Page 33 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

I shrug again but don’t deny it.

I’m not here because I want to be.

Scratch that. I’m at this table, sitting next to a hot girl because I want to be, but I’m not going to college because I want to. I’m doing it because my mom begged me to, and I don’t want to see the look of disappointment in her eyes again. Not after my dad’s accident. Not after the part I played in it.

But attending college and graduating from college are two different things. The latter of which I’m not sure I have the willpower to achieve. Not when I know I don’t deserve it.

“All right, mister,” Ash says, settling back into her chair, picking up her blue pen, and clicking its back with a bit more zealousness. “Let’s see if we can catch you up on expected values. Let’s turn to page 103.”

And even though I already know this shit, I listen, mesmerized by the lilt in her voice and the way her eyes light up as she explains everything in the chapter, making my cock harder than ever beneath the kitchen table in her boyfriend’s house.

I’m screwed.

13

COLT

SeaBird’s the only bar close to campus. Normally, I’d bitch about it, but the place is actually pretty sick. There’s a stage at the back for live music, a bar lined with every alcohol choice a guy could ask for, and it’s packed with students from school.

Who needs Tinder when there’s a place like this? And after a long-ass, tortuous tutoring session with a girl who’s off the market, I need to get laid now more than ever.

Logan drags out a barstool from under the counter and collapses onto it while Theo flanks his opposite side. I take the last seat available as a pretty bartender in her thirties takes our orders.

Once we’ve been served, Logan says, “All right, man, I gotta know. Since when do you need a tutor? You graduated at the top of our class.”

“Guess I lost my touch,” I mutter.

“You sure?”

I turn on my chair and tilt my head. “What else would it be?”

“Just wanna make sure you’re okay,” he lies, his attention darting from me to a pair of girls in short skirts grinding against each other on the dance floor.

I scoff into my glass and give them my back. “Or maybe you’re asking because your girlfriend’s my tutor? I didn't exactly plan it, man,” I clarify with a dry laugh. “But it’s been amusing to watch you squirm.”

Annoyed, Logan turns back to me, asks, “Were you always this much of a dick?” and presses his beer bottle to his lips.

Personally, I prefer tap, but who am I to judge?

Theo laughs beside Logan. “Colt’s always been a dick, and you know it. He hits on anything with boobs.”

I bark out my laughter and shake my head. “Come on. Not anything. I do have some standards.”

“Guess I wondered if the last few years would’ve changed anything,” Logan mutters into his drink. “Apparently not.”

“You know me,” I return, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I gulp down some of my beverage.

“Give him a break, Logan,” Theo interrupts. “Buchanan set Ash up with Colt for tutoring. Colt didn’t have anything to do with it. And even if he did, Colt’s messing with you. You know he wouldn’t cross the line.”

Logan’s gaze shifts from Theo to me. Anxious. Frustrated. On edge.

Theo’s right. I wouldn’t. I might like messing with Logan, but I’m not that much of an ass.

“But Ashlyn?” Logan argues, unconvinced. “Come on, man. She’s special.”

“No offense, but I heard you screwing a different girl every night before Ashlyn showed up at the party last week.”

His knuckles turn white as he throttles the beer bottle in his hand. “That’s between Ash and me.”

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