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I shook my head, adamant. This was not how I saw my day going, hanging out with a geeky engineering boy who couldn't put two and two together and come up with anything but the right answer. Blonde hair, coated in sweat, licked my face.
I flicked my ponytail out of the way. "Nope. No way. I'm not doing this."
I didn't say anything, the newcomer and Fleix watching me curiously as I packed up my stuff. I made a show of hugging Felix, then limped away, trying to put pressure on my throbbing joint but it refused to play ball.
Halfway across the giant lawn between the sports areas and the lecture halls, I realized the engineering guy walked at my side, shortening his stride to keep up with my limping gait.
Hoping I could ignore him, I plowed on, maintaining my regular tunnel vision in an effort to get to class, plant my ass and wrap the ice pack around my ankle. That tactic worked right up until he spoke.
"You know, I'm passing that class better than you are."
I started, flicking a glance sideways. "What?"
"You, Chloe Duke, are failing worse than me, and neither of us are because we’re not smart. You can't remain the tennis champion if you're failing, and if you change degrees in the middle of your second year, it's gonna mean your studies will eat your tennis career in the best years of your life and blahdy blah. College politics will ensue, and there goes your chance at a grand slam in the next year or so. Capisce?"
"And you, a kid who’s failing, is gonna help me?" I sneaked another look at him.
Kidwasn’t really apt. He stood slightly taller than six feet, though he slouched as he walked, I suspected, to look less...maybe just less. At least closer to my height. Close up, his high cheekbones and face scruff made him look a little less dirty and a whole lot sexy.
Time and a place, Duke.
He shook his head. “Any time, Chloe."
Fuck me. I hadn’t meant to say that aloud."Are you flirting with me?"
He shrugged, loping alongside me. Each long step kept him a little behind me, hiding his height, and maybe a few other things.
Being taller than me wasn’t impossible, but he was definitely over six feet to achieve that, and walking beside me I felt...daunted. And maybe a little curious. Definitely not interested. I had no time for that. My sister and Felix explicitly forbade dating, and after the last rounds I’d gone in the romance pool, I didn't have the energy to spare to be involved anyway.
I had no time, and....
"The college gave me everything on file. That provided me with everything Ididn'tneed to know about you.”
“Lucky you.” I picked up the pace, but it didn't deter him.
The guy sighed. "So, Chloe Duke. I made you a schedule.”
“You made me a schedule.” I didn’t bother to keep the incredulity out of my tone.
“Will you stop repeating everything I say?" His eyes sparkled as he sent me the cheeky kind of dirty grin that heated me from the inside out.
"Only if you start making sense." I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before opening them again, to find him staring at me, and that I'd stop walking. "I'm sorry. I just can't deal with any more schedules. I have a class at one. I have a coaching schedule. I have a meal schedule. I have a nutrition schedule. I have a water drinking fucking schedule. I do not also need a study schedule." I stared at him diffidently, trying for a second to grasp control of anything today.
I flicked my watch up in a show, making sure that the light glinted off his face. "My next class starts in four minutes. I better be there, if I don't want to fail." I put emphasis on the lastFtrying its best to turn into another version offucking, but it didn’t quite work out.
"Walk and talk. We’ve got time, Duke. And you'll like the schedule." He slid a laminated piece of paper into my hand, his fingers grazing mine.
They weren’t smooth, as I expected them to be, if I expected them to be anything at all.
I read the thing twice over, knowing my people pleasing tendencies were coming into play regardless how I felt, and hating myself a little bit more for it with each minute.
"Okay so tutoring during lunch in the cafeteria – is that even feasible? I won't be able to hear you and the curry is horrendous and I can't eat it on my other schedule. And then... What's this after practice twice a week? On Friday night.AndSaturday night. Frat parties?” My voice rose a notch and I didn’t have the ability to hide anything any longer. “Are you serious?"
He walked alongside me, his hand stuck in his pocket, no longer gripping his leather satchel strap.
"Yes, Chloe Duke. I promise, I didn't stalk you even a little bit. Your social life is well below the line, you're not getting the college experience, and if you want to beat your next opponent, according to my research, you need to do a little bit of loosening up." He grinned broadly, apparently pleased with himself.
"Are you doubling as a psych major as well as engineering?"
