Page 46 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
“Ginny Gray, would you please put the phone away?” Mrs. Ludendorff does not look pleased. Part of me is surprised she can even see this far.
I do as I’m told and join in to recite the last of the ingredients. “Powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.”
“Now, let’s go to the apron wall and suit up.”
As I’m walking to retrieve my apron, Dixie elbows me in the side. She whispers gleefully, “How’s it going with Kaleb? Word is spreading.”
“It’s going really great.” I pick my pink apron off the hanger and tie it around me. Inspiration comes over me. If we’re really taking this plan to the next level, then it’s high time that I show my dear friend, the school gossip, exactly how enthusiastic I am. I throw back my hair, smile brightly, and place a hand on my hip. “I’m pretty sure he’s in love with me.”
Dixie lifts one eyebrow. “Oh. My. Goodness. Is the feeling mutual?”
Mutual? The first thing that comes to mind is maybe notin love, but I’m sure falling for him. I feel warm and light and happy when I’m around him. I see tiny clips of life in the future with us together.
Before I blurt something I’ll regret, I respond, “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
A knowing grin comes from Dixie before she walks back to the table, giving me a second to get my thoughts together and in order. It’s all fake. I’m not falling for him. I try setting it on repeat as I follow Dixie, and I realize when I reach my destination that no amount of repetition is going to keep me from getting hurt. I’m doomed.
Chapter Twenty
Kaleb
As I lookup at Ginny’s window, a smirk comes to my lips. I see twinkly lights in her room, as well as some kind of rainbow lamp. Such a girl, but then again, that’s what I like about her. What I like even more is how Ginny is pacing back and forth, wringing her hands with a tense expression on her face. She must be nervous. Another thing I like about her. She doesn’t want to break the rules because it’s fun. She’s doing it with the hope of making her mom listen.
I have to be honest when I say I have no idea how to get her down from that window. I’m stand here, gauging her house, figuring out how I can maybe climb up and help her down. There’s a tree to the left of the house that could lead up to the roof and straight to Ginny’s window. I decide that’s my game plan. The rest of the evening I have mapped out.
It was fun sitting in Economics class, not paying attention to a thing Mr. Preston was saying while I imagined what to do for my date with Ginny. The more romantic the better, and I have just the place in mind. The most important thing is that we’re seen. If word spreads and comes back to Principal Gray, then we’re accomplishing our goal.
To make sure I’m really playing up the romance element, I pick up a few pebbles from the ground and toss them at Ginny’s window. She runs over and looks out, and I give her my best bad-boy nod of the head. A sort of “I’m here for you, baby” type thing.
I can tell Ginny finds it amusing because she breaks out into a smile. She looks amazing. I mean, she always does, but tonight she’s wearing a cute little blue dress. Yeah, she’s clearly not thought through the whole sneaking-out thing.
My phone beeps in my back pocket, and I pull it out to read.
Ginny: What do we do now?
Me: What makes you think I know?
Ginny: This was your idea, tough guy.
Tough guy? I think about my response really quick and decide on something cheesy.
Me: I ain’t tough. I won’t bite, baby.
I see Ginny shaking her head and smiling. Most likely she’s laughing, which I’ve found myself enjoying her laughter. She turns to the window, making like she’s going to open it, and stops, turning her back to it. Maybe she needs some moral support.
Me: I’m coming up.
Through the window, she faces it again with her head tilted. She does that when she questions things—one of the small quirks I’ve noticed about her since we started hanging out together. She totally doubts I’ll do it.
I guess it’s time to show her my Spider-Man mad skills. I walk up Ginny’s driveway to the climbable tree. Just as I get there, I hear the hum of the garage door, and I quickly press my back to the side of the house.
As the garage door comes up, the light inside pours onto the dark driveway. Even though my heart is pounding at the thought that I’ve been busted, I have to admit this is one of the better adventures I’ve had in a long time. Something to tell the grandkids. Ginny must be freaking out even more upstairs. That bothers me more than getting caught.
A lone figure walks out of the garage, and of course it has to be Principal Gray. Sure enough, she walks down the driveway and over to an empty trashcan. I watch as she takes it by the handle and rolls it up into the garage, then the door begins to close.
My heart slows down a bit, and I let out the breath I was holding. I turn to the tree and map out my climbing pattern. About six feet up the trunk there are branches that seem sturdy enough to pull myself up. Jumping up and reaching for one of those is going to be a pretty sizable pull-up, but I know I can do it. I still have a pull-up bar I’ve been using in my bedroom from the days where I wanted to be ripped and covered in tattoos.
I get a running start and propel myself into the air, grabbing onto the lowest-hanging branch and pulling myself up. After a little grunting and sweating, I’m onto that branch and reaching for another. Within minutes, I reach the porch roof under her window with only a few scratches.
