3. Willa
CHAPTER 3
WILLA
L exie plops a pile of books on the counter and flashes me a huge smile. She’s practically vibrating, she’s so excited. Leaning over the counter, she whispers, “Guess who’s here? In the library?”
I try to think of the name of the guy she’s currently crushing on. “Hayes? Or Harley? Sorry, I can’t remember.”
Her lips twist into a wry smile. “It’s Hayden, but no. Even better. Trent Hightower!”
Above her bent head, I see his tall, fit body weaving through the students. “He’s coming up behind you.”
She whips around, and I cringe. We’re so obvious.
“Trent,” she practically purrs. “Can we help you find something?”
He glances at the two guys with him and waves a hand to the right. “I’ll meet you at the table with Kelcey and her friends.”
My gaze follows and lands on a table full of pretty girls sitting nearby. Gorgeous and bubbly, and guessing by their uniforms, cheerleaders.
Once his buddies walk off, he turns back to us. “My professor told me I could find a tutor here for my biomechanics class?” He looks at Lexie, then swivels his glance to me.
Lexie pouts. “Unfortunately, I’m a marketing major. Willa’s your girl.”
He slowly nods and flashes me a half smile. “Do you have a second?” When I dip my chin in answer, his gaze returns to Lexie, and he waits, saying nothing.
Enviously, I watch him silently command her. Is that something bred into the wealthy? Or are some people just born with the innate ability to get people to do what they want with little protest? I wish I could cultivate that level of confidence.
She sighs, then winks at me. “I’ll go put these books away.” She brushes against Trent as she pushes past him, her arms full again.
I wince. “Sorry about that. Lexie’s a fan.”
Eyes narrowed; he stares at me for a minute. What he’s looking for, I’m not sure, but just as an uneasy feeling crawls up my spine, he steps forward and flashes a big, white smile. “That’s nice, but I’m only interested in you.”
Those words, coming out of his perfectly shaped lips, make the heat rise from my chest to my face.
He needs a tutor, I remind myself, trying to will the embarrassing blush away.
Placing his forearms on the counter, he leans in closer and presses his hands together like he’s praying. “Kinesiology is my major, and I need to make sure I pass this class. Please tell me you have an opening?”
He pouts a little, turning his puppy dog eyes on me, and I can’t help but laugh. Still feeling self-conscious, I reach for my phone and pull up my schedule. “Stop. You’re killing me. I’m sure I have an opening.” Trying to be fast when your fingers can barely function is impossible. Focus. Finally, my clumsy taps and swipes are successful.
When I glance up, his dark eyes are drilling into me as if he’s trying to peer inside my soul. Uneasy again, I still for a second, but he blinks, and the intensity eases.
“What day works for you?”
Trent thinks about it for a second. “Probably Tuesdays. I have practice and games the rest of the week.”
I secretly wince. Tuesdays are my worst days because I have three classes and work, plus I’m tutoring two others on that night. “Mondays would work better for me, but if you can’t meet on Mondays, I’ll work you in on Tuesdays. It will be late, though. I already have two other sessions that night. Can you meet at eight p.m.?”
He breathes out a sigh of relief. “Tuesdays at eight would be great. How much?”
“Thirty dollars a session, and I need a month upfront, which comes to one hundred and twenty dollars. Cash,” I tell him. The money I earn from tutoring isn’t much, but I use it to cover my daily expenses.
With a nod, he agrees. “Deal. Should we meet here?”
“Yes. Bring your weekly assignments. We’ll do those together, then walk through the lectures for the following week,” I reply. “Don’t be late, and don’t bring anyone with you.”
He flashes a broad smile. “I’ll be here at eight. Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I raise my hand to seal the deal, and his large, warm hand engulfs mine. “See you Tuesday.”
He walks off. Moments later, he’s leaning over a vivacious blond, laughing at something she’s saying. I wonder if that’s Kelcey? They look close. His friends look from him to me, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want them to know anything, so I turn away.
* * *
Trent is five minutes early on Tuesday. I’m just finishing up with Maggie, another student, who I’m tutoring in biology. I signal for him to wait, and he slides into a nearby chair.
Eyes wide, Maggie looks from him to me and giggles. “What’s he doing here? You’re tutoring him, aren’t you? Wait until I tell my roommate. She’s been trying to run into him all semester.” Her red lips curve in anticipation.
I silently groan. Trying to make my tone as dismissive as possible, I answer her. “He’s just looking for a book for his biomechanics class. I told him I’d help him find it.” I tap on the paper in front of me. “Great job on your quiz. Next week, bring your notes for the mid-term, and I’ll help you study.”
She nods, but I can tell all her attention is on Trent. “Okay.” Tugging on her skirt, she stands and makes her way over to where he’s lounging, then leans down to whisper in his ear.
I see something, maybe anger, spark in his eyes, but he quickly slaps on his mask and flashes her the same broad smile he shows to everyone. She writes something on his notebook, then winks at him and walks away.
After she’s gone, he comes over and sits down next to me. “Hi.”
I grimace. “Sorry about Maggie. Come on.” Standing, I grab all my stuff and shove it into my worn backpack. “I told her you were here for a book. She’ll get suspicious if we keep sitting here.” When I dart a glance at him, he’s studying me closely. “What?”
“I’m trying to figure out your angle.”
I roll my eyes. “Look. I was under the impression that you didn’t want people to know I was tutoring you, but it doesn’t matter to me one way or another. So, what do you want to do? Stay or go?”
“Where?” he cautiously replies.
I think about the tables scattered throughout the library. Most of them are out in the open. Except one. “We have a small conference room on the second floor. It’s private.”
With a strange expression on his face, he nods and gathers his books. “Lead the way.”
I head up the back stairs to the room in the corner. Taking a ring of keys out of my pocket, I unlock it and open it wide. “See. Table. Chairs. Just a room, not a den of iniquity.”
He slowly sits and places his stuff down on the table in front of him.
Following, I pull all my supplies out of my backpack and sit. “Did you bring the cash and your assignments?”
When he says nothing, I raise an eyebrow. “Look, it’s been a very long day. I just want to finish and go home.”
He pulls the money out of his pocket and hands it to me. Then he sifts through the papers on the table and pulls out a single sheet.
Counting it quickly, I stash the hundred and twenty dollars in my backpack and grab the paper. “Ok. Let’s get started. We’ll start with the five main components—motion, force, momentum, levers, and balance—then we’ll move into the planes and axes of the body. Sound good?”
Some of the tension eases from his shoulders, and he clears his throat. “Sorry. This is going to sound conceited, but… girls are always trying to trick me into being alone with them. I kind of thought… that you…” He stops talking and shrugs one of his broad shoulders.
It’s my turn to study him. He’s definitely uncomfortable. I get up and walk over to the door. “I’ll leave the door open, okay?”
The last thing I want him to think is that I’m chasing after him. Yes, he’s incredibly good-looking. But he’s too young and, oddly enough, out of my league. I’m an ordinary person living a pretty boring life. He’s a sports star from a wealthy and powerful family.
He chuckles. “You can close the door. I realize you’re not interested in me.”
I wave a hand. “It’s fine. It’s actually cooler in here with it open.” I turn my focus back to the work. For the next thirty minutes, I outline everything I think he’ll need to learn in the class while I work to get an understanding of his current level of knowledge.
“Honestly, I don’t think you need much help. You’ve got a good grasp of the basics, and with just a few sessions, you’ll easily understand the more advanced topics,” I inform him, flipping my wrist over to glance at the time. “Next session, we’ll jump into the axes and planes, then use the third session to dive into the various joints. For the fourth session, I’ll give you an old copy of a final, and we’ll see if there are any knowledge gaps.”
A relieved smile flashes across his face. “Thanks, that sounds great.”
“Okay. Time is up,” I say gently, wanting to get home.
With a quick swipe, he grabs his stuff. “Right. I’ll see you next week.”
Yawning, I make a few notes on the session, then pack up my things. It’s been a long day. My pajamas and comfy bed are calling my name. I swing my backpack onto my shoulders and make my way downstairs, passing giggling students along the way. Open all night, the library is a safe place for students to meet and study. I pass by a couple staring soulfully into each other’s eyes. Or flirt.
Cool night air caresses my skin, and I sigh. I’ve spent the past seven hours in the library, working and tutoring. It feels good to leave.
Rustling has me turning toward the nearby bushes. The area around them is dark. Branches sway back and forth, but I can’t see anyone. I dismiss it as the wind but freeze a second later when I hear a twig snap. My breath stalls. An animal? Peering into the dense foliage, I realize it’s too dark to see anything. Holding my breath, I wait, but there are no other noises. Goosebumps appear on my arms. All my senses are tingling, telling me someone is there. I continue to wait.
A couple of students walk out of the library and pause beside me. Taking advantage, I snatch open my purse and grab my keys. Safety in numbers. With them next to me, I hurry down the steps, then swivel toward the parking lot.
Having arrived early today, I was able to grab the parking space closest to the library, so it doesn’t take long to get to my car and jump inside. I immediately lock the door. When I look around, I don’t see anyone. Feeling foolish, I take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. Probably a cat or raccoon or something.