Page 62 of Only With You

Because they adore Sienna, they’ll believe anything she says. So I wouldn’t put it past her to tell them I tried to take Landon away from her. I’m not sure how that’s possible when he has never been hers to begin with, but I digress.

I can’t begin to imagine what Sienna will think if she finds out Landon is tutoring me. That’s why I haven’t said anything to anyone but El. I hate drama and the last thing I want or need is more of it.

“If this were anyone else, I would believe it’sjusttutoring, but this isn’t just anyone. It’s Landon fucking Taylor.” She practically melts in her chair, sighing dreamily.

“Ewh, don’t say it like that.” I scrunch my nose, but the desired effect isn’t there like it usually is.

She gives me ayou’re full of shitlook. “Oh, come on, don’t pretend like you don’t see it. He’s fine as hell with beautiful hair. I know it. Everyone knows it. And you know it, too. He’s got thisI’ll fuck you up and you’ll like it, toolook.”

I keep my expression neutral, because the last thing I’ll ever admit to her or anyone out loud is that he’s fine as hell. As El so thoughtfully put it.

“Looks aren’t everything. He’s still an asshole,” I point out.

“Afine-looking asshole.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you’re in denial,” she quips.

I roll my eyes at that, but I don’t add anything else. Not that I have to, because El carries on, replying to my question I had hoped she would have forgotten.

“And I just thought you guys would have finally caved into your hatred and fucked it out of your systems.”

I almost laugh, because the probability of that ever happening is slim to none. We’ve managed to act like civilized adults when my roommates or his best friend are around. But it never lasts long. We’re not down each other’s throats as bad as we used to be, but we’re not singing each other’s praises either.

“El, this isn’t porn. Or whatever it is you think this is.”

“Never said it was, but…” A Cheshire grin grows on her face. “It very much could be. Hear me out.” She holds her palmsout for me not to interrupt her. “Just imagine, you’re sitting there next to him, and he’s teaching you something, but you’re distracted by his large hands and how they’d feel on you. He realizes you’re not paying attention and decides to punish you for it. He bends you over the table, lifts your skirt, and makes you?—”

“That’s oddly descriptive.” An unbearable heat touches my cheeks. The scenario plays vividly in my head, and before I can shake it off, I imagine what happens next.Oh. “What have you been watching?”

“Nothing, anymore,” she huffs, propping her elbow on the table, laying her chin on her palm. “It’s been a while, don’t judge me.”

“No judgment here. It’s been a while for me too. Nothing really works anymore.”

Her face alights.

“No. It’s not going to happen.” I shut her down.

“I know. I’m just messing this time. So, now that it’s been two weeks, are you keeping him or kicking him to the curb?” She stands two fingers on the table, and with her other hand flicks them. Her fingers go flopping in the air until she smacks them against the table.

I chuckle at her demonstration. “No, I’m not kicking him to the curb. I don’t know how he does it, but it all just makes sense with him.”

I anticipated for this to end horribly and waited for it to all blow up in my face. I expected him to make fun of my lack of understanding for letters and numbers, but the insults never came. He didn’t make fun or get frustrated with me when I didn’t get it the first or third time.

“There’s no confusion with him. He’s straightforward, but not in a douchebag kind of way that makes me feel stupid. He slows down, takes his time, and finds a way for me to get it. Youshould see the look on his face, like he’s determined and refuses to give up on me.”

I don’t tell her that he works over and doesn’t care that I pay him extra. Which I do because I feel bad that he leaves so late, considering everything he has going on.

She smiles.

“What?”

El shakes her head. “Nothing. I just thought of something, but I’m happy you’re getting it. Before you know it, your grade will be an A and the tutoring willfinallybe over.”

“Yeah…finally.”

I just did something unfathomable.

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