Page 20 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

That could definitely be the reason.

“Thanks for coming tonight at least. You disappeared for a while there. Everything ok?”

“Yes!” I shout far too loudly. “I mean, it wasn’t my scene, but I didn’t hate it. I went outside to get away from the sea of sweat and beer.”

I have no clue if she’s bought my excuse. Yaz is notorious for sniffing out lies. It’s not as if I do it often anyway, hence why my poker face isn’t the best.

“Whatever. You’re being weird. I don’t have the energy to weed out the truth. I’m going to bed,” she tells me as she exits the car to go into her building. I wait until she’s safely inside, then I let out a big sigh. There’s relief in knowing she won’t pester me about things, though I worry she’ll only come after me later when she’s more rested.

The girl is a bloodhound.

It doesn’t take long to get home. There’s barely any traffic out this late, and if it weren’t for the other college kids partying, Bellport would likely be silent. The blend of small town and medium-sized city works here. It gives us the best of both worlds.

Ma is watching tv when I get home. I freeze at the sight of her being up this late. She’s normally gone to bed.

“Hey, Ma. You ok?”

She turns at the sound of my voice. Her smile is soft as she waves me over. I take a seat beside her on the couch. I lean into her side, accepting the love radiating from her.

This right here is why I haven’t moved away.

Well, one of the reasons anyway.

Why would I leave when I have all I need here? Besides, being on my own feels like another stressor I don’t need or want.

“I was just watching old videos of you boys when you were little. Some days, I miss those moments. This house feels empty when you’re both gone.”

There’s a note of sadness in her voice that breaks my heart. “I’m sorry, Ma. I thought you’d be in bed. If I’d known you were up, then I could have come home.”

She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t want that. You need to experience everything life has for you, Cariño. I will be fine. Maybe I should get a cat or something.”

“Ummm… aren’t I allergic?”

I’m not.

But I am terrified of cats.

The videos I see of them online make them look like tiny demons. I want no part of that.

Ma smiles at me, like she can read my mind. She likely can. It’s one of her many superpowers.

“Fine, no cat. A bird? Or — oh! A turtle. I love turtles.”

I listen to her run down the list of possible animals she could get until she exhausts herself. Only then do I walk her to her room and tell her goodnight so I can go to my own.

My thoughts turn to Andry and the fact that I never texted about getting Yaz home. Guilt surges through me so quick, I whip out my phone from my pocket.

I don’t think as I compose the text. It’s only after I send it that I realize how frazzled this man has me.

Rodney:Made it home. Stayed up with Ma to talk about animals. She wants a pet since I’m gone so much. I don’t know how I feel about it. Missing you. XO

Oh, shit.

Where is the unsend button when you need it?

CHAPTER8

Andry

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