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Maybe I would get lucky, and Maddox wouldn't realize who I was until this was all over.
TWENTY-FOUR
ADDISON
Staring down at the outdated off-white office phone on my desk, I gritted my teeth. Four years ago, I left to get away from this exact situation, and now, this time, I couldn't run. I could transfer, but my life was established here, and I wouldn't let them do that to me again. That video going viral could ruin my future because once it was out on the World Wide Web there was no containing it. Who would want to hire a porn star?
Wrapping my fingers around the phone, I squeezed the handle tightly as I placed it against my ear before hitting Chance's number.
"Hey," he said, picking up after the first ring. "I was just thinking about you." He sounded like he was in a better mood. I wished I could say the same for myself.
"All good, I hope," I said, trying to match his energy.
"Always," he said. "You have good news for me, I hope?"
"Yeah." I forced a smile even though he couldn't see it. "I thought about it and decided to clear my schedule to work with Maddox."
"That's great, Addison," he said, not sounding surprised. He knew I'd do anything for him, so this probably wasn't a shock. "When can you start?"
"When do you need me to start?"
"We have an away game this week. I assume you'll be traveling with us?"
"Yep," I said, rolling my eyes. "Whatever Maddox needs, I'm here." My stomach churned, and my fists clenched as the words rolled out.
"Perfect." I could hear his smile through the phone. "Bus leaves at noon. Don't be late."
"See you tomorrow," I said before slamming the phone against the base hard enough to send pieces of it flying across the room. "Shit." I dropped my face into my hands.
"Addison," a soft voice called from the doorway. I blinked up to see Kelsey Peterson, one of our newest tutors, standing in the doorway. I forced a smile because I was afraid I might cry if I opened my mouth. "Ashlyn called out sick, and she had an appointment now. We are all booked. Can you take her?"
"Yes." I nodded, still forcing a smile. "Send her my way when she gets here."
"She's here." Kelsey smiled, waving the girl in, and when Maddy Taylor walked through my office door, I thought my head might explode, but before I could protest, Kelsey was gone.
"I can't do this with you today, Maddy," I muttered, rubbing my forehead. "You'll have to reschedule." I turned to grab my office phone to call Kelsey back before remembering it was broken. "I'll have Ashlyn contact you once she's back."
"Addy," Maddy begged. "Please."
"It's Addison," I reminded her. Maddy and I had only spoken a handful of times since she started needing tutoring, but it had been enough times for her to remember that I went by Addison now.
"Sorry, Addison, please," she pleaded. "I need help today, or I will fail my anatomy test in the morning. If I fail, I'll be benched the next game, which is also tomorrow." She clenched her books tighter to her chest. "Please!"
Maddy was here on a cheer scholarship; if she failed, she would also lose her scholarship, and I knew how scary that could be, but it also wasn't my problem.
"I can't help you."
"Can't or won't?"
I shrugged. I'd always been professional when it came to Maddy and tutoring because it was my job, and Maddy had tried to apologize several times for her behavior in high school, but today, I was over all of them—Asher, Maddox, and Maddy.
"Look, I know you don't owe me anything, and honestly, if I were you, I would tell me to fuck off. But I really need your help, and I wouldn't ask if you weren't the only one available."
Blowing out a heavy sigh, I slumped back in my chair. "I have an hour," I muttered, pointing to the round table in my office. "Have a seat."
"Thank you." She smiled, sliding into one of the chairs.
Maddy and I worked on Anatomy I, Chapter 2, Cells and Tissue, for over an hour before I realized what time it was.
