Page 19 of Wicked Surrender

She could sit there all self-righteous and shy with an assumption that I’d quit or blow her off.

We’ll see about that.

Already, I was having way too much fun making her blush and stammer like the shy, terrified nerd she was.

7

LAURA

Because Jason was so close to failing so many classes, the recovery program coordinators stated that he had to have tutoring twice a week.

Two times a week, I’d need to suffer his cocky arrogance.

I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

The first session went horribly. And as I waited for him to arrive at the library again tonight, my stomach twisted and knotted with anxiety and panic all over again. The second my dad told me that I’d be forced to spend time with the campus’s most reckless man, I dreaded it.

And he wasn’t proving me wrong.

I shot another glance at the clock on the wall, wondering how long I should give it before I leave.

My phone buzzed, and I appreciated Kristin’s text as a reminder to silence it. Jason was such a rude asshole that he didn’t deserve my full attention and the detail of focusing only on him. But that wasn’t who I was.

He was right. I was shy, and I hated it.

I was scared and intimidated of him, and I hated that too.

Yet, I refused to lower my standards or compromise my integrity. I was here to tutor, and like anything else academically involved, I would give it my all. I would try. I would do all I could to earnestly help him, even if he showed no sign of wanting my help.

Kristin:So is he there yet?

I’d told her all about the first session, and she was tuned in to how unpunctual he was.

Laura:Nope. I’m not surprised about that, either.

Kristin:I still can’t believe your dad stuck you with him.

I sighed, feeling the same.

Of all the students. Of all the guys.

It just had to be him.

Kristin:Maybe this time won’t be as bad?

Laura:He’s already fifteen minutes late. I’ll give it five more and I’m out of here.

That was fair. At least for people who could be considerate of others’ schedules, that was professional and fair.

Okay, ten. I’ll wait ten more minutes and leave.

Laura:And after how terrible the first session was, I can’t imagine how much worse it could be.

Laura:He showed up late, not caring about my time.

Laura:He openly mocked me, calling me Second-Best. He taunted me. If he wasn’t cutting me off and being a rude asshole, he was belittling me and arguing every single thing I said.

Laura:He’s a jerk.

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