Page 26 of Tutored By the Smart Girl

“Adison.” She turns to me. “You heard Pat. They don’t want anyone outside until they can make sure everything’s safe. You’re gonna have to spend the night here.”

She nods. “I know. I already texted my roommate.”

Adison shines her cell phone around my room until it lands on a chair by the window. “I’ll just sleep over in that chair.” She points the light to my clunky side chair I bought at a secondhand store that’s piled with my books, some football gear, a small cooler, and a shoebox.

She hands me her cell phone. “Can you shine your cell phone over here so I can clear away some of this stuff?”

I grin. “Sweetheart, that chair isn’t very friendly. It doesn’t mind holding my gear, but it isn’t fit for holding humans.”

She sits down precariously on the arm of the swivel rocker and the chair wobbles and groans its disapproval.

She hops up. “Yikes.”

“Sorry. That chair has a list of victims.”

“Maybe I can put a few blankets down on the floor and make a bed. I don’t mind?—”

“Sweetheart, I’m not letting you sleep on the hard floor. Don’t be ridiculous.” I pat the space beside me. “Come on, you can sleep up here. I can be a good boy.”

A flutter of guilt passes through me. She’s so innocent and adorable.

And I’m not sure if she wants a good boy or…

A bad one.

9

Adison

He’s right. There’s no way I can sleep in that rickety old chair and the hardwood floor — even with a blanket— would be uncomfortable.

I’m not afraid of Rush. I’m more afraid of myself.

I’ve made it a rule that I don’t date the students assigned to me. I’ve had some good-looking guys I’ve tutored, but I’ve never had this sort of feeling— about any of my students or any guy for that matter. There’s just something about him— about when I’m with him. Rush is a magnetic force that I’m drawn to, as if by instinct. He’s attractive, charming, and a good listener. He checks all the boxes that I never knew I had created in my head.

And how does he always smell so damned good?

There’s no way I’m getting back to the dorm anytime soon, so I may as well make myself comfortable on Rush’s bed and try to get some sleep.

Rush grabs a crutch leaning against the wall and makes his way to the bathroom. I hear the toilet flush, the water run in the sink, and he returns to the room. He makes a stop by his dresser and offers me an oversized T-shirt. I gladly accept it and make my way to the bathroom to change. The shirt is loose and hangsalmost to my knees. I consider leaving my shorts on but decide to take them off. I do leave my panties on but remove my sports bra. By the time I get back into the bedroom, Rush is under the blankets. I can barely make out his bare chest.

I adjust my pillows and lay on top of the comforter.

He chuckles. “You’re gonna be a lot more comfortable under the blankets, you know.”

I get my pillows the way I like them. I lay down on my back and fold my arms across my chest. “Nope. I’m good.”

“At least get a blanket.” He shines his cell phone toward the closet. “There’s an extra blanket on the top shelf. Left side.

I find the quilt and bring it back to the bed.

“My gram made that for me.”

I snuggle under the soft cotton. “Yeah? That was nice of her.”

We’re quiet. The only sound is the howling of the wind and the pelting rain hitting the window. A few sirens can be heard in the distance.

I close my eyes, but sleep won’t come. I stare at the window as the rain makes mesmerizing patterns on the glass.

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