Page 25 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

I smile brightly because itisbeautiful.

“I love it too. Aries, my brother, wanted to go even bigger than this, but Ma stopped him. She refuses to live in a big, empty mausoleum as she puts it.”

He chuckles, then climbs out of the car. He gives me a stern gaze, saying “Wait,” before shutting his door.

I freeze, his words commanding me even as rational thought dictates that I can do whatever I want. Andry opens my door, reaching in to take my hand to pull me out.

I grab my bag, but he leaves his in the car as we walk up to the door.

Since Ma would make fun of me for knocking, I open it up as I call out, "I'm home."

I drop my bag by the door and kick off my shoes. Andry follows suit, then holds my hand as I lead him into the kitchen where delicious smells are pouring from.

Ma has clearly been working hard today. Granted, she does it every day. The woman loves to feed people, and if I wasn't coming home with an empty stomach, she would be bossy enough and demand I take some over to my brother and his boyfriend.

She'd feed the neighbors, too, if they were the type to accept her offerings. Most have learned that one yes from them means a lifetime of it.

I feel bad for Ma sometimes in that way because she was really the type of woman meant to have an entire herd of children. She could feed a football team and not even blink at the challenge.

"Oh Cariño, you're home," she says as she throws the towel in her hand over her shoulder and rushes over to me.

She pulls me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my head. I laugh softly at the affection. Then I freeze when I realize she's spotted who's with me.

“What a handsome young man we have here. Who are you?”

“I am Andry,” the man behind me says.

Not once does he let go of my hand as he says it. Of course, my mother zones in on the connection.

Andry dips his head politely, then says, "Your home is lovely, and it smells exquisite, much like the chef."

Ma giggles.

She actually giggles like a schoolgirl.

It's the funniest thing I've seen in ages.

Not even Aries in his goofy ways gets her going like this.

She presses her hand to her chest, then fans her face with the other. “Hombre encantador. I can see why my son has been drawn to you. Are you two…?”

I go to answer but a squeeze at my hand cuts me off.

“I am hoping to date him, but as one should, I’m working to win his heart.”

My jaw drops, and I turn my head to take Andry in completely. He's not joking. There's no glimmer in his eye to suggest that he's teasing me as he stares at me firmly.

He does want to date me.

He is trying to win my heart.

Why those two thoughts don't compute is, well to be honest, it makes sense. It shouldn’t, yet it does.

He’s so different from me. Not only is he from another country with different customs, but he's tall and built and athletically gifted.

He could have anything he wants, anyone he wants, but he's chosen me.

Part of me wonders if it's the timing. Am I the first person who's caught his eye? Much like the concept of first dibs, I'm the one that he wants to pursue. Will he ditch me and go towards the next shiny object the minute they pass by?

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