Page 17 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

“Give me your phone.”

While he might not fully trust me, his body seems to be on board. He takes out the device, unlocking it and handing it over without question.

I key in my number, then call myself. Since he doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get it back, I label myself as “My Andry” with a blue heart beside it.

“Now you have my number. Any time you have trouble, call or text me. I’ll come.”

He looks down at the screen when I hand it back. I think I see a slight smile form, though I can’t tell with how dim it is.

“What if you’re busy? You won’t always be able to come to my rescue,” he says softly.

I shake my head, daring to step further into his space. “There will never be a time I won’t come for you. You call, I’ll come. It’s that simple.”

“Why?”

It’s a good question. One I expected him to ask earlier.

Now that it sits between us, I worry what the best answer will be. Should I tell him the truth? Or will my feelings be too much?

He’s already been timid with me. I’d hate to scare him.

But I also don’t want to lie.

I go with the easiest answer. “Because I want to take care of you. Because you deserve to be treated like the precious man you are.”

His body jolts at my words. “What? Why would you say that? Is this part of the joke?”

There’s nothing else I can say to prove to him I’m serious. He needs my actions to give him the confidence to believe.

I move in front of him, pressing close enough he has to step back to avoid me.

That’s it, little genius. Fall right into my trap.

My hands move to pin him in. I’m all he can see, all he can feel in this moment.

“None of this is a joke. I’ve wanted you from the second you ran into me. I mean every word I’ve said to you. I want to spoil you rotten, Rodney. You’re mine, little genius.”

He gasps as my lips slot over his.

Nothing has ever felt so right.

CHAPTER7

Rodney

Kiss.

He’s kissing me.

Andry. Is. Kissing. Me.

What kind of crazy drugs were in that drink I had earlier? That’s the only logical explanation for why the heat of his mouth covers mine, why I feel like I’m falling and flying all at once.

I arch closer, eager to continue this delusion. No one wake me up, please. I’ll come back… whenever.

It’s too good, too perfect to not continue.

Who would have thought my first kiss would be on the side of a house at a college party? Not me, that’s for sure.

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