Page 60 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
Her little running shorts and tank top are not the correct attire for a windy day on the beach in November. I slip out of my coat and put it around her shoulders, taking the opportunity to breathe her in. Whatever she washes her hair with sets my nerves on fire every time.
“Thanks,” she says, scooting closer to me. “I’m sorry I had to bail on you last night.”
“I hung out with my dad.” It was fun too. I didn’t spill my guts yet, though. Not sure I’ll ever be ready for that. The last thing I want is to disappoint him, and I think he will be. I know I am. I don’t like this deal I’ve made with Ms. Gray. Mostly because my feelings for Ginny have changed.
She smiled. “Good. I’m glad things are better.”
“Are things better with you and your mom?”
“No.” Her soft reply floats on the breeze, and I nearly miss it. She takes a deep breath. “I want it to be, but no matter what I say or do, she’ll just run me over. At this point, I think my best bet is just graduating and getting out of that house. Maybe some time apart will make her see me differently.”
My heart hurts for her. I can hear the defeat in her voice. I lift her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head. “I’m sorry.”
She snuggles closer. “Me too.”
We sit like that until the sun is cut in half by the horizon. Just me and her and the sounds of the waves. It’s peaceful. Beyond peaceful. I feel contentment. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, holding the girl I’m supposed to hold, and I can see into the future…doing this exact thing until I’m too old to walk to the beach without a cane.
“Uh,” I say and pause. My heart’s hitting my ribs, and with her palm flat against my chest, no doubt she feels it.
She sits up and tilts her head. “Is everything okay?”
“Can we not pretend anymore?” I ask.
“What?” Her lips turn down, and hurt flashes in her eyes. “You…”
“I don’t want to pretend to date. I want to date. No faking it.” I meet her gaze with mine. “I just…I want to see where this can go.”
Her lip is caught in her teeth, a quirk that makes it hard to think or speak. Those lips. All I want to do is kiss them until I can’t breathe.
She slowly nods. “Okay.”
“It hasn’t been fake for me for a while, but I wasn’t sure how you’d—”
She cuts me off with a kiss, and my thoughts scatter. Clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks this isn’t fake anymore. I bury my hands in the silky strands of her hair, feeling the rise and fall of her chest against mine, and all the rules are gone. This is as real as it gets.
The sun is a full yellow ball not even close to touching the edge of the water when we come up for air. I’m not sure how fast the sun moves, but it’s moved far too quickly for me. I know Ginny needs to get back to Ronnie’s.
I set my forehead against hers, struggling to regain enough air to speak. “I guess you need to get back?” I ask.
“Yeah,” comes her breathy reply. “I guess so.”
We untangle and stand, but as soon as we’re on our feet, I wrap my arms around her. It’s cold when she’s not close. “See you later?”
Her head moves my shirt as she nods. “I’ll be waiting in the window.”
“Maybe sometime soon you can walk through the front door.”
She leans back just enough to look up at me. “Maybe. I want to come clean, but if I do…”
I get it. She’s caught in the middle of this whole mess. That only means I need to extricate myself from it. “We’ll get her to listen. That’s priority.”
“I feel bad. I don’t want to lie to her, and I don’t want you to think I’m using you.”
“I know you aren’t. We’ll stick toyourplan.” Then I add, “I’m done with hers.”
She nods as she slips off my coat, hands it back, and smiles. “See you tonight.”
With that, she takes off running. I watch her until she disappears from sight and blow out a breath of air. I’ve fallen for her. I don’t want to say that until after her mom catches us sneaking out, though. When I tell her how I really feel, I don’t want there to be any doubts about my motivations.
