a scholarship. I don’t know where I’d be without it, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be anywhere near here. Why should you lose yours because you’re brilliant enough to play without knowing what’s in a textbook?”
His words made me pause, and I swallowed back a laugh of surprise—almost choking. “You think I’m brilliant?”
That teased a half smile out of him. He leaned forward. “I suppose that’s still being determined. I haven’t heard you play yet.”
I swallowed. Screw etiquette. Maybe Noah Kincaid was my guardian angel. “Okay. I guess—I mean, if you’re really okay with helping me out, then okay. I’d appreciate it.AndI’d still owe you one. No arguments.”
He sent me another half smile before standing and slinging his messenger bag over one shoulder.
“Good choice. Come on. We can study in the music room.” He walked off without a backward glance.
“Wait, we’re starting right now?” I called after him. I winced when I summoned Slade’s reproachful glare.
I lagged behind, slowly packing up my things and having trouble believing what’d just happened.
* * *
The music room’s ugly orange couch was surprisingly cozy as California’s warm sunlight filtered through large windows. I made myself at home on one side of the sofa, and Noah took the other.
The hour we’d usually dedicate to our project quickly passed with Noah explaining the basics, but he didn’t once make me feel stupid for not knowing something.
Then lunch came and went, and neither of us made any move to leave. He didn’t mention having to leave for any classes, and I happily skipped Philosophy.
I wasn’t the best student, but Noah was an amazing teacher. When I got distracted, he played a piece on the piano that related to the text. When the text wasn’t clear, he explained things in a way I could understand. And when I felt like my brain was going to implode from overstimulation, he even called a coffee break. Noah was nothing short of professional the entire time, but I couldn’t help falling just a little harder for him.
CHAPTER13
A Text
Dear Diary,
I think Noah was sent to this world to kill me. It’s been one week since he started helping me study, and my normal evening life of bingeing crime shows and playing the coffee café game on my phone is now a distant dream.
The guy is a studying machine, and his determination rivals that of a bull. Honestly, I should be honored that he’s putting this much effort into my academics.
We met up every day to go over all the piano terms and practices I’d never bothered to learn. He even made me go to Blaise’s study session on Thursday before deciding he could do better just teaching me himself. And what did his teaching involve?
Flash cards.
Lots and lots of flash cards. I see them in my dreams.
