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“I mean, the NFL scouts sure think so,” I replied, trying to joke, but her face immediately fell flat, and I very quickly learned that was the wrong move.
“I want to make this clear. I will never help you.” The venom she used to spit the words out surprised me because this was more of a reaction than I was used to getting from people. I was the quiet kid, who just liked to listen to Country music and play football, but the way she was glaring at me, you'd have me think I was Aiden Matthews, and I’d left her hanging after a one-night stand. “It wasn’t enough that you mocked my clothes.”
“I wasn't making fun of them. I was admiring them.”
Again, the wrong thing to say. Those pressed lips turned into a frown.
“You called me a slut immediately after.”
My brow furrowed because I was trying to think back on every single conversation we had, but couldn't once remember the word 'slut' falling out of my mouth. “I never called you a slut. I would never say that about a woman.”
“Really?” She tutted out, stepping in my direction. She looked down at her toes and then leveled her eyes at me. “Because calling someone a jersey chaser is pretty much the same thing.”
Jersey chaser?
“That was when I thought you were just using the tutoring as an opportunity to date me.”
“Do you realize how arrogant you sound?” She huffed out an annoyed breath and pulled her laptop closer to her chest. “If you can't figure that out, then I'm no help to you, anyway.”
“Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Had I known you were the best tutor on the planet, I would have lined the library with golden books and bowed at your entrance. You are everything I need. I was just tired of people wasting my time, and now I'm wasting more time trying to convince you I'm not the bad guy you think I am. All I want to do is work hard and give my family some great opportunities. If I don't find the right tutor, then I'll have no way of doing any of that.”
Nothing about that admittance was said to change her mind, but she looked somewhat hesitant to move when I finished my spiel, and I felt like I’d metaphorically dropped my pants. Not only had I nearly told her about my sister, but I pretty much admitted to feeling like a failure and her being my last hope.
“I’m sorry. I've got to go.”
And there we had it. Even laying my heart on my sleeve wasn't enough to thaw hers. I'd really screwed up, and maybe it was time I started admitting defeat.
Chapter 6
As I rushed down campus, I refused to look back because I didn’t want to goad Tanner into following me any further. How the hell was I supposed to respond to that? He was one knee on the ground, short ofbeggingme to help him, and I still couldn’t bring myself to say yes.
Was I being petty now?
Sure, there were a few rumors and funny jokes about me trying to get with multiple athletes after that stunt he pulled in the library, but everyone had pretty much forgotten about it now. Well, the whole Tanner part of it. There were still a few annoyed grumbles over the Connor situation, but I tried to quell those as much as I could.
Glancing over my shoulder, I checked to see if Tanner was still following me. When I didn’t see his luscious, yes it was luscious no matter how annoying he was, hair I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he’d finally gotten the message.
My feet slowed as I entered the quad because I heard the loudest, most obnoxious cackle echoing around the walls. Unfortunately, I knew almost instantly who it belonged to, and I held my breath as though it would render me invisible.
Rachel Hardman.
The girl I was doing my best to avoid because my mom would just love me to become besties with her so I could join her sorority with no questions asked. Rachel held the keys and had been dangling them my way since freshman year. I’d just never had the inclination to take them before.
I hadn’t spoken to her since I found her sitting on Connor’s lap at a party a month ago, and I didn’t plan on speaking to her now. She had two sorority friends on either side of her, but I had no idea who they were. Therefore, they’d forever be known as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb in my eyes.
Looking around the enclosed garden, I tried to figure out if there was a way that I could change direction or sneak around them before they noticed me. Unfortunately, this part of the quad was surrounded by hedges and walls. I couldn’t go back the way I came either, because I’d run the risk of running into Tanner again, and I couldn’t stand to watch him begging.
Therefore, I had no option but to go past them.
Fine.
I dropped my head, cursing myself for wearing a bun today because it made it impossible to cover my face. As I tiptoed past the girls, Rachel was talking so loudly and animatedly that I was almost certain I was home free.
“Aster,” Rachel cooed, her hand waving in the air to get my attention even though her voice was loud like a foghorn, and I was only a few feet away from her.
I stopped, took in a deep breath, and plastered on a wide, fake grin, knowing that it would be enough to fool her. “Rachel,” I drawled out, doing my best to match her syrupy tone.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” She asked with wide eyes.
