Page 62 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
A smile graces her lips. “Also, I have three Shakespeare classes this year. Therefore, there is a very good chance you will be paired with a student from a different class. That will be especially possible for students who end up picking the same movie. It’ll make it easier on all of us if everyone is on the same page.”
My hand shoots up, and I’m waiving it like I’m flagging down an ice cream truck.
Mrs. Yates gives me a smile. “Yes, Ginny?”
“I’m not an actor. I’m a volleyball player. I mean—”
“You’re a very bright student. I’m absolutely confident you’ll figure out a way to make this work.” Her head turns as she scans the room. “Any more questions?”
A few more questions are asked about the different parts of the project, but I’m barely listening. My heart is jackhammering in my chest. I’m going to be in front of people, performing a scene from a movie, and…I can feel my throat closing up.
I’m still dazed when the bell rings, and I stumble out of the classroom.
Kaleb.What is he going to think? I need to tell him so he’s not as shocked as I am. Only, it’ll have to wait. We’re on opposite sides of the building most of the day.
Unlike most schools, Port Crest doesn’t release early before winter break begins, which is dumb. It’s not like we’re really doing any classwork. I’d text Kaleb, but the last thing I need is to get caught texting him. We may not be doing any work, but that doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply.
I warn him between classes, and when the last bell rings, signifying the end of the day, I head to my mom’s office. She’s asked me to meet her there so we can do some shopping a couple of hours away in Galveston. It means no Kaleb tonight, but I’ve been looking for a gift for him for Christmas to no avail. What do I get him that means something?
I reach her office and stop as I realize she’s on the phone with someone. Not sure who it could be since, other than the librarian, she doesn’t hang out with many friends.
Just as I’m about to turn to give her privacy, I hear my name and stop. She’s talking about me? Instead of leaving, I sneak closer to the cracked door to listen.
“I assure you she will be happy to attend. We’ve talked about nothing but Gilroy since our meeting in October. She’s not planning on committing to any other school.”
My jaw slowly drops, and the reason the other scouts became scarce becomes clear. I have to be hearing it wrong. My mom loves me. I know this as a fact.
“No, Coach Williams, we’ll have no issues. She’ll be ready to sign in May. You have my word.”
I burst into the office, staring at my mom. “You’ve committed me to Gilroy?”
My mom’s eyes widen with surprise, and she quickly ends the call. “I…They have the best offer. You’re getting a solid four-year ride. No tuition, books, nothing. The other colleges were only offering partial rides. You don’t want to start life drowning in debt. Gilroy is the best option.”
“But you committed me without even talking to me. I don’t care about debt. I don’t want to go to Gilroy.” There’s no hiding the desperation in my voice because it’s coming from a place so deep I don’t have words to describe it.
“I know you, and you do care.” She stands. “Ginny, I’d planned to talk to you, but the coach caught me off guard. She said they were looking at other players since you didn’t seem interested. I didn’t want the door closing just because of one dinner. I thought you’d want to keep your options open—all of your options.”
Honestly, I don’t know what to believe. My mom has been pushing Gilroy, but the vibe I got from the coach was that she was equally pushy. There’s a chance my mom is telling me the truth. Aside from the deal with Kaleb, she’s never gone behind my back on anything. And I can actually understand her reasoning with the deal she made. My dad hurt her, and in her mind, she’s looking out for me. As misguided as it is.
One of the reasons I’m sneaking out is to shake her up. To get her to open her eyes that I’m not her. Just because I fall in love with someone doesn’t mean my heart has to get broken.
The word “love” floats around my brain, and I quickly lock it down. I won’t even entertain the word until I’ve had it out with my mom. When I tell Kaleb how I feel, it’ll be me and him and none of this nasty deal business standing in the way.
I guess my silence makes her nervous because she jumps to continue her explanation. “Really, Ginny, I was going to talk to you. Actually, that’s kind of the reason I wanted to get us out of Port Crest. I thought maybe a change of scenery would help.”
“What?” I ask, blinking. Who is this woman, and what has she done with my mother? My mom has a routine set in stone. Yes, we do shop in other cities, but not for a change of scenery.
She smiled. “In fact, I rented us a house for the entire break.”
My jaw goes slack. “Uh, huh?”
Rounding the desk, she laughs. “I’ve been in a rut. Doing the same things over and over, and I realized over Thanksgiving that I needed to break things up.”
This means no Kaleb. At all. For the next two weeks. Part of me wants to pout, but my mom is making an effort. Is there a chance that maybe, just maybe, she’ll start hearing me? If there is, and it doesn’t involve me actively lying to her, then that’s what I want. We’ve been a good team for years. I don’t want to break that.
“It sounds great.”
Her smile brightens. “It does?”
