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Bliss
India was right. Cuba and I are old news after a week. Granted, random females will glare at me on my way to class, but other than that, no one has said anything to me. Well, except Nick when I was getting coffee this morning. He seemed shocked that we were together, but he wished me the best of luck. I get that Cuba has never been in a relationship, he was a player, but everyone’s reaction is a little annoying. As if my boyfriend can’t be a good guy, when he isn’t being an asshole, he can be an actual decent guy.
I worry about him though. He hasn’t had another dream that I know of and if he did, he wouldn’t tell me. I knew Cuba being back on the basketball team would probably stir up some memories, but I didn’t think he would hold them inside. If he isn’t talking to me, then I hope he’s at least talking to his therapist. He has practice until six, and I have a session until around then, so I told him I would wait for him by his SUV.
My lucky client is a guy named Ryan Ellis, a student Professor Jax recommended to me already, the semester just started. So, either he really isn’t grasping it, or he just doesn’t care. I don’t know which one I’d rather deal with. Weaving through the library, I make my way to my room. It’s empty and I frown because I’m a few minutes late. Great, he’s probably going to be a no show. I’ll give him a few more minutes, I know how hard it could be to find the library if you never use it. Sitting down, I smile, not too long-ago Cuba and I were in here bickering with each other.
“Shit.” The door swings open. “Sorry, I’m late. I had to get out of practice early.”
Ryan is tall and tanned, with dark hair, darker eyes, and Colgate smile. He’s dressed in sweat pants and hoodie, his hair wet from a shower I guess.
I force a smile. “That’s okay. I’ll have to give you my number in case you’re running late in the next few weeks,” I tell him. “I’m Bliss, your tutor.”
I hold out my hand and he shakes it gently. “Ryan, thanks for taking me last minute, Jax said you were hard to get but you’re the best.”
Although, I wouldn’t call myself the best, I appreciated him saying that. “I try.” I wait for him to get settled across from me, pulling his laptop and book from his bag.
“Looks like you’re needing help on The Roman Empire.” I glance at my info sheet. “One of my favorite topics.”
He smiles. “According to Jax, History is your favorite topic.”
Nodding, I smile. “He is right. Mostly ancient history.” Pulling up the course material Jax sent to my email, I scan through it. “So, what can you tell me about Commodus?”
Ryan leans forward on his elbows. “He’s the first heir to the Roman Empire, usually the emperor would pick a man to succeed him, but Marcus Aurelius broke the tradition with his son.”
“So, you are definitely getting the material,” I say impressed. “Why are you here?”
He gives me a sheepish smile. “I get the gist of it, you know. It’s just the class is so early in the morning and sometimes practice runs late. Half of the time I daze off because I’m tired.”
I don’t want to tell him that if my boyfriend could do it then so could he, but at the same time, Cuba has mostly noon classes. Maybe next time Ryan should do the same.
“So, you would like to use our time more as a refresher then?” I ask. I don’t mind but that is easily something another tutor could do, and it would open me up for someone that actually needs help.
He nods. “Something like that.”
“I know a great tutor that could help you with that if that’s all you need, she could probably work better around your schedule with practice and everything.” I always like to give the option since he was late today.
“Nope.” He pats the table twice. “You are the best, who knows, I might even learn something else.”
Not sure what else I could teach him that Jax isn’t already. But I just smile and nod, no point in wasting time trying to change his mind. So, we jump into the last class lecture. For the most part, Ryan is getting it, but I can see where he is missing some information that would be vital for a test. Out of all the athletes that I have tutored, including my boyfriend, Ryan is the easiest. The only one in his way is himself, he just needs to move his classes to a time that works around his schedule. He gets the material and isn’t having problems with the timelines, which messes most students up.
By the end of our session, I think we both feel good about it. He responds well to positive feedback. We wrap things up and pack up our things. The library is nearly dead except for a few students. Ryan trails behind me quietly to the entryway.
A smile pulls at my lips when I see Cuba leaning against the wall, tapping away on his phone. He’s wearing all black, from his baseball cap to his hoodie down to his joggers and sneakers. His gym bag hangs on his shoulder. Damn, my man looks good.
Cuba looks up as we approach, and his eyes narrow in on Ryan. I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew each other.
“Baby,” he mummers as he walks up to me, his arm snaking around my hips, his head dipping to press a soft kiss against my lips.
My stomach flips. I’m still not used to this, used to us being together. I want to do a happy dance every time I see him.
“Hey,” I say against his lips and smile.
I almost forget Ryan is beside me until he fake coughs to get my attention. Taking a step back, I look to him.
“Ryan this Cuba, my boyfriend,” I tell him. “Cuba, Ryan.”
The air shifts a little and I’m not sure if it’s good or bad. It’s Ryan who says something first.
