Page 45 of Only With You

“So you guys weren’t seen getting coffee together or leaving Liquid.” Anger flares in her eyes despite the friendliness she tries to exude.

“I’m not sure what you saw or heard, but it’s not what it looks like. And I don’t need to explain myself to you.” I go to leave, but she grabs my arm.

“I see what this is.” She lets go of my arm, clicking her tongue. Her gaze swipes over me in a condescending way. “You want to live out thatfantasyof yours.”

My breath gets caught.

Sienna smirks, cocking her head to the side. “Since you want to live this disturbing fantasy of yours, you should try the football team next. Maybe a train is up your alley. Since you’re all into being used. Have fun.” She turns, waving me goodbye.

My stomach plummets, regret and mortification washing over me. If I could take back everything I said to her, I would in a heartbeat.

I bite the inside of my cheek and force myself to move even though my legs feel like they’ve been cemented on the ground.

I’ve decided I’m going to ask Landon to tutor me.

After my conversation with Sienna earlier today, I asked myselfwhat else do I have to lose? My dignity is hardly intact, so who cares about my pride?

The only thing that matters is that I pass, make Dad proud and hopefully along the way, I can make Mom proud as well. I don’t know how I’ll accomplish that, but one step at a time.

As soon as I got home from my Chapter meeting, I thought over everything and started writing down how we’d make it work.

Basketball season starts next month, but hopefully, he’ll be able to spare a day or two of his busy schedule. I’m also willing to work around his schedule. I can move my days around at the museum, except for Sunday mornings with my students.

My music class is something I look forward to, so that’s the only day I’m not willing to give up.

He’d have to agree to want to tutor me, but after I tell him how much I’ll pay him, surely, he will.

If he does agree, I’m going to put him on a two-week trial. The girls keep insisting he’s unquestionably smart, and I don’t think they’d lie, but I still need to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth.

Now I wait for him to arrive. After I made up my mind, I asked Polly to invite him over.

I’m glad the girls aren’t here. Otherwise, they’d see me pacing the threshold of the living room. They’d also see me talking to myself, listing the pros and cons.

I shouldn’t feel anxious. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ll be talking to Landon. But it’ll be the first time I’ll be seeing him since Saturday, all because I’ve been avoiding him. Not that it matters. I’m sure he didn’t realize I was doing that. Knowing him, he probably forgot I was living here. He said that to me once.

The knock at the door brings me to a staggering stop and my heart rate spikes. My palms become cold and clammy, and my stomach furls with nerves.

Breathe.I remind myself as I open the door.

“Oh, it’s you,” is how he greets me.

“Yes, it’s me. Come in.”

But he doesn’t. He stands outside the door, staring at me, perplexed. “They’re not here. Are they?”

Here goes nothing.

“No, I asked Polly to invite you over because I need to talk to you.”

His eyebrows shoot up, but then his eyes narrow with caution. “About?”

“Can you come in?” I pull the door wider and motion for him to come in.

With a sigh, he lowers his head a bit to come inside because he’s insanely tall. He does that a lot, and I kind of feel for him.It must be uncomfortable for him to have to accommodate the most basic things like doors and such.

I take a seat on the couch as he closes the door and slips his shoes off. I think through everything I planned to say, but once he sits in front of me, my mind goes blank.

“Are you going to talk?”

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