Page 53 of Confusing Hearts

She blushed. “There’s a really cute TA in my history class who is tutoring me. I don’t know. He’s different, Jen. I don’t want to be the normal dumb rich girl around him, so I’m actually trying.” She laughed. “Who’d have thought, but I’m understanding everything just fine. I have B’s in all my classes right now, and aside from his guidance, no one has helped me get them.”

I could hear the pride in her voice and I reached over and hugged her. We weren’t exactly the touchy-feely kind of family, so my gesture surprised her, though she didn’t pull away.

“I’m so proud of you, Tessa! I always knew you could do it. If I’d had any doubts, I’d never have helped you to begin with.”

She laughed, “You little brat, you did not.”

“Did too, you just needed to believe in yourself. That’s all.”

“When did you get to be so smart?”

We both laughed. I had always been the smarty pants of the family.

“Hey, did you hear? Anita is dating Matt Williams,” Tessa told me.

“What? Seriously? I mean, I knew they liked each other and had, um, messed around.”

“Sex, Jenna. It’s called sex,” she said, laughing at me. “It’s okay to say ‘sex.’ Actually, several of the girls are having sex. If Daddy only knew. He’d be furious! There’s not one single male panther at this school. What was he thinking?”

I blushed at how candid she was being and she rolled her eyes at me.

“Jenna, we’re all adults here. What’s really the harm in it?”

“I know that, Tessa. I’m not judging. I think Anita and Matt are great together. I’m just wondering what happens if they decide to mate.”

I was testing the waters with my sister. I knew it was a dangerous game, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.

Tessa sobered. “Jenna, you know what Daddy expects. Not just from you and me, but all of us here. He would demand Anita return home if he found out about Matt, and he’s a freaking jaguar. Same species, different colored fur. But Sidney, she’s seeing a lion, and um, the TA I was telling you about? He’s uh, he’s a tiger.”

My eyes widened in shock and my mouth dropped open. Of all the felines, my dad hated the lions the most, but tigers were a close second. I had heard whispered rumors of why over the years, but it had never made any sense to me.

“A tiger? Tessa, are you sure that’s what you want?”

She nodded. “He’s a really sweet guy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s not like my true mate or anything. I’m not going to bond with him, but I really like him and we get along great. I’m hoping he asks me out, and maybe we could go to spring formal together.” She stared at me with her big eyes looking so vulnerable. It was like looking in a mirror at myself, or how I’d imagine I would look when I finally got up the nerve to tell her about Chase.

I smiled and she slowly relaxed. “Tessa, I think that’s great! I know everyone here thinks of me as some goody-goody, but honestly, I just want you to be happy. I don’t care if this guy is a tiger, a lion, or a camel, or a jackal even. As long as he treats you right and it’s what you want.”

“Thanks.” I thought she genuinely meant it, too, but then she laughed again. “A camel? A jackal? Really Jen? A freaking dog? Even I have some standards.”

I cringed. “Anita’s dating a D.O.G,” I pointed out.

“Not the same.”

“No, but all of his fraternity brothers are canines, and they’ve been sniffing around this place since we arrived.”

“Sure, they’re pretty to look at and fun to flirt with, but I can’t imagine any of the panthers actually falling for one of them. Can you even imagine?”

I faked a laugh alongside my sister. Yeah, I could definitely imagine, but I wasn’t ready to tell her that. I wasn’t sure if I ever would truly be ready for that confession.

Tessa finally said good night and left me alone in my room. It wasn’t even seven yet and had only been about two hours since I said goodbye to Chase, yet I missed him terribly and wanted to talk to him. I picked up my phone and texted him.

JENNA – Miss you already.

My phone dinged almost immediately.

CHASE – Miss you more.

JENNA – Dinner?

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