Page 11 of Tutored By the Smart Girl

4

Rush

Four weeks into our tutoring sessions and I’m still not sure where I’ve seen Adison Miller. It’s driving me crazy.

I’ve asked my teammates, and no one’s ever heard of her. She doesn’t play sports, she doesn’t belong to a sorority. And, according to her, football is a game for an archaic species with underdeveloped brains.

Archaic species? Damn.

Not quite sure how to take that. I should probably be insulted, but it’s amusing. She’s so damned cute, I let it slide. Sometimes she comes off all shy and reserved, and other times, she’s completely outspoken.

I’ve made every one of my tutoring sessions. On time— even if it meant running across campus after practice. After her first admonishment, who would be late? She reminds me after every session “My time is important. I cannot reiterate enough how your promptness not only helps you achieve your goals but also allows me time to assist other students.”

Every.

Fuckin’.

Time.

Like some memorized speech.

When I saw her yesterday, I said the words right along with her as she was saying them. It totally annoyed the hell out of her. Seems to be something I like to do. She’s so sexy when she’s bothered. She comes off trying to act like I don’t get under her skin, but I know I do. And I love it. She plays her hand close to her chest. It took me nearly four weeks to finally convince her to give me her phone number.

Last week, the library had some water damage, and the tutoring rooms are unavailable for the rest of the semester. For the past week, we’ve been meeting at the local coffee shop, The Campus Cup.

I’m drawn to Adison. She’s smart, sexy, and she likes to tease me. It’s been two years, and this is the first time I’ve felt attracted to anyone since Evie snapped me in half. There’s nothing like returning from an away game and finding your dormmate boning your girlfriend.

I should’ve listened to my teammates. Especially Oliver Benjamin, but don’t call the guy Oliver. Unless you want to piss his ass off. He goes by Benji and will answer to Ollie. He’s kind of the man whore of our group. He’s never had a girlfriend but has slept his way through the campus. He claims he isn’t going to get attached to any one woman while he’s here. The guy is a total heartbreaker but swears before he gets involved with any woman, she knows the score. He rarely does second dates or second hook-ups. His entourage doesn’t seem to notice though.

I shake the memory of Evie from my head.

I’m early as I slide into the red, worn leather of the well-used booth. The antiquated high wooden backs provide a secluded atmosphere, which is perfect for studying. My ass sinks into the seat where many of the students have been seated before me. Although I have my books open in front of me, I’m having a hard time focusing on math.

She arrives. Promptly, of course. She slides into the seat across from me. She checks her watch.

“You’re early.”

I nod. “I am.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I check the screen and see it’s my dad calling me again. I send the call to voicemail.

Adison’s eyebrows raise. “You need to take that?”

I shake my head. “Nah.”

Adison seems so authentic—so real. I feel like I’m living a lie. Sometimes I feel like the only thing that’s gotten me where I am is because I’m Kip Radcliffe’s son. A chip off the old block. If my folks found out about the math tutor, I’d probably get a big lecture. Reminded that I’m not living up to my potential.

Adison interrupts my thoughts. “Hey, you still with me?”

“Sure.”

“How’d you do on the test?”

“I got 82 percent.” I shrug. “Not great, but an improvement, I guess.”

Her face lights up. “An improvement indeed. Nice work, Mr. Radcliffe.” She raises her hand, and we share a high-five. Her hand dwarfs mine and her skin is soft. She throws her long hair over her shoulder and the aroma of vanilla fills my senses.

She always smells so good.

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