I was being paranoid. I was meeting him in a very public place. Besides, Declan would be driving me, so if I needed help, he’d be there. And Larissa would know where I was, too. I’d be perfectly fine.
Me: SEE YOU LATER.
And then my heart started beating for an entirely different reason—despite my nerves, I was curious to see him in person.
CHAPTER FIVE:
Study Buddy
WHEN THE FINAL BELL RANG, I rushed out of school and found Declan waiting for me. He had the back door open, and as I approached, he smiled. I returned the gesture, even though I was exhausted. And nervous. I climbed into the backseat, and he closed the door before rounding the car and sliding in behind the steering wheel.
“Going straight home again today?” he asked just like he did every day.
“Not today. Can you please take me to Annie’s Bookstore and Café? I’m meeting someone about a tutoring job.”
Declan caught my gaze in the rearview mirror and grinned. “Tutoring, huh?”
“That’s the plan.”
Providing the guy I was meeting decided to hire me. Sighing, I rested my head on the back of the seat and closed my eyes.
Since I’d gotten the text about tutoring, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what I was doing. What if this guy was a total creep?
“Here we are, Miss Chloe.” Declan stopped in front of the bookstore.
Nerves raged in my stomach, and I blew out a long breath. I can do this. Declan opened my door, and I got out, refusing to acknowledge how my legs shook.
“I’ll be here waiting,” he said.
I nodded. “Thanks.”
I straightened my shirt, made sure my skirt wasn’t twisted, and then headed inside. Air conditioning blasted me as soon as I stepped over the threshold. A shiver worked its way down my back.
The store was quaint, which was exactly why I loved it. To my right was a small coffee bar, complete with handmade desserts and pastries. Directly in front of me were stacks upon stacks of books, neatly shelved by category and author name. I wound my way through the bookshelves to find the small cluster of tables in the back.
A tall, dark-haired, skinny guy sat at a table near the window. Headphones covered his ears, and his attention was focused on the laptop open in front of him. That wasn’t who I was meeting, was it? In his text, he said he had big muscles, and I was sure that guy hadn’t lifted a weight a day in his life.
My gaze swept the room and eventually landed on the guy sitting at the table in the farthest corner of the room. Whoa. I was pretty sure my jaw hit the floor. He sat in the chair, hands wrapped around a paper cup, face turned away from me, offering me a chance to study his profile.
He had thick, dark hair, a strong jaw, high cheekbones, and he hadn’t been lying about the muscles. His long-sleeved gray shirt stretched across his chest. One long, jean clad leg stuck out from the side of the table. He looked incredibly comfortable.
This was the guy I was supposed to tutor?
A moment later, he glanced up and pinned me with the sharpest blue eyes I’d ever seen. My breath hitched, and I blinked fast, hoping maybe he wasn’t really that hot, and I was seeing things. But then he stood, the movement the most graceful thing I’d ever seen. He hadn’t been lying about being tall, either. He had to be pushing a few inches over six feet.
“Chloe?” he asked.
Good God. His voice was deep and rich.
“Uh…” I cleared my throat. “Yeah. I’m Chloe.”
That was smooth. If I couldn’t even form a coherent answer to his very simple question, there was no way he’d trust me to tutor him.
He smiled, and I nearly threw my hands up in the air in frustration. Of course, his smile was as perfect as the rest of him. Seriously, where did this guy come from? Did he magically appear out of the pages of a romance novel?
“Would you like to sit?” He motioned toward the table.
I nodded. Yes, sitting was good. I reached for the chair opposite the one he’d been sitting in a moment ago, but he grabbed it before I could. He pulled it out for me, and I stared at him. I didn’t realize guys my age did things like that. Hesitantly, I sat, dropping my backpack onto the floor near my feet, and he returned to his seat.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked.
“No, thank you.” I shook my head.
My entire body was on high alert, and I had the sudden urge to flee, to run out of this bookstore and demand Declan drive me home as fast as possible. But I had no idea why. This guy didn’t seem creepy at all—just the opposite, in fact. He was being a complete gentleman. Yet, something about him unsettled me.
“So, how long have you been tutoring?” he asked, once again wrapping his hands around the mug.
The action drew my attention, and some of the uneasiness drifted away. “Actually, you’re the first person I’ve ever tutored. I mean, if you want to hire me, that is.” I laughed nervously and twisted my hands in my lap.
“I have every intention of hiring you,” he said, a hint of something more in his tone, something only he was privy to.
“You do?” I asked, shocked.
He chuckled, and like his voice, it was deep and rich. “Yes,” he said.
“Why?” I folded my arms on the table and leaned forward. “You don’t even know me. Maybe I’m a fraud.”
His lips curved into what was quite possibly the most arrogant smirk known to mankind. It was also one of the sexiest things I’d ever seen.
“Call it a gut instinct,” he said, humor dancing behind his blue eyes. “Though, I do have a few… requests.”
I narrowed my eyes. I knew this guy was too good to be true. Leaning back, I crossed my arms. “What kind of requests?” I asked.
“No one knows I’m here,” he said, his voice level. “And I want to keep it that way.”
Understanding dawned on me. “Right. You have a reputation to protect.”
Of course, he did. He was probably the most popular guy in his high school. More than likely he was the star player on some sports team, and he most definitely had a girlfriend. How could he not? I bet his girlfriend was gorgeous, too. He didn’t want anyone to know he was flunking classes and needed help.
“Something like that,” he said, his gaze intense. “So, what days are you available? I’d like to start as soon as possible. You know… finals and everything.”
I tilted my head. “Who said I was going to take the job?”
He narrowed his eyes, and I swore they darkened a few shades. “Why wouldn’t you?” he asked, sounding genuinely confused. And curious.
I shrugged. “Well, for starters, I have no idea who you are. You haven’t bothered to tell me your name, and I don’t know what classes you need help with. ‘All of them’ isn’t exactly a helpful answer. And we need to discuss payment, too.”
“I’ll tell you what.” He leaned over the table, eyes suddenly a vibrant, sparkling blue. “You tell me if you’re going to tutor me, and I’ll tell you my name.”
Was this guy for real? Mimicking his posture, I leaned forward, too, our faces inches apart. I had no idea if I could even help him, but that little fact didn’t seem to bother him, so why should I care? If he wanted to give me money to help him, then I’d help him. He was nice to look at, too, which was a big bonus.
“Okay, fine. I can do Mondays and Wednesdays after school. We can meet here,” I said.
I had no idea why I’d chosen those days specifically, but I needed some days to myself for my own studies, so offering to meet him every day was out of the question.
“Perfect. We’ll start tomorrow, then,” he said.
Slowly, he leaned back in his chair, his demeanor cool, and not for the first time since arriving, I wondered if I was in over my head.
“Well?” I said after a moment. “What am I supposed to call you?”
“Jaxon,” he said.
Something nagged at the back of my mind. I swore I’d heard that name before, bu
t where? To my knowledge, there wasn’t a Jaxon in my school, and I didn’t know anyone from Keene Valley by that name. And I was positive I’d never met this guy until now. I shook the thought away. Hefting my backpack from the floor, I rummaged around for my cell phone.
“What’re you doing?” he asked.
“Adding you to my contacts.” I didn’t bother to look up as I added his name to the number he’d used to text me.
“Why? Are you planning to text me?” There was a trace of humor in his tone.
“Yeah, I mean, if something comes up or whatever.” I set my phone on the table. “You have my number, too, so if you ever need to cancel or reschedule…”
Jaxon slid his cup to the edge of the table so it was out of the way, and then he rested his arms on the table. His eyes danced with amusement. “What if I want to text you just because?” he asked.
I snorted. “Yeah, right.”
He was out of luck if he thought he could flirt his way into something more than a professional relationship. I was here for the money, no other reason. And I wasn’t getting attached to anyone or anything, not when I was leaving in a month.
“So, you need help studying for all your finals?” I asked.
He nodded, and I couldn’t help but feel like he was utterly bored with this conversation.
“What classes are you taking?” I asked.
“You know, the usual ones. Math. English. Science.”
I sighed with frustration. “Could you be a little more specific?”
“Probably.” He stood. “But I’m not going to. Not yet.” Then he grinned, the look full of mischief. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
I stood and flung my backpack over my shoulder. “Same time?”
“It’s a date.” His smile turned seductive, and my heart kicked into overdrive.
“No, it’s most definitely not a date,” I said firmly. “Make sure you bring everything you need so I can help you. Notes. Books. Whatever.”
“You’re kind of bossy.” He laughed. “I like that.”
I rolled my eyes, but I was powerless to stop the heat that crept up my neck. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, trying and failing to hide my smile. “I accept cash, by the way.”
He laughed. “How much?”
I shrugged. “Twenty an hour?”
“Perfect,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Maybe I should’ve asked for more. I shifted on my feet, his scrutiny both exciting and unsettling. “Good. See you later, then,” I said, turning to walk away.
“Chloe?”
I turned back to look at him. “Yeah?”
“Feel free to wear this”—he waved his hand up and down in front of me, indicating my school uniform—“any time you want. It’s a good look for you.”
I narrowed my eyes and marched up to him. “Let’s get one thing straight right now, Jaxon. This is a business relationship. I help you study, and you pay me. That’s it. So, quit it with the flirting or you can find yourself a different tutor.”
Without another word, I walked out of the bookstore. But I felt his eyes on my back the entire time. Talk about intense.
As soon as I was outside, my shoulders slumped, and I inhaled a lungful of air. A second later, Declan pulled up to the curb. He hopped out and opened my door.
As I climbed into the car, my gaze was drawn to a guy standing across the street. I squinted against the bright sunlight to get a better look, but all I could see with any clarity was his head full of dark hair and sunglasses. He looked an awful lot like Jaxon, but that wasn’t possible.
I glanced over my shoulder. Sure enough, there was Jaxon, standing inside the bookstore, but now he stood near the front window, very clearly watching me. Giving him a small wave, I slid into the backseat and hooked my seat belt.
Declan maneuvered through the city streets and then merged onto the highway. I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes. Today had been the longest day of my life, and I couldn’t wait to get home and curl up in bed. The hum of the engine lulled me into peacefulness, the sound reminding me of the waterfall back home.
Sounds of rushing water filled my ears, and the feel of the sun warming my face lifted my spirits. I was back in Keene Valley, sitting on a rock at the base of Roaring Brook Falls. My fingers were intertwined with someone else’s—a guy’s—his hand so much bigger than mine. His thumb rubbed over my knuckles, and I was so incredibly safe. I turned to look at him… And then he was gone.
My eyes snapped open. Who was that guy in my daydream? I hadn’t ever gone to the falls with a guy. Had I? I rubbed my temples, but my memory was fuzzy. I really needed some sleep.
When we arrived home, Declan once again opened my door, and I got out. “Thanks, Declan. See you tomorrow.”
Bounding up the steps, I rushed inside, eager to text Ellie. Now that I had something exciting going on in my life, I was better prepared to deal with her unshakable enthusiasm.
“You’re home late,” Larissa said. She was in the foyer, purse draped over her shoulder.
“Are you going somewhere?” I asked.
“I have to pick up Little Frank from a playdate. Want to ride along?”
“No. I have homework to do. Thanks, though.” I smiled.
It wasn’t too difficult to be nice to her—she made it easy. Too bad she’d settled for someone like my father. Under different circumstances, I could see me and Larissa being close; she was an easy person to like.
I headed for the stairs, then stopped. “Oh, I got a job.”
When I’d texted her earlier, all I’d told her was that I was making a stop at the bookstore on the way home—I hadn’t wanted to tell her about the tutoring job and then have to tell her it didn’t work out.
Her eyes widened, and then she smiled broadly. “You did? Doing what?”
I nodded. “Tutoring.”
I stopped short of saying Jaxon’s name, though I wasn’t positive why. Larissa wouldn’t forbid me from tutoring a guy. At least, I didn’t think she would.
“That’s wonderful, Chloe. I’m happy for you.” She rummaged through her purse and retrieved a pair of sunglasses.
My mind jumped back to the guy in the sunglasses standing across the street from the bookstore, and there was a stab of some unnamed emotion in my chest. I clutched the banister and winced at the unexpected pain radiating through me.
What was that all about? I blew out a slow breath, and the pain disappeared. That was weird.
“Do you know how often you’ll be working?” she asked.
“Mondays and Wednesdays after school. I can still clean the attic and scan pictures, if you want. I could do that on the days I’m not tutoring, and on weekends.” It wasn’t like I had a social life.
“Of course.” She patted my hand and smiled again. “We can talk about it more later, okay?”
“Sure.” With a nod, I turned and raced up to my room.
Kicking the door closed behind me, I dropped my bag to the floor. If I saved everything I made from tutoring, and whatever Larissa and Frank paid me, I should have enough money to go to Keene Valley before my eighteenth birthday. And with any luck, I wouldn’t have to return here. I sank down onto my bed.
I sent Ellie a quick text asking her to call me later. Before I could get my homework out of my bag, there was a knock on my door.
“Yeah?” I said.
“Heard you got a job,” Dad said as he stuck his head into my room.
“Yup. I took your advice about tutoring.”
He nodded, stepped fully into the room, and crossed his arms. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” My tone was cautious.
He hadn’t offered me a single word of praise since I’d moved here—at least not without following up with some demand or backhanded comment.
“All right then.” Without another word, he left the room.
Today had been such a strange day. I rubbed my hands over my face and exhaled loudly. I changed into my favorite p
air of cotton shorts and a T-shirt; then I settled on my bed to start some of my homework.
My phone dinged, and I snatched it, fully expecting to see Ellie’s name on my screen. My heart stopped when I read Jaxon’s name. Why was he texting me? Had he changed his mind about our arrangement? My hand trembled as I opened his message.
Jaxon: HEY, STUDY BUDDY.
There were a string of emojis—books, school building, and a person wearing glasses. I laughed.
Me: STUDY BUDDY?
Jaxon: I WAS GOING TO GO WITH “HEY BEAUTIFUL” BUT I DON’T WANT YOU TO YELL AT ME AGAIN.
Jaxon: PLEASE DON’T QUIT.
Jaxon: I REALLY DON’T WANT TO FIND ANOTHER TUTOR.
Rolling my eyes, I sank against my pillows and chewed on my bottom lip. I wasn’t really going to quit, but I didn’t want to spend every afternoon more focused on him flirting than his studying, because I had to face the facts—Jaxon had the potential to be a huge distraction.
Me: I’M NOT GOING TO QUIT.
Me: BUT STOP FLIRTING. I MEAN IT!!
Jaxon: NOT EVEN A LITTLE?
Me: LOL. NO!
Yet, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.
Jaxon: YOU’RE NO FUN. He included the emoji with its tongue sticking out.
Jaxon: MOST GIRLS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ME FLIRT WITH THEM.
My jaw dropped. Talk about an ego. Though, he had every right to be arrogant—he was hot, and I had no doubts girls fell over each other to get his attention. But I wasn’t interested in anything but getting back to Keene Valley. I was hyper-focused on that, and I wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—distract me.
Me: THEN YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE FINDING SOMEONE ELSE TO FLIRT WITH.
Jaxon: OUCH.
Jaxon: SO, WHAT’S THE DEAL? YOU GOT A BOYFRIEND OR SOMETHING?
My mind wandered to Simon. He wasn’t my boyfriend, not even close, but there was something brewing between us. Right? I mean, why would he ask me to go to a concert with him or stick up for me against his sister if he didn’t want more than friendship? Did I want more than friendship, though?
Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2) Page 4