Page 14 of Still Here Without You

Joelle: Actually, I’m sick of the library, so that wasn’t a question. We’re meeting outside. I’ll send you the details.

I laugh as Rachel eyes me curiously. “He’s hot, isn’t he?”

“He sure is.” I grin.

Rachel shakes her head with a fake frown. “Lucky bitch.”

I laugh but have to wonder why I haven’t already shared that piece of information. Discussing hotties is generally high on our priority list. Am I trying to keep him for myself?Nah, that can’t be it.I’ve just had other things on my mind.Right?

I’m half-asleep when the movie ends, and about to call it a night, when Rachel decides to broach a topic I was hoping to avoid. “Are the girls still giving you a hard time? I wish they’d say something while I was there. Then I could give them a piece of my mind.”

I mentioned the internship to Coach after finding out I was in the top ten. I didn’t want it to come out of nowhere if by some miracle I got it. And my lovely Coach decided to bring it up with the girls, telling us all we need to get our priorities straight. Then she proceeded to tell me I might have to choose, which kind of shocked me. Although, I don’t think she’ll actually kick me off the team unless I give her a reason to, and as difficult as it might be, I will work myself into the ground to stay on top of my commitments.

Offering Rachel an appreciative smile, I shake my head. “There’s no point in you being hated too. You’ve got another three years on the team.”

“So doyou.”

“I know, but I also might not, and they don’t get it.”

“Sometimes,Idon’t get it, but I understand that it’s your life and none of my business. Something they don’t seem to acknowledge.”

I sigh. It’s not the first time she’s hinted that she thinks I’m making the wrong decision. In fact, the only person who hasn’t tried to point out the cons is Joel. But I guess he doesn’t see me as Delilah the cheerleader. If he understood how much of my life I’d dedicated to cheer, maybe he’d also question why I was willing to juggle both. Or maybe he’d still be understanding? Guess we’ll never know. I don’t respond to Rach, so she moves the conversation to her latest hookup. She’s trying to single-handedly keep the cheerleader stereotype alive by always dating sports players. I think she’s already dated at least one guy from every team, an achievement she’s quite proud of.

We talk for a little bit longer, until she notices my eyes starting to droop. When she finally leaves around midnight, I text Joel back before curling up to sleep.

Delilah: Okay Joelle. Just tell me where.

Making my way toward Joel’s designated spot for our session the next day, I’m shocked to see it’s a part of campus I didn’t know existed. It looks like some kind of memorial garden with large trees, blooming flowers, and plaques—lots of them. I’m not close enough to see any writing, but make a mental note to check them out before I leave.

Joel’s lying on the grass with his arm covering his eyes, legs hooked at the ankles and a book open on his chest. A book you read forfun, not a textbook. Gotta say I’m impressed. Unfortunately, the placement of the book draws my attention to the strip of skin peeking out between his low jeans and bunched-up shirt. A small snail trail of hair disappears under the denim, and I find myself tilting my head in case I can see more.What am I doing?Shaking off my thoughts, I snap out of it and bite back a laugh.God, what was that?

“Are you going to continue standing there like a creep, or are you actually going to say hello?” Joel asks without moving.

My chest heats, but it’s warm out, so surely I can play it off as a little color from the sun. “I think I’ll take the creep option if it means I don’t have to deal with you.”

Joel laughs as he sits up, motioning for me to take a seat on the blanket he’s laid out. I drop down opposite him, crossing my legs before getting my book out, only for Joel to rip it from my lap, and dump it behind him with a smile. “We’re going to do things a little differently to start. No books.”

“O…kay.”

Joel squints at me with a frown. “You seem skeptical of my teaching methods.”

Sucking my lips into my mouth, I try but fail to hide my smile. “Not at all. Teach away.”

For the next thirty minutes, Joel throws question after question at me like a freaking pop quiz, only what he’s asking is completely random. I don’t even know where he’s pulling the information from. Some I manage to get correct by fluke, but others I have no idea. I’m about to give up when he says, “and we’re done,” then rubs his hands together with a megawatt smile on his face, looking like the cat that got the cream. “I know how you’re going to pass,” he adds.

My eyes widen, and my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Come again? Did you tune out? I completely fucked that up.”

“I know.” He grins happily.

“Then why the hell are you so happy?” My fist clenches because I’m pretty sure I’m about to hit him.

“I’ve figured out what you’re doing wrong.”

That gives me pause. “You have?”

“I have.” He nods, his cocky smile still in place.

I stare at him with a mix of awe, disbelief, and annoyance. How can he have figured it out when I still have no clue?

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