Page 36 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
All eyes turn toward me, and Ginny looks amused. “You were there?”
“Of course. That’s what boyfriends do, right?” I give my best twisted grin. It took restraint to force my head in the noble direction while watching her play. Ginny is fit, and that uniform the volleyball team wears shows off her every curve. And since cold showers weren’t available, I chowed down on a lot of ice. “I’m really proud of you.”
My thoughts are brought to an instant stop when Principal Gray plops a heaping helping of vegan meatloaf onto my plate. It thuds so loudly that my heart skips a beat as I jump.
“Would you like organic ketchup, Kaleb?” Principal Gray asks.
“I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.” Except, perhaps, your daughter. Thankfully, my mouth and my brain are in communication with each other this time and I don’t blurt out that last thought.
“There’s no high fructose corn syrup.” She says it like I should care. I mean, I guess I should, but…I ate six donuts yesterday. Clearly, sugar isn’t an issue for me.
Coach Williams scoops some steaming kale onto her plate. “They say that stuff will kill you.”
Principal Gray nods. “Yes, all the research indicates it.”
There’s a bit of light conversation as we all dig into the meal. I wish I could lie and say the vegan meatloaf tastes like cardboard, but it’s surprisingly good. Then again, I’ve slathered it in enough ketchup that I’m pretty sure Ginny’s mom will have to grab a new bottle the next time she goes grocery shopping.
Ginny and I steal glances here and there, and I think about how she’s so different from what I thought. That exterior of perfection is not at all who she is. Ginny’s sensitive and warm. She just doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. She’s not stuck-up like anyone would assume about the principal’s daughter.
Coach Williams puts down her fork. “Do you mind if we have a serious conversation now?” She folds her hands on the table in front of her and unleashes her academic game face.
Principal Gray puts on her own game face as the two women stare Ginny down. “That’s a great idea. Are you ready, Imogene?”
Ginny coughs and takes a sip of her water. “Sure.”
She’s not nervous, just… How do I put this? On the spot. Ginny straightens her shoulders and looks to me. Is she searching for encouragement from me? The moral support we joked about? I smile and give a slight nod, hoping she gets what she needs from me.
“Great,” Coach Williams goes on. “How do you feel about Gilroy, Imogene?”
Ginny steals one more glance at me and then shrugs her shoulders. “I think it’s okay.”
I’m both surprised and proud of her. It took guts to be honest with her mom in front of someone else.
Principal Gray scoffs. “Just okay? Tell the truth.”
Taking her lips in her teeth, Ginny looks at her mom, but her gaze doesn’t quite reach her mom’s eyes. “That is the truth. I have a few options, and I think Gilroy is just okay.”
The room turns icy. I enjoy seeing Principal Gray stewing, but there’s an uncomfortableness in the air. Here I wanted to be the one that turned the room on its side, but it ends up being Ginny.
Coach Williams puts up a commanding hand. “Now, Imogene. Gilroy University is one of the top private schools in Texas. Your attendance would be predicated on volleyball, but there will be so many more opportunities waiting for you there. We have the best teachers, the best campus.”
“Good parties, I hear.” I want to conceal my smile, but I can’t. Am I the only one who considers such things? I hear Gilroy has good parties, so sue me. Mostly though, I just like seeing the look on Principal Gray’s face. I mean, I’ll totally check the parties out, but I won’t be living at them.
If Principal Gray looked like she wanted to murder me before, now it looks like death would involve hours of torture before putting me out of my misery. “Imogene won’t be attending any parties. Not since the last ordeal.”
Clearly, the party is still a touchy subject. It was just a kiss. A short, sweet…mind-bender of a kiss that I wouldn’t mind experiencing again should I get the chance.
Ginny stomps her foot. “I’m not interested in parties.” Recognizing her outburst, she pauses to take a breath. “I just want some freedom, Mom.” She glares at her mother. If there’s anyone that understands what Ginny is saying, it’s me. Her thirst for freedom? Right up my alley.
Coach Williams is quick to chime in. “You’ll have tons of freedom at Gilroy!” She’s going from recruiter to saleswoman pretty quickly. “You won’t believe our sprawling campus. You’ll have your own room once you’re a sophomore. You’ll only have a roommate the first year.”
Principal Gray leans in and speaks between her teeth. “Listen to her, Ginny.”
“I’m sorry.” Ginny gets up from the table, her gaze on the floor. “I know you came here because my mom invited you, Coach Williams, but Gilroy isn’t my first choice.” She turns and walks toward the stairs and presumably up toward her bedroom. My heart is pounding in agony because I want to follow her. To let her know it’s okay. That she’s not alone.
“Imogene Gray, where do you think you’re going?” her mom asks as she stands.
Without giving a response, Ginny runs up the stairs, and I’m left in awe. I never in a million years thought she’d be that bold. I burst with pride.
