A Hockey Tutor

by Smith, Mary

  Instead of just saying “thank you,” I hugged him.

  Chapter 11 – Katie

  “So, I went down to the landlord’s today to pay my half of the rent, and he told me that it had been taken care of until the lease expires.” Lindsay had her hands on her hips, looking down at me as I sat on the couch, reading my photography book.

  “Well, Linds, what did you think I was going to do with all that money? Have the bank give it to me in ones and go down to the all-male strip club?” I joked with her.

  “I would have totally done that,” she laughed, sitting next to me. “How about I just pay the bills with my half, and if it’s more than that, I’ll let you know?”

  “That sounds fair,” I agreed.

  “And no more buying groceries. Remember, we’re splitting everything?” Lindsay reminded me.

  “Well, I didn’t think you wanted to live on Cheetos and pizza all semester,” I said sarcastically.

  “When did you go shopping anyway?”

  “When Franks was trying to feel you up while watching the movie. I figured it was time for me to leave. So, what’s the deal with you two?” I asked, shutting my book.

  Lindsay shrugged. “We’re just friends.”

  I stared at her, waiting for her to elaborate.

  “Well, I mean, he’s a nice guy, but right now we’re just having fun,” she explained. “What about you and Andrew?”

  “There is nothing between us,” I said firmly.

  “I think there is.” She winked at me. I didn’t want to tell her about how my feelings had been all over the place since waking up in his bed the other day.

  “His dad’s email reminded me that midterms aren’t that far away, and he has to have his grades up,” I said, changing the subject.

  “Speaking of which,” she clasped her hands together and rubbed them wickedly, “Halloween is almost here.”

  I perked up. “That means Halloween parties,” I sang out. I loved everything about Halloween parties: the dressing up, the makeup, the wigs. It was the one time a year you could be whoever you wanted to be.

  “How about we go shopping later?” Lindsay suggested.

  “I can’t today; I have to get Andrew from practice, and then we need to get some studying done. Rain check?” I asked.

  “Sure, maybe this weekend?” She smiled as she got up, and walked to the kitchen.

  I grabbed my book and put my papers together. I took it all to my bedroom and packed up my bag. I yelled at Lindsay that I would see her later, and headed to the BMW.

  I thought about Andrew, again. He hadn't left my mind since he walked out of his house on Sunday. After I left the apartment, I went to the grocery store, and I thought about how he was there for me during the whole Wes situation.

  I parked in a spot by the rink, and shut off the car. . I rubbed my thumb over my charm on my necklace. I wished Nick were here. I knew he would help me through all of this.

  My phone pinged, alerting me of a text message. It was from Brandon.

  I’ll be in MN soon. Want to have dinner?

  I texted back:

  Why are you coming to MN?

  Meeting someone. So, dinner?

  I knew that “dinner” meant sex, and I wasn’t really sure I should string him along. Our time had passed, and it wasn’t fair to let him think there was a chance for us. Maybe if I had dinner with him I could explain all that.

  Let me know when you’re in town & I’ll see if I’m free.

  I hit send and then threw the phone into the cup holder. I sectioned off a piece of my hair and twirled it around my finger. I thought about the first time Brandon had asked me out on a date. We were freshmen, and our first homecoming was coming up. I had known Brandon all my life, and he knew that he had to go to Nick first.

  I lay my head back and let the memory wash over me:

  “So, Brandon wanted to know if it was okay to ask you out.” Nick was leaning against my bedroom doorframe, his dark brown hair spiked up like he had just rolled out of bed.

  “What did you say?” I asked, jumping up from my desk chair, literally bouncing on my toes.

  “I told him hell no. No guy is going to date my baby sister,” Nick said in a serious tone.

  “You didn’t, did you?” I asked in a panic, thinking my big brother had ruined my chances of going to the homecoming dance.

  Nick laughed. “No, I’m messing with you, Cinderella. He’s going to ask you out tomorrow at school.”

  I squealed and leapt into his arms. “Are you kidding?”

  “Calm down. You’re not going to marry him.” He sat me back down.

  “How do you know? Maybe he’s my Prince Charming,” I said, twirling around my room as if I were a ballerina on a cloud.

  “Your Prince Charming is still out there.” He tussled my hair, and walked out of my room.

  My big brother was always looking out for me. I didn't know what I would ever do without him.

  I quickly swept the tears from my cheeks t as I noticed Andrew coming towards the car. I hit the trunk button so he could put his bag in.

  “Hey,” he said, as he opened the door and climbed in.

  “Hey,” I repeated, starting the car, and backing out of the parking spot. “How was practice?”

  Andrew chuckled. “Actually, very good. Wes’ still leaving me alone, and that makes me happy.”

  I didn’t say anything because I sort of felt bad. I just let my anger get the best of me. I drove across campus to the library. I knew that we had a lot of work to do, and I really didn’t want to waste any time thinking about Wes Crown.

  I got out of the car and pulled my coat flush against my body. It was freezing, and snow was in the forecast. I briskly walked into the warm building as Andrew jogged up next to me.

  “I didn’t know you were so excited to study business management,” he joked.

  “I was just cold.” I walked to the back of the library and found an empty table.

  For the next two hours, I didn’t talk about anything but business management. I caught glimpses of Andrew giving me strange looks, but I ignored them and focused on the homework. When we were finally done with the chapter and the study guide for the upcoming midterm, I shut the book.

  “I’m done,” I announced to him, and so are you.” I closed his book. “As long as you study the guides and the questions, you shouldn’t have any problems with the midterm. Ready to go home?” I started shoving everything into my bag.

  “Um, yeah, sure,” he stammered, gathering his books up. “You know what, I’m not.” He stopped what he was doing, and turned to me. “Let’s go to dinner.”

  “What?” His tone was suddenly different. “Wait, are you asking me out?”

  Andrew stood there staring at me for several seconds before he took a deep breath and said, “Yes.”

  “Then no,” I quickly answered.

  “What?” He looked shocked.

  “If you are asking me on a date, then my answer is no. We can’t mix business with pleasure, and this,” I pointed in between us, “is just business.” I was lying, and I knew it. My heart was beating so fast, because I did want to go out with him.

  “Just business?” His blue eyes bore into me.

  “Yes. I mean, we’re friends and that’s all good, but nothing more,” I said hurriedly. I threw my bag over my shoulder and turned away from him.

  What the hell was wrong with me? Ever since the other night, in his bed, everything that happened with Wes, and at the rink, I couldn't process it all. I just . . . couldn’t. I didn't know how to tell him that I hadn't been in a serious relationship since Brandon, and I didn't even know how significant that one was because we were just kids. Since then it had been just a couple of dates with a few guys, and nothing ever happened with them. Then there was Wes, and that was just a complete mess.

  What happened if we dated and it became serious, and then something bad happened? What would I do then? I valued our friendship and I didn't want to ruin
it.

  I left the library not even knowing if Andrew was behind me, and raced to the car. I started it and turned the heat on full blast. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down.

  Andrew opened the passenger door and dropped into the car. I didn't say anything as I pulled out and drove towards his house. The tension was so tight in the car, it was almost me.

  As I turned into his driveway I couldn’t take it a moment longer. “Andrew, I didn’t—”

  “Stop. Just stop,” he barked, cutting me off. “I don’t need to hear any excuse that you come up with.” He started to get out of the car, but I pulled him back in.

  “You’re going to listen to me,” I told him loudly.

  He looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes, but didn’t say anything.

  “I like you, Andrew. I do, but we need to keep this professional. Your father hired me to tutor you, not to be your girlfriend,” I explained. I wanted to say that I wanted to be more than a friend, but I couldn’t get the words out.

  “This is just business,” he repeated to me, and got out of the car. He tapped on the trunk, and I hit the release button. I watched as he walked inside, never turning back to look at me.

  Chapter 12 – Andrew

  This had been a week from hell. Practice was becoming harder, as were the projects, homework, and studying. To top it all off, Katie and I were barley speaking. Any time we did talk, it was a small greeting or about school-related work.

  I had never been so thankful to have a bye week. I told Franks I was going to stay drunk all weekend, and sleep it off on Sunday, but I knew I really couldn’t do that, because Katie had me on a tight schedule this week because of midterms.

  “Well, I guess we’re done.” Katie shut her book and gave me a tight smile.

  “Great, I’ll see you on Saturday.” I tossed all my books into my bag and threw my bag onto my shoulders.

  “I’m giving you a ride home, right?” she asked, confused.

  “Nah, I’ll just walk,” I told her.

  “Andrew,” she chastised.

  I leaned in close to her face, gazed into her beautiful golden eyes , and said . . .“It’s four thirty; you can punch out for the day, Ms. Miller.” I held her gaze for another few seconds, then broke eye contact and walked out of the library.

  It had snowed the night before, and there were several inches on the ground. The sun’s rays reflected brightly off of the snow, and I wished I had my sunglasses. With each step, the snow crunched under my combat boots, reminding me that I was getting closer to home, and all I wanted to do was drink.

  I tried not to think about Katie, but she seemed to take over my brain more and more these days. Her kissable lips, stunning eyes, and vivacious curves had been killing me. I knew I had been mean to her this week, but that was just my barrier, trying to keep my feelings from being hurt any more.

  When she told me in the car that it was just business, I was hurt. There I was, for the first time ever, asking someone out on a real date, and she said no. I tried not to think about it.

  I turned my focus to midterms next week. Was it really that time? I knew that I had been studying like a madman, and between studying and games and practice, I was surprised I hadn't passed out from exhaustion.

  I walked into the house and fell onto my couch. I was thankful for the warmth, because I was freezing. I heard Franks chuckling from the other room.

  “Long day, sweetheart?” he asked from the doorway. I flipped him off.

  “Ouch, that hurts.”

  “I’m so tired,” I moaned into the cushion.

  “So, you don’t want to party?”

  I looked up at him. “Oh I still want to party. I want to party all night long.”

  “Hell yeah,” Franks clapped his hands together.

  Several hours later, after a shower and shave, donning a pair of dark jeans and a polo shirt, a beer in each hand, I was talking to some of my teammates when I heard the laugh. I stopped midsentence, and turned.

  Her light brown hair hung loose about her shoulders and her face was bright with a big smile. Katie looked stunning, and I actually ached for her. I should have just respected her wishes, and left the situation alone, but I didn’t believe her when she said she just wanted to be friends. That was a damn lie. I could see in her eyes that she wanted me, too. I didn't know why she’d refused to go out with me, but I needed to find out.

  On my way over to Katie, Amber stepped in front of me and blocked my path.

  “You haven’t returned any of my calls or texts, Andrew.” She ran her hand up my chest.

  “Been busy, Amber. It’s midterm time, and I’ve been studying a lot.”

  “With her?” she sneered at me.

  “Yes. Katie is my tutor,” I told her.

  “I could teach you a few things. How about we go upstairs and pick up where we left off the last time we were in your bed?” she said seductively, batting her heavily painted eyes at me. This move probably worked on other guys, and if he hadn’t been thinking about Katie, maybe it would’ve worked on him.

  “I’m not in the mood for sex.” With you.

  “You said that the last two times we were about to fuck, so what gives?” She put her hands on her hips and gave me a pointed look.

  I shrugged at her. “I told you I wasn’t in the mood.”

  “It’s her, isn’t it?” She crossed her arms, pushing her breasts up so that they almost fell out of her low-cut pink sweater.

  “Her who?” I knew who she was talking about, but was hoping she would get annoyed and walk away.

  “Your little tutor. Your little Katie,” she hissed at me.

  I was in no mood to play these childish games. “Amber, we aren’t dating, therefore I don’t have to explain anything to you. We had a good time together, but I think it’s time for you to move on.”

  Her jaw dropped a little bit. “Are you kidding me? You’re dumping me?”

  “We were never in a relationship. I can’t dump you because we were never together.”

  “You’re an ass, Andrew Moore.” She swiveled on her heels, and stormed off, heading straight for Katie.

  “Shit,” I said under my breath. This couldn’t be good. Amber pulled Katie to the side and said something to her. I knew Katie had a good right hook, because I saw the shape of Wes’ nose, but Amber was tiny. Katie could do some serious damage to her.

  After a moment, Amber spun on her heels and walked away. Katie didn't move an inch; she just looked at the ground. Lindsay finally went over to her and tugged her by the arm to the dance floor. Lindsay whispered something to her, and then she began to dance to the music.

  I could watch her move those hips, and ass, all night long. She was an amazing dancer.

  “You know, you should keep asking her out,” Franks said, handing me another beer.

  “She said it was business.” I told him, chugging half my beer. My mouth went dry, watching Katie, and her seductive dance.

  “You think being mean to her is the way to win her over?” he asked.

  I didn't answer him. I figured that Lindsay told him that I had been a jerk to Katie lately. I’m not proud of it, but it was something that I needed to do, to protect myself.

  I didn’t want to deal with any of this right now. My plan was to stay drunk all weekend, and that was what I was going to do. I grabbed a bottle of tequila from the bar and headed up to my room. I needed some quiet, far away from Katie’s firm ass.

  I shut my door and slid down the far side wall. I could still feel the bass from the music on my back. I popped the seal on the bottle and took a large gulp. The burning sensation went all the way down my throat and into my stomach.

  I shouldn’t be mean to Katie. I knew that, but I wanted her so badly. I wanted to hold her hand, take her out, and have her in my bed. I'd never had these feelings for anyone before, and I couldn't explain them. I lay my head against the wall, shutting my eyes. I thought about her beautiful body, her gorgeous eyes, and her fine-looking
ass. I was so lost in thought, I didn’t hear her come in.

  “Andrew,” her soft voice floated through the air to me.

  I opened my eyes, and I roamed over her picturesque body. She had gray high heel boots on, with a pair of tight jeans, and a white-as-snow sheer blouse over a lace camisole.

  “What do you want, Katie?” I asked expressionless, even though my heart was yearning for her.

  “I’ve never known you to leave a party early.” She sat down next to me. “I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you were okay.” Her voice was low, and I could hear the genuine concern in it.

  “I’m fine.” I took another swig.

  We sat there not saying anything, just letting the beat of the bass fill the room.

  “You know, a nice guy would’ve offered me a drink.” She nodded toward the bottle in my hand.

  “I don’t have a glass, and I’m not a nice guy,” I informed her. She took the bottle from my hands and took a swig. “I could have spiked that.”

  “You didn’t, because the guy I know wouldn’t do something like that. Besides ,” she paused for a second, “I trust you.”

  “Great,” I rolled my eyes like a teenage girl would at her parents. “I need to go back to the party.” I grabbed the bottle back, stood up and started for the door. I didn’t want to be in my bedroom alone with her for another moment. I might say something I'd regret, and the twitch in my pants wasn’t going away.

  “No!” she shouted, jumping over my bed and blocking the door with her body. “We need to talk, and we’re going to do it now.”

  My mouth dropped. “Did you just leap over my bed? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move that fast,” I chuckled.

  “Shut up, Andrew. You and I need to talk.” She crossed her arms and stood with her back to the door.

  I relented, sitting down on my bed and placing the bottle on my nightstand. “What did Amber say to you?”

  “Don’t worry about it. You need to listen to me, please,” she begged.

  “Fine. I’m listening.”

  “I like you, Andrew,” she started.

  “I think we’ve established our ‘likeness’ for one another.”