Page 21 of Overtime
I whine. “I have embarrassed myself beyond comprehension,” I say, dropping my face into my mittens.
“Did you already develop a crush on him, then blurt it out or something?” he asks with a chuckle.
“That’s not what happened. It’s much worse.” I lower my hands to the table and do the same with my eyes. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
“Do I have to?”
“Wyatt…”
“Okay, okay. I promise.”
I pin him with a hard stare. “Also promise that what you’re about to hear won’t leave this room.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die. Scout’s honor.”
“I know you weren’t in the scouts, but I’ll take it.” Drawing a deep breath, I spit it out. “He saw my bedroom. And my bathroom. And my bra!” At this, I collapse into my hands again.
“What?” Wyatt snorts, but a glare from me is enough to hold his laughter back. “I’m going to need a few more details. How did Aran Rodriguez end up seeing your bra the day you met him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know how any of this happened. But I can’t possibly face him again.” I melt on the table, using my arms as pillows.
“Maddie, I didn’t know you could move that fast, but I approve.”
“It’s not like that. My roommates brought him and a few other Bolts to our apartment last night without giving me any warning. And my bra was hanging in the bathroom as it dried. And he saw it. And I want to die. The end.”
“Please, please,pleaselet me laugh. The one who is dying here is me.”
“Fine. Laugh,” I mumble.
He lets out a great guffaw, followed by kindergartener-type giggles.
I scrunch up my face. “You wouldn’t be laughing if it had happened to you.”
“First of, that would’ve never happened because I don’t have boobs.” His whole frame shakes with laughter. “Second, I can’t trade you now. Sorry.”
“What? Why?”
“Turns out the girl you were supposed to tutor is my soulmate.”
I sit up straight and blink like an owl. “Okay, now you spill.”
His lips stretch into a smile that reaches his eyes, and it’s like he’s stopped seeing me. Instead, his mind must be set on an image of this mystery girl.
“She’s a jock too, actually. Tennis, though.” Sighing, he rests his chin on his hand. “Like, I’ve always been into the more artsy girls, but she and I hit it off from the get-go in a way that’s never happened before…”
“Oh my.”
“Anyway, I want to see where this goes, so Aran Rodriguez is all yours.”
“He’s not—Ugh. Fine. I’ll see if Melinda can trade me with someone else.”
“Yeah, good luck with that. The two other tutors quit, so I doubt she’ll have anyone to sub in for English.”
“Well, this has been extremely helpful.” I roll my eyes and push my chair back to get up. “But I have to go bury my head in the sand now. Bye.”
“Good luck.”
I leave him to his laughter and go mope in the cafeteria while I have lunch. My mind keeps churning the scenes from last night, even during class, as if it’s more important than paying attention to the lecture. I take the long route out to the library after class, knowing I might even be late for the next session with Aran. But it feels like my shoes are filled with lead, and every step I take makes my breath turn more jagged.
