Page 57 of Fighting Fate

I smile, a bit lost for words. "Thanks, Mrs. Raker, but I can see the time. There's a clock right there."

"You've been waiting a while, I see," she continues, her voice filled with a hint of curiosity.

I don't mind her chatter; it's a distraction from what's really eating at me. Has it been ten minutes yet?

I shrug nonchalantly, trying to appear casual. "Yeah, just wanted to make sure I wasn't late. Missed a session last week, so..."

She widens her smile a bit, letting out a subtle, "Hmm," almost as if she senses there's more to the situation. And just maybe, there is...Perhaps I simply want to catch up with Milli and have a casual chat.

Yeah, right, Miles. Keep telling yourself that.

My eyes drift back to Milli. I watch how her face brightens when the guy next to her grasps whatever concept she's explaining. The gentle way she touches his arm, her excitement over the subject so genuine and passionate. It's fucking adorable, undeniably so, and I find myself wishing I was on the receiving end of her attention.

Soon enough, Miles.

Mrs. Raker's voice snaps me back to reality. "Smart to be early, I suppose."

I raise an eyebrow, curious about her tone. She chuckles, as if privy to a private joke. "Milli's been a bit on edge. She has no idea you're the one she's tutoring."

That's a surprise. Don't tutors usually know who they're tutoring ahead of time? Mrs. Raker, reading my confusion, explains, "Your name wasn't on the initial schedule. Coach Kreft added you last minute."

Awh, Coach knows I need a tutor.

"Yes," she confirms, tapping her temple knowingly. I chuckle—typical. Coach always has his finger on the pulse, not just about the game, but about us, his players, ensuring we're covered both on and off the field.

"Right," I respond with a nod of understanding.

She wishes me luck and heads off, but not before praising Milli's tutoring, especially given her dyslexia. Yeah, Milli's incredible, no doubt about that. And that's exactly why I need to steer clear of complicating things between us.

Miles, that ship has sailed.

Letting out a sigh, I take a seat close by, intending to dive into my medical school applications. However, it's a lost cause. My focus keeps getting hijacked by this guy who's now just blatantly ogling Milli's chest...Seriously, what the hell? As he finally gets up to leave, there's this brief exchange...the way he looks at her ignites a fury within me that's hard to tamp down.

"Same time next week?" he asks.

Milli gives him a genuinely charming smile, and an all-too-familiar feeling starts to stir within me. Jealousy. It's not the first time I've felt this intense, unsettling emotion. My stomach twists into knots, my throat dries up whenever I see her interacting with some other guy on campus. And whenever Luke casually brings up at home how Milli can't stop talking about how great Wyatt is, it's the same story—that sharp, uncomfortable feeling.

Holding her phone, she aims it at the guy. "Sure, just text me if you need any help during the week." The guy smirks and locks eyes with me, a challenge in his gaze. "I'll definitely take you up on that offer."

Inside, I bristle at his words.

What am I even thinking? Milli isn't mine, nor is she off-limits. She's free to text or hang out with whoever she pleases. Yet, I can't shake this growing irritation, and it's driving me nuts.

Catching my gaze, Milli's expression softens. "Hey, what's up?" she asks. I'm on the verge of making a smart remark about the sky, but she continues before I can. "God, this week has been brutally exhausting, right? And, dance, well, this week's practice is just killing me."

That catches me off guard. Just moments ago in the library, she seemed so composed while tutoring, but that's Milli for you—she's an expert at hiding her true feelings. Sometimes she's an open book, emotions worn plainly for all to see. Yet, at other times, like now, she takes me by surprise with the depth of what she's feeling underneath that composed exterior.

She continues, "You'd think I'd be used to a busy schedule by now. I'm up at 5:00 am for dance, then it's a rush to classes—no time even for a shower," she says, scrunching her nose in a way that's just too cute. "My days are packed with classes, then back to dance, and after that, these tutoring sessions."

She exhales a deep, weary sigh. "You know, tutoring on a Sunday wasn't really in my plans. But when Mrs. Raker mentioned they needed someone for this slot, what choice did I have?" She shrugs, a hint of resignation in her voice. "Sundays are usually my downtime."

A small smile finds its way onto my face. There's something about Milli's selflessness that always gets to me. Despite juggling a schedule that's already packed to the brim, she doesn't hesitate to squeeze in more—not just for her own sake, but to lend a hand to others. It's one of the many things about her that I've always admired.

Shaking her head, she adds with a tad bit of frustration, "Plus, this 'special' student better be punctual. He's already thrown off my schedule. I only found out I was tutoring him when I started the job. And I don't even know what makes him so 'special'."

And as for being "special"—just because I battled cancer as a kid doesn't define me. I just need to catch up on my studies. That doesn't make me any less capable. But that's a thought for another time.

As she tidies up the table, I listen to her vent. She's really fucking cute when she's like this, her lips moving rapidly as she speaks, her frustration almost tangible.

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