Page 34 of Hate to Love You

Her look is skeptical.

“All right, all right, there is something you could do,” I finally admit. “I could use a little of your expertise in our finance class.”

Her brows draw together. Like I’ve thrown her a real curveball. “You want my help?”

“Yup.”

“You mean like tutoring?” she clarifies as if I might be suggesting something far more nefarious.

My muscles tense. I don’t make a habit of discussing my grades. Reed’s words echo unwantedly in my head. He’s dumber than a bag of bricks. It won’t take long for him to bore you. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before, but still…it picks at a scab. It sucks that people assume I’m stupid because I struggle. It takes some effort to loosen the tension rolling through my shoulders so I can shrug casually. “Yeah, something like that. I have a C right now. If it drops below that, I’ll get benched, and I can’t afford for that to happen. Especially this season. I’m just trying to be proactive.”

She watches me silently. “Let me get this straight. We’ll pretend to date so people won’t talk about me. In exchange, you’d like some help with a class.”

“Two classes,” I admit reluctantly. “The other three, I’m holding my own in,” I add, not wanting her to think I’m a total dumbass. They’re solid B’s. I’m not worried about them.

The way she stares leaves me feeling stripped bare. Like she sees more than I want her to. More than I’m comfortable with. I shift on the seat, trying not to squirm under the heavy weight of her gaze. “Why don’t you make an appointment at the tutoring center on campus?”

I glance away. “I’d prefer not to do that. You know what it’s like around here. I don’t need the hassle.”

“You could hire a private tutor,” she suggests, apparently trying to wiggle out of our agreement.

“I am.” I grin. “And you get to be paid with my winning personality. Don’t you feel lucky?”

She takes a sip of water and mulls over my proposal. “I don’t know…”

“There’s something else I can throw in to sweeten the deal,” I interject before I can think better of it.

Her eyes narrow. I don’t think I’ve ever had a female look at me with so much distrust and derision. I’m used to adoration and longing.

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” she mutters under her breath.

I clear my throat knowing that I’m already skating on thin ice. It won’t take much to push her away, and then I’ll be screwed. And not in a good way either. “Just hear me out on this, okay?”

A jolt of awareness slices through me as her wary eyes fasten onto mine.

Chapter Twelve

Brody

“Your inexperience…I can help with that.”

Natalie pokers up in her seat as if someone just rammed a two-by-four up her ass. Her mouth falls open, and I have the feeling she’s about to blast me into next week when Bev sets our plates down in front of us.

“Careful, they’re hot.” As if sensing the tension, her gaze bounces cautiously between us.

I give her a nervous smile, praying that Natalie doesn’t flip her lid. I like this place. I’d hate to avoid it from here on out. I don’t take my eyes off the girl sitting across from me. “Thanks. Everything looks great.”

“No problem, hon. Anything else I can get for either of you?”

Natalie doesn’t say a word.

“Nope, we’re good. Thanks.” I just want to hurry her along before Natalie explodes.

Once Bev is out of earshot, Natalie leans over her plate of fries and growls, “I’m not discussing my lack of sexual experience with you!”

“Hey.” I hold up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “Settle down. I’m not trying to embarrass you. All I’m saying is that I can help.” I’m trying to play it cool. Like I really don’t care. But make no mistake, I do care. More than I want to admit. “If you’re interested.”

The fact that Natalie doesn’t have much sexual knowledge probably shouldn’t turn me on, but it does. I learned early on to steer clear of girls who lacked experience. They’re the ones who equate sex to a relationship, which translates into needy and clingy.

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