AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did you know I’ve never received a grade that started with an A before?”
She pulled away so she could look me in the eye and the urge to kiss her was coursing through every fiber of my being. I should just do it. After last night, we’d more than made it official, but I didn’t want to get on her bad side by kissing in the library after such good news. “That’s incredible, Tanner. It’s…” She trailed off, the words failing her.
“It’s all thanks to you. You’ll never know how grateful I am that you agreed to tutor me.”
She laughed, pushing my chest. “You know. I don’t think you gave me much choice.”
“Well then, I’m glad you caved, because you’ve changed me. The way I study. The way I think about classes. The way I think about life. The way I think about girls.” I drawled that last sentence out, ending it with a smile because I liked looking at her. Well, let me rephrase that. I liked everything about her. She was strong, determined, and had her own mind. “Dare I say it, but you’ve somehow made this idiot of a jock love learning.” I winked, and she rolled her eyes, smacking me lightly on the chest before giggling. I’d never heard her giggle before. It was light, airy, and I wanted to bottle it up and keep it to myself.
“Hey, don’t put yourself down like that. You aren’t dumb. The only reason you’re doing so well is because of your work ethic. If you didn’t take on my suggestions or wanted it as much as you do, then you wouldn’t have gotten that grade. Congratulations. I’m so proud of you.”
She backed away from me again, and it took everything in me not to pull her back and steal a kiss from her. We were dating now, and I wanted to show that little fact off, but now that it was real, I wanted to make sure that it was good for her. Aster was awesome and anyone that couldn’t see that was blind.
“Can I take you out?” I blurted out before regretting it instantly because she frowned and took a step away from me. Maybe we weren’t as clear cut as I thought.
“You want to take me out?” Her voice was laced with confusion.
“That’s normally what happens when you’re dating a girl.”
“Dating?” She swallowed, her voice going a little high.
I ran a hand through my hair and let out a light chuckle, trying to ease the tension in the room. “Yeah, after the football field, I thought that was pretty much a given. Are you having second thoughts?”
“No. It’s just, uh, I’m surprised you want to take me on a date.”
“Why?”
She lifted one shoulder with a shrug. “I don’t know. I just didn’t think people in college went on dates.”
“Well,Ido, and I want to take you out to celebrate everything you’ve done for me. Will you let me? You deserve it.”
She was still, and I wanted to be the one nibbling at her bottom lip, not her.
“Why are you looking so confused?”
“Because I’ve never been on a date.”
“What about with that idiot Connor?”
She shook her head. “Nope. He said it was because he was always practicing for Hockey, but the more I think about it, the more I realize it was just because he wasn’t actually dating me. He just wanted me to think it so he could use me for his assignments.”
“That guy is a bigger idiot than I gave him credit for,” I gritted out.
She shrugged. “You live and learn. But I just wanted to say that I don’t do this to get recognition like that. I do this because I genuinely love seeing improvement in people who have found it impossible before.”
“I know, and I’m not asking you on a date because you’re my tutor. I’m asking you to come out and celebrate with me as my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?” Okay, she choked on the word. It almost made me want to laugh because she seemed so confused that I’d say that. I didn’t think she realized we were having the talk, or that I was determined to make her mine by the end of it.
I brushed my hand across her hip, wanting to bring her back to me. “Yeah, you know, I don’t just let anyone kiss me on the football field. How about you let meteachyou how you should be treated?” She rolled her eyes, pushing me away. “What do you say?”
“Fine.” She tried to make it sound reluctant, but she couldn’t hide the smile threatening to take over her lips.
I wrapped my arms around her. “Tanner. I’m technically at work.” She looked around nervously, almost forgetting that we were in an aisle that no one ventured down.
“Didn’t stop you spying on Rachel and that dude before.” I smirked, leaving a kiss on the side of her neck. I wanted to keep going, but she pushed me away playfully.
“Don’t remind me.”
