AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I flopped back onto my bed and took a deep breath. At least I didn’t tell her about how thick he was. That was the only saving grace. I checked my phone one last time before getting ready for bed and saw Tanner had left me a message.
Tanner:What a night. Can’t wait to see you on Friday, Teach.
Aster:I can’t wait to see you either.
I clutched the phone in my hand, grinning at myself. I didn’t know what was going to happen with Tanner moving forward, but I was excited to find out.
Chapter 12
Thea:You know, a heads up you were trying to sleep with someone in my dorm would have been nice.
Tanner:What are you talking about.
Thea:Aster. She was my friend first, but as I’m feeling generous, I’ll let you hang out with her.
Tanner:How very… kind.
Thea:But please, for the love of all things holy, don’t come up to her dorm for a booty call. Our walls are paper thin, and I just can’t handle it.
I shoved my phone in my pocket because even my sister’s complaining couldn’t get me out of my good mood. In fact, I was feeling so good; I was voluntarily heading to the library holding a piece of paper that changed everything.
When I opened the doors, Ralph was there, and he waved. I reluctantly gave him a wave back because, even though he screwed me over, he had fixed things. Didn’t mean I was willing to trust him anytime soon.
As I headed to Aster’s usual secluded table, I noticed she wasn’t there, but her bag was. She was in the library somewhere. I just needed to find her.
Walking down aisle after aisle, I couldn’t see her until I came to the final aisle on this floor. The aisle I lovingly referred to asour aisle.It was the aisle I found her in when she watched that dude get a blowjob from Rachel, and as unromantic as it sounded, it was special to me because it was the first time I’d held Aster close, and when I started to develop feelings for her.
I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw her. Right there, in the deep recesses ofouraisle, was Aster, leaning against a bookshelf and reading quietly to herself. She was so engrossed with her book; she hadn’t registered that I was standing there, watching her. But why would she? Today wasn’t our usual study session, and I hadn’t texted her since last night because I didn’t want to come across as too obsessed, too quickly. The reality of the situation was that I was interested in her the minute I saw her. My actions that day meant it was taking her a little longer to catch up.
Hopefully, the news I had to share with her might get her on the same page.
As much as I didn’t want to disrupt her because I always thought she looked so cute when she was concentrating, this news was important. Taking a few more steps, I dropped my bag onto the floor, letting it lean against the bookshelves as I snuck behind Aster. In one motion, I stretched my hands across her hips and rested my chin against her shoulder.
“Whatcha’ reading?” I whispered in her ear, and she instantly slammed her book shut, trying to hide the naked chest of a man that looked like he’d fallen out of the set of some regency era.
She jumped out of my arms like a frightened mouse and pushed the book into the bookshelf before I could really take it in. Like that would stop me reading the spine. “Tanner. What are you doing here?” She was flustered. Her face burned hot, and she was looking around, checking to see if anyone else was watching. Then she leaned her back against the bookshelf, strategically hiding the spine of her book. Well, played.
“I came here to see you, of course. Is there any other reason you’d spot me in here?”
She bit back her smile. “Well, considering you’re now becoming a lover of learning, who knows. You might be trying to check out one of the many wonderful books on these shelves.”
“As great as looking at all these books sounds, I’ve actually come here to give you some good news.” I took a step back. “But if I’m interrupting something, I can come back another time.”
“You weren’t interrupting anything. I’ve always got time for you.”
I gave her a side smirk. “Is that because I’m your favorite student?”
“You may have pulled ahead of the rest after last night. I’m not going to lie.” She dusted off her skirt as she said it, trying to make it seem like it wasn’t that big a deal. But I could see a little blush tinge on the side of her cheeks, and I knew what she was remembering, because I couldn’t get it off my mind either. “But I don’t have much time. I’ve got Alex coming for a tutoring session in about ten minutes.”
I rolled on the front of my toes and smiled. “I know, so I’ll keep it quick.”
With that, I lifted the piece of paper I’d been carrying and presented it to her. No words. I just let her take in the giantA-sprawled across it.
When she realized what it was, she snatched the paper out of my hand and squealed. “You got an A minus in your last economics quiz?”
“Yup. I don’t know what kind of voodoo you’re using but keep it coming.”
She bit down on her bottom lip, trying to hold back the smile I knew was bursting out of her. She loved to help people, and I could just tell she was happy about this. Without another word, she jumped into my arms, squeezing me tight. “Oh, Tanner.” Her voice was muffled because she was snuggled into my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you. Can you believe you achieved that after a month? Imagine what you’d be capable of after a few more.”
