Chapter 6
KC
I stopped near the front door of Pa’s house and glanced down at my phone when it buzzed, my stomach melting as I read Ren’s message again. My heart did stupid cartwheels behind my ribs.
Inked God Ren
Can’t wait to see you Wednesday. Maybe we can meet earlier? Tonight?
I resisted the urge to groan in disappointment and peeked over my shoulder at Oli, taking in the way the setting sun glinted across his curls and gentle face.
Sometimes I thought he was completely innocent with his soft-spoken voice.
He was too sweet for this world. There was something about Oli that piqued my interest and made me super aware of him, even though I tried hard not to be.
We hadn’t had many deep conversations, but he always held my attention when we were in a room together.
I didn’t know a lot about him because he was so shy, but Barber loved him.
He talked about him every day after work, about how great Oli was and how lost Barber would be without him.
He was proud of Oli, and it was a sharp reminder of how much of a father figure Barber was to him.
Whatever interest I had in Oli needed to be stomped on. Hard.
Either way, Oli needed my help with his car, and I couldn’t go back on my word because a man covered in hot tattoos was asking me out for a smoothie.
KC
Sorry, I can’t this evening. Helping a friend.
I pushed down a pout and shoved my phone back into the pocket of my shorts.
I turned toward Oli, wincing when my knee gave a painful throb.
I’d torn the ligament last year and it loved to remind me that I’d injured it.
Taking a run this afternoon was fine, but I’d pushed myself to a limit that our trainer told me to avoid.
I couldn’t not, though. After sitting out for so many games last season, I had a point to prove.
“I’m going to take a quick shower and make a protein smoothie before we go. Want anything while I’m in the kitchen?” I offered Oli a smile.
Red bled into Oli’s cheeks and he shook his head, then tucked his chin against his chest as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to look at me or hide. He hugged a sketchbook like a lifeline. “No, I’m good, thanks.” His voice wobbled with uncertainty.
“All right. I won’t be long. You want to come in and wait?”
“No, no.” He laughed, but the sound sat somewhere between embarrassed and distraught, and I didn’t understand what I’d done to make him so awkward around me. “I’m fine to wait here.”
I frowned, but something told me I wouldn’t win this fight. Oli was on the verge of jumping out of his skin and I didn’t know why. “Okay.”
I made my way inside, bypassing the living room to head straight to my bedroom.
Pa had given me the biggest room in the house when we’d first moved in and it was on the bottom floor, which made it easy to leave early in the mornings to work out while Pa still slept.
He’d told me more than once that he trusted me, so if I ever wanted to bring boys home, I could, and I loved him for the faith he had in me.
But the sad reality was that I’d never had a guy in my room.
I’d dated one person and he would rather have been caught dead than anywhere near my house.
His resistance to being seen in my bedroom messed with my head, and while Pa had told me the problem was with him and not me, my brain didn’t get the memo. Hookups worked for me, at least for now.
I went through to my connected bathroom and took a quick shower.
When I was finished and dressed, I walked into the kitchen to the blender.
I was quick making my smoothie, putting together the fruits and whey isolate protein that Hawthorn had suggested.
Technically, I was drinking more smoothies than he’d recommended, but I didn’t see how it mattered. I needed all the muscle I could get.
Once the smoothie was made and in my to-go cup, I grabbed my Jeep keys and met Oli out front. Twilight was settling in and he looked a little lost in the growing gloom.
“This one’s mine.” I pointed at my orange Jeep parked at the end of the driveway near the street.
Oli smiled and ducked his head with a small shrug. “I know what you drive, KC.”
I cocked my head, taking in his permanently pink cheeks and the way he kept darting his gaze at me.
He’d always been a shy guy, and I could never figure out why.
He was cute, with brown curls, pale skin, and big brown eyes, and he’d started growing into his body.
While he was still sinewy, his pecs and deltoids had hardened up and his forearms were firmer.
He wasn’t my usual type because I liked someone who didn’t mind standing out in a crowd.
He was attractive, but I wasn’t sure we would mesh, even if I wasn’t worried about his connection to Barber and had asked him out.
We slipped into the Jeep, and I reversed, putting her on the street before knocking it into Drive.
“How are your classes going?” I asked, filling in the awkward silence that prickled my skin. I popped on the headlights because it had finally reached the point where they were necessary.
He didn’t say anything. It felt like he was stuck in a thinking silence, but it dragged out.
I hated when it was too quiet. I resisted the urge to groan. “I’ve got Weeman for one of mine.”
Oli flinched. Everyone majoring in business knew Weeman. He’d been voted the shittiest prof at NGU for the third year in a row, and the first one was his first year, too. He hadn’t wasted time making sure everyone hated him.
“I don’t have him this semester, thank God.
” His voice sounded strained, and I had a feeling Weeman had picked on him, which made sense.
Weeman loved going for the students who wouldn’t speak up.
“But I had him last year. He was an asshole.” He played with the ring on his finger, gaze drifting down to the heavy silver band.
“But he graded fairly and I aced the class.”
“ ’Course you did.” I chuckled. “You’re smart as hell.”
I waved at one of our neighbors walking her Great Dane named Jerry that I loved petting. I turned a corner to head for the bridge that connected Vert Island with New Gothenburg.
“I’m not that smart,” Oli grumbled, but the blush spread down his neck into the collar of his shirt.
“I mean, I’ve always done okay. For a while I wanted to drop out of high school because I was bored, but Mom wouldn’t let me.
” I followed the pinkish red with my eyes, unable to stop my gaze from trailing in the same direction.
How far south did that blush go? Was his chest flushed, too?
I shook the thought out of my head. Nope.
I wasn’t going there. Thinking about him in any sexual way was out of line.
“Bullshit. Barber tells us how you do at school. It’s fucking awesome.
Better than me.” I flinched. “I bombed my first test in Weeman’s class.
He gave us one on the first day to see how much we knew.
I can’t fail the class or there’s a chance I’ll get kicked off the team.
I’m there on a scholarship, so I need to keep my grades up.
Weeman would probably love that. He has it out for athletes. ”
Oli made a sound of agreement. “He really does. Last year, he made a lacrosse player cry. Full-on sobbing. Not long after, the player ended up leaving the school. Went to one down South.”
“You’re kidding.” I didn’t laugh, but it was close, mostly because I fucking hated lacrosse players.
There was something extra douchey about them and the way they saw themselves.
The football team had been in fights with them more than once, especially at parties.
Good thing I never went out the way my teammates did.
“Nope. He was an all right guy, too.” Oli shrugged. He did that a lot. “I felt bad for him.”
“Maybe I need you to tutor me.” I was half teasing but a little serious. He had better ways to spend his time, though.
“I’d love to.” He sat up straighter in his seat, eyes wider than usual as his gaze fell on me. He had his sketchbook clasped to his chest again. “I can, that is. Tutor you.”
“We’re in the same year.” I grinned despite myself, warmth weaving through me.
Oli was a genuine soul, carved from compassion and purity, and I’d never quite met a person like him.
A curl fell across his eyes, and my fingers twitched as the urge to brush it away took hold.
The only thing that saved me from doing something stupid was driving.
“But I’m passing with flying colors and you need help. Let me tutor you.”
It wasn’t a terrible idea. Actually, the suggestion was awesome. “Okay, yeah. If you’re up for it.” I grinned. “I’m doing pretty good, but I’d love another set of eyes on my assignments when I’m finished with them. I’d pay you.”
“No, no!” He shook his head fast, his curls bouncing.
His eyes lit up, something happy and bright and confident filling them for the first time.
Barber always said Oli had sass, but I’d never seen it.
He’d been quiet and reserved in a way that made me wonder a little if Barber was pulling my leg. “I don’t need your money.”
“Don’t be stupid.” I grabbed my smoothie from the cup holder and took a long sip from the straw. “You need the cash.”
Oli’s shoulders went taut and his mouth twisted, an irritation I didn’t think I’d ever seen taking over his face. “I’m not poor.” The words came out clipped, his voice deeper than usual, with a lingering hurt that made shame curdle in my stomach.
“I’m not saying that,” I blurted, hoping to soothe his hurt pride.
Oli was the last person I wanted to offend.
“It’s just . . . . You work for Barber and go to college, and everything’s so fucking expensive.
You shouldn’t have to do anything for free, Oli.
Don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Your time is worth the money. ”