Page 15 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

What could a party hurt anyway? It won’t be that bad.

* * *

By the time the party comes around, I worry I underestimated just how bad this would be. The music reaches us long before we get to the house. Some deep beat that pulses through the air.

I ignore it and the people roaming around as I put on my mask of indifference. No reason to let these guys see a reaction from me.

And none of this was so wild I hadn’t seen something similar to it before. Parties back home were full of people making bad decisions. I avoided them as much as I could, though even there I was required to attend a certain amount. Those instances were more to keep my face in front of some important people rather than because my team wanted me to get wasted with them.

Either way, I know the game. I’ll play it until I can slip out.

“Let’s party!” Liam shouts as we move up the porch steps.

I ignore whatever reply everyone offers as I take in the crowd. There’s a big ratio of guys to girls here. I ignore more of them in favor of looking out for my little genius. I doubt this is his scene, but if he’s here, I’ll find him.

As I’m scanning the room, I feel eyes on me. I don’t know how I know it’s him. I just do.

When I spot him, I’m surprised to see him leaning against the wall talking to a cute girl with long braids and a short dress on. The two look cozy.

Is it because they’re friends? Or is there something more going on?

Their arms are connected too. She’s holding on to him, though he doesn’t appear to push her away. He also isn’t pulling her closer.

They share some words, then she’s bending over to laugh. Her obvious flirting has me leaving the group behind to approach them. I need to know who she is to him and if she’ll be competition. Surely I can show him how wrong she is for him.

The only person he needs like that is me. I’ll treat him so well he won’t feel like he’s lost out on anything. He’ll be far too spoiled to care.

“You’re very, very wrong. Whatever look you’re getting is probably because the team already told him how awful I am. It’s not a jealousy thing,” I hear him tell her once I’m close.

She grins wide, telling him, “I wish we had more time to place a bet on this. It would be fun to put smarty pants RoRo in his place for once.”

I take that as my chance to jump in I say, “Hello.”

At the same time, he asks her, “More time?”

The girl looks amused at the overlap. She lifts her cup, guzzling it down like she’s desperate for more. “Oh! Would you look at that? I need another drink. Be right back, RoRo.”

Since he’s turned to face her, I can’t see his expression. When she steps away, I move to fill the space.

“RoRo?” I question softly. My voice is low for two reasons: The first because I want our conversation to be private and the second is because if he can’t hear me, he’ll move closer.

I always want him closer.

He shakes his head. “Rodney. My name is Rodney.”

While I’m already aware of his full name, I still act as if it’s the first time I’ve heard it. No need for him to worry about my obsessive tendencies yet. Smiling, I repeat after him. “Rodney.”

The man I’ve been infatuated over doesn’t speak up again. I take the chance to shift a hair closer as I lean down to ask him about his friend.

“I hope I didn’t scare your girlfriend away.”Lie.

Let’s scare her away all the time. Stay gone. Never come back.

Rodney scrunches his face. “Yaz? My girlfriend? Hardly. She’s actually here tonight to try to hook up with some girl she has a crush on. I’m her wingman — or so she claims.”

The news that they aren’t a couple gives me hope. Now I just need to confirm he’s as single as I need him to be before I pursue him.

Though, it wouldn’t be a complete hindrance. I’m more than willing to have a talk with someone to show them just how undeserving they are of Rodney’s love.

---