Page 3 of Continuum

“Thank you for checking. I owe you one. I need one more session before this final.”

I searched his face.

The only time I’d ever seen uncertainty in his eyes was when he approached complicated statistics assignments. I’d seen him perform in front of thousands of people. I’d watched him give a speech in front of five hundred students and about fifty faculty members. He looked cool, calm, and collected in those instances. But statistics brought out a side of him that endeared me.

Putting my free hand on top of his, I leaned closer to him. “We were just going to review. You know all the stuff you need to know to ace your final exam. You’re ready, Kwame. Even if I can’t get you another session with me, someone else—”

“I don’t want a session with anyone else but you.”

My heart started beating faster. “Really?”

“There’s no one better than you.”

I felt my chubby cheeks heat at his words. I didn’t want to smile because I knew I was going to look like a lovestruck child if I did.

“Even when you get tough, I’d never replace you,” he continued. “Truth is, even when I would complain and you’d get that sexy little scowl on your face before we’d argue, I knew you were the best.”

My eyes dropped down to his hand on my arm and I gathered my courage to tell him my feelings. “I—”

“I was just telling Jayla how brilliant you are and how I am graduating on time because of you. As soon as I realized how late it had gotten, I ran over here from Jayla’s dorm.”

My lips snapped closed as I held my composure.Jayla’s?! He was with his ex?!

“Oh, you were....” I tried to keep my tone even. “I uh I don’t really pay attention to gossip, but I thought I heard you two broke up.”

He let out a rough breath. “It’s complicated with Jayla.”

I clenched my jaw. “Oh. Okay.”

I didn’t know what else to say. Jealousy and disappointment swirled around in my sinking belly.

“Hi,” a girl named Suzie who also worked at the tutoring center greeted us with her books in her arm.

Kwame and I both moved abruptly. Jerking my arm from beneath his hand, I ignored the tingling that covered the space he’d touched.

She looked between us nervously as if she’d walked in on something. “I’m a new tutor and I think I reserved this spot”—she checked her watch— “I know I’m here right on the dot, but it’s my first finals session and I—,” she rambled.

“You’re fine, Suzie,” I interrupted. With a forced smile, I grabbed my stuff and rose to my feet. “Our time is up and we were just heading out. The table is yours.”

Kwame and I silently walked out of the private tutoring room and through the quiet hecticness of the library the week before exams.

As soon as the fresh air hit us, he pleaded with me. “Please don’t forget to let me know if you have an opening.” Putting his hands together in prayer, he added, “Even if I don’t get a session with you, I know I’m going to need one of your pep talks. Please.”

“If anyone cancels, I’ll let you know. I promise.”

He flashed me a smile that had me considering blowing off my own study sessions in order to help him.

He stepped forward into my personal space. “Even if you can’t fit me in, and I really hope you can, you’ve come in clutch for all three of these statistics classes. I wouldn’t have passed without you. Thank you. I mean that. I wouldn’t have gotten so close to getting that Chicago scholarship if it wasn’t for you. I owe you a lot.”

Succumbing to his charm, I sighed. “You’re welcome, Kwame. And I have no doubt you will do well—on the exam, in whatever program you do decide on, and in life. You are so much more than you give yourself credit for. Whether I can get you in for another session or not, never forget that.”

“I owe you, Aisha Young.” He licked his lips. “You don’t cook, right? I’ll buy you dinner to make it up to you. I want to get back in your good graces.”

I lifted my hand, waving it off. “I can’t.”

“Please.” He cupped my face. “I want to make it up to you.” He paused, running his thumb across my cheeks so softly that a chill ran down my spine. “You’re special,” he whispered.

When we were in a tutoring session, I didn’t get flustered around him. But when he touched me, I lost all my brain power.

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