Page 14 of Dryad, Try Again
“I’m fine, sweetie, don’t worry about me. I just want to make sure you’re having time to yourself.”
I nod and plop my book on a side table. “I’ll make sure to scrape up time to study, I promise.”
“Oh no, not that,” she replies over the phone. “I meant to go out, be young, have fun. Maybe meet a girl, er, I mean, a boy.”
Her words clench my heart. While she knows I’m gay, she’s never actually seen me with a guy. How could she? I’ve been too busy working to pay our bills to have anything more than the occasional half-hour hookup.
But she wants me to have a life, so I throw her a bone. “I…went to a party last weekend.”
“Oh, was it fun?”
It was a disaster.“Yup! But classes are starting, so I should focus on my schoolwork.”
“Okay, Tanner. You be good. Have fun with your new monster friends.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Aunt Hannah. I love you, and I promise I’ll visit you soon when I’m not studying.”
“Don’t work too hard now! You’re finally at university, so enjoy it. You’re young and deserve to let off some steam.”
My heart continues to ache, but we bid each other goodbye. I can’t enjoy my time at college if I flunk out of my major. I sigh and pull out my textbook, seeing if I can interpret today’s lecture.Herbology this…geology that…
My reading comprehension is apparently lacking. I groan and hit the thick book to my forehead multiple times. All those morning shifts making coffee have made me sleep-deprived, and thus, cranky.Aunt Hannah is counting on me…
“Um, Tanner?”
I look up and nearly whine again; Kovi is standing in front of me. He’s wearing a red backpack over a gray t-shirt that hugs his built chest in all the right ways. With his fitted blue jeans, he’s the picture of sexiness. And he just caught me whining and smacking a book to my face.
“You okay?” he asks with genuine concern.
“Just peachy. Other than the fact that I don’t know shit.”
“The term ‘hitting the books’ isn’t supposed to be literal,” he says.
“It was worth a shot.” We share a chuckle and he sits next to me.
“Environmental 101 is kicking your ass, huh?”
I look down at my textbook and exhale. “I used to be so good at studies. But university is a different game entirely!”
“Yeah, there’s a lot to chew on when it comes to different habitats.”
I sigh then gaze into his perfect brown eyes. This is the first time I’m truly looking at him in a well-lit area. His dark skin is smooth, and if I ignore his pristine stubble, he looks just like that kid I used to play with.His lips look kissable, too…
I clear my throat to break out of my lustful thoughts. “I don’t want to be the dumbass who drops out of Creelin U after one week.”
“You’re not. And you won’t,” he says hurriedly.
“Why is that?”
He looks away and plays with his backpack straps. “I…could help you.”
“Really?”
“I took this class last year, and I aced it. When are you free? We could have a study session.”
Maybe it’s the stress or lack of sleep, but I’m so grateful I want to cry. I also want to bury myself in his pert pecs. But I have enough sanity to do neither. “Um…I work the weekends. And weekday mornings. But tonight I’m free.” A yawn escapes my lips and I rub my eyes. “You’ll probably be out partying.”
“I won’t.” He stands up and smiles. “I have to get to class now. But tonight, study sesh? Library?”
