Page 28 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
Ginny: Hilarious. What are you doing Monday night?
I grin mischievously. I like the way this conversation is going.
Me: Hanging out with you.
Ginny: Okay. How about dinner at my place?
My mouth drops open. What exactly is going on here? Has she made amends with her mom and now she’s hoisting the white flag? Is there something important Ginny and her mom want to talk to me about?
There’s a good chance Ginny told Principal Gray that she knows about the plan and we’re all going to hash it out. My mind instantly goes back to the showdown Principal Gray had with Mrs. Yates, and I wonder if I really want to put myself in that intense of a situation again. Besides, doesn’t she have a previous engagement?
Me: Don’t you have a volleyball game?
Ginny: Yeah. Lots of pressure.
Me: You got this.
Ginny: Whatever. See you for our session on Monday.
Me: Looking forward to it.
Monday is looking pretty awesome. A whole evening with Ginny. I put the phone down and rest on my back, placing a hand on my chest. There’s this wave of warmth when I think about one day having Ginny rest her perfect brunette head there. I groan and rub my face with my hands. “Get a grip, man.”
I hear footsteps in the hallway and sit up. My dad hasn’t slept upstairs in his bedroom since Mom left. The only time he breaches the second story is when he needs to talk to me. Even then, most of the time he just texts me to come downstairs so we can talk. Which means he’s probably heard about me kissing Ginny. Normally, the girls I kiss aren’t ones worthy of a talk.
A light knock comes from the door, and I wait a beat, hoping he thinks I’m asleep. He’s on the third knock when I answer, “It’s open.”
The door opens, and light from the hallway floods into my black room. He flips the light on, and I squint, holding my hand up to shield my eyes. “What’s up?”
Leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, he runs his knuckles down his jawline. “Uh, we need to talk.”
“Okay. About what?” In my head, I’m begging whatever higher being might be watching that I’m totally wrong about why he’s sought me out.
My dad takes a deep breath. “Normally, I don’t comment on who you’re dating, but this time I think I need to speak up. Ginny Gray?”
Clearly, that higher being and I still aren’t on speaking terms—or should I say, listening is the issue. “Yeah? What about her?”
“Ginny Gray? Really?” He lets out a long sigh. “Just…why?”
I shrug. “She’s just my tutor for Mrs. Yates’s class.” Maybe if I don’t confirm the dating rumor, he’ll relax.
He narrows his eyes at me, most likely surprised by the tutor part. To be honest, I’m still surprised by it, and it’s been weeks now. My dad crosses his arms over his chest. “Tutoring?”
“Yeah, can’t get into college with failing grades. Mrs. Yates said that if I get my grade up, she’ll even write me a letter of recommendation.” I pause and then blurt, “So did Principal Gray.” I can’t even believe I said that. Why did I tell my dad that? All that work to make it impossible to go to law school just, poof, up in smoke.
His mouth opens as his hands drop from his chest and then his eyes light up. “Two letters?”
I’ve spilled everything so far. “Yeah, and Principal Gray even has a friend that might give me an in for MIT.”
“MIT?” He rubs his hand across his lips. “That’s a good school. She thinks you might make it with your grade history?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
Shaking his head, he holds up his hands. “Back to the dating question. Are you dating Ginny? Because if you are…”
I push off my bed and face my dad. “Relax. We’re just friends.”
“Just friends?”
