Page 8 of The Surprise Play
It’s impressive, and I’m sure most girls would flutter their eyelashes, maybe blush a little.
I’m embarrassed to admit that a small part of me is tempted to do just that. My lips are daring me to twitch, my skin threatening to turn the shade of ripe tomatoes.
But thankfully, I manage to balk, this surprised cough shooting out of my mouth as I shake my head. “I’m not going to be doing the assignments for you.”
His smile disappears. Then his eyebrows dip together like he’s totally confused. “What do you mean?”
Seriously?
“I mean… how are you supposed to learn ifIdo all your work?”
There’s this weird pause, the silence between us feeling awkward as he slowly registers what I just said.
And then he laughs.
He laughs like I’m teasing him, swiping his hand through the air. “I’m not here to learn. I’m here tograduate. If I could play college ball without taking any classes, I would. I’m only doing this so Coach won’t ride me about my grades and Michelle will get off my back.”
Michelle?
Oh wait, is he talking about his academic adviser?
My eyebrows rise. “Ms. Bigsby has been on your back?”
“Not literally.” He tips his head, his eyebrows quirking like he’s now picturing the woman on his back, and ew… I don’t even want to know where his brain is going.
My insides heat and I huff, snatching his attention back when I shuffle in my seat and try to figure out what I’m gonna say next.
He glances at me, his smile effortless. “I just want to leave this place with some certificate that tells the world I’m a college graduate. I honestly do not care how I get it.”
“Then why bother?” The question pops out before I can stop it.
Seriously? Why am I engaging with this man? We’re obviously not a good tutoring fit.
His right shoulder hitches, and he lets out this soft laugh. “I don’t really know. I mean, the NFL’s gonna draft me, so maybe it doesn’t really matter.”
Of course it matters!I agree with his sister! He can’t waste nearly four years of education and not come out with something to show for it. Education is important. It’s meaningful.
I bite my lips together, giving myself a second to think. “So… football is it?”
“Yep. I’m gonna play offensive guard for one of the pro teams, and I’ll be set.”
“But…” I purse my lips and dare a glance at him. “What if you don’t get drafted?”
“I will.” He gives me a confident grin—not cocky, just extremely self-assured.
Huh, I wonder what that feels like.
I study his expression, then soften my voice. “Okay… well, what about after football? I mean, don’t you want a backup plan? Something you can do once your career is over? A college degree looks good on a résumé.”
He lets out a husky laugh. “I’m not gonna need one of those. I’ll be rich from playing football. When I retire, Ican coach or do commentary. And my parents are already loaded, so…” His bottom lips sticks out like it’s no big deal, and any softening I was feeling disintegrates.
“Right.” I bulge my eyes. “So, you just want to live off Mommy and Daddy’s money, then?”
He snickers, then looks at me like I’m an odd duck. Like I’m crazy for not getting this.
And that’s me done. I cannot work with this man.
“Okay, well, um…” I scratch the side of my mouth. “I’m not sure this is going to be a very good setup for you, then, because if you work with me, I’ll be making you do your own assignments. I’m happy to support you and help you understand everything, but I won’t be doing the work on your behalf.”
