Maybe I need to get laid, if that’ll help me avoid thirsting over the guy I’m tutoring. Even though I’m avoiding any risk of murky involvement prior to going home, my self-imposed protection plan won’t do much if I slip up otherwise—one and done, to give my overactive emotions no chance of latching on.
“Okay, I’m thinking we can go over your next module and then review the written task you have due tomorrow?” I suggest, snapping back to the task at hand, and Nick saunters over, nodding once.
“Sounds good.” He deposits himself in the seat next to me at the table, flicking through his textbook, and the pages waft a breeze over that makes my hair fall onto my forehead.
I need to get a haircut. For practical reasons, and not because Nick’s short hair looks way too neat in comparison.
Someone needs to run their hands through it and scruff it up real nice.
“Right! Okay, module seven!” I say with way too much urgency. “Now you’ll learn how to tell the time.”
“Aww shit.” He slumps over the table. “I can barely do that in English.”
His joke draws a laugh out of me, and without thinking, I playfully shove his shoulder. “Give yourself some credit, man. You were on time today.”
“Hell yeah. I’ll take it.” He pumps his fist, and that smile, coupled with how he’s undoingeverythinghe messed up on last week, makes my heart go inconveniently soft.
I move his textbook between us and straighten the pages, in need of yet another distraction. “Alright, let’s get to it.”
Nick and I fly through the short module, and we’re way ahead of schedule when the front door flies open, making meinstinctively tilt my head up. A guy, who I assume is Nick’s roommate, walks in, dropping a gym bag to the floor and giving us an upward nod, which Nick returns.
“Sup, Nicky,” the guy says, running a hand through his fluffy blond hair. Nick’s face sours at the nickname, and I purse my lips to hold back a snicker. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is my buddy Dean. He’s tutoring me in Chinese.”
We’re buddies? That’s fast, but I’m not gonna complain.
“And Dean, this guy is my roommate Jeremy. We’re both on the baseball team.”
Yeah, I could tell the guy is some kind of athlete, too. Holy biceps. I catch myself staring and snap out of it, only to lock eyes with Jeremy seconds later, who’s doing the exact same thing to me.
Interesting.
“Nice meeting you, Dean,” he says, his voice a little quieter than before. Then he turns to Nick. “Bro, why the hell are youonlyfriends with hot people? You’re like, discriminating at this point.”
And then Jeremy winks at me.
Oh, is heflirting?
Bold man.
Nick scoffs. “Come on, man. Take a look at yourself, and you’ll prove that little theory very wrong.”
Jeremy clutches his chest as if Nick drove a dagger through his heart. “Well, we aren’t friends anymore, so mylittle theorystill stands.”
I narrow my eyes and lift my head toward Jeremy, catching his gaze as it tracks along my seated body. Again.
Yup, this guy is interested.
Would it be rude if I cut our session short so I can hook up with Nick’s roommate?
Definitely. I push the intrusive thought out of my head; joke-flirting back isn’t nearly as rude, though.
“I’m with you, man,” I say. “Nick’s got hot friends, and you’re Exhibit A.” And for effect, I return Jeremy’s wink, exaggeratinga little. Blond, himbo-y men aren’t exactly my type, but I wouldn’t turn him down if we were both being serious.
And if doing so wouldn’t get messy, with how often I’m tutoring Nick.
Andif I didn’t have to tutor Nickright now.
