Page 58 of Only With You

“The funniest.” His reply is just as dry as my comment.

We stare at each other for a beat too long, and as I ponder over my next comeback, a strange cloud that settles over us derails me.

It comes out of nowhere and I find myself getting carried away by it. No, not it,himand that intense, consuming look in his eyes. Something hauls me deeper, dragging me to the depth of his abysmal steel gray eyes.

Then it happens again. Like earlier in the kitchen, my gaze veers to his lips.

My heart rate dangerously spikes, sending my thoughts to skitter all over the place. I try to gather them all, but I only catch one. It’s the one I don’t want to think about, the one I’m trying to pretend doesn’t exist.

It unnerves me in a way that leaves me feeling immensely flustered inside, but it’s enough to help me look away, taking the strange cloud with it.

“All right, let’s see if I’m getting my money’s worth.”

My jab doesn’t have the effect I was hoping it would have on me. For a second, it did. I felt proud, but now my mind spirals with how stupid he’s about to realize I really am. He knows I failed, but doesn’t know the extent to how badly I suck at math.

I’ve mentally prepared for the onslaught of smart-ass comments he’s about to make, the patronizing looks, but now it feels like I didn’t prepare enough. I can take all of his snarky remarks, but this is where I draw the line. I should’ve found a different tutor.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t care what he thinks, because I never do, but I can’t help but feel self-conscious.

“You know what”—pushing my chair back, I stand and gather all my stuff—“I don’t want to waste your time. You already have a lot going on with basketball and your classes. You don’t needto add tutoring to your agenda. I’ll be fine studying on my own. Sorry that I wasted your time coming here. I’ll still pay you for today, so don’t worry about?—”

He wraps his large palm around my wrist, bringing my rambling and packing to a stop.

“Sit down.” Those two words are sharp, leaving no room for me to argue.

With a firm tug, he gets me to sit down and grabs my laptop, opening it back up. He squeezes my wrist, the rough pads of his fingers digging into my skin, but not in a way it hurts or that I hate. I peek down, staring at the stark contrast between the size of our hands.

“Look at me.” And I do. “I’m already here, so use me.”

I flick to his hand again before he removes it and pushes my laptop closer to me. Feeling a bit at ease, I log into Canvas, clicking the Calculus II tab.

“What is he teaching you right now?”

The corners of my lips unintentionally quirk up. “Taylor’s formula.”

He cocks an unimpressed brow, staring at me like he knows what I’m thinking. “Something funny?”

I shake my head because I’ve decided I’m going to keep the peace. At least for today, but in true Landon fashion, he doesn’t let up.

“It’s funny how you always start something, but never finish. Must be a recurring theme for you, huh?” He goads me, but it also feels like a jab and an innuendo all in one.

I wanted to maintain the peace. And I thought he wanted that too, but I should’ve known Landon lives to stir shit up.

“It’s funnyI find both it and you to be boring, unimpressive, and hard to understand.”

He rests and interlocks his arms on the table, leaning forward. “Come here, I want to tell you something.”

I shouldn’t but…

Leaning forward, I mirror his posture. Our elbows brush against each other, but neither one of us does anything to move them.

“I’m here.” I don’t know why it leaves in a whisper. The girls are working. It’s not like they’ll overhear us.

“Boring, unimpressive, and hard to understand, yet I managed to get you tocome, just like that.” The most infuriating smirk curls on his lips, causing an indent on his right cheek.

I try to think of something witty to say, but unfortunately, I have nothing. I’m left staring at his stupid dimple and trying to force the heat—that came out of nowhere—on my cheeks to cool down.

“Whatever,” I lamely quip, adding space between us.

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