“Why do I sense a but in there?”
I take a deep breath. “Oral communication is important.”
“Oh.” He pauses. “You can do it, Scarlett. You’ll be fine.”
I wish I were so sure.
We’ve already circled the track once, and Tucker is still walking at a brisk pace. “One more time around,” he says.
“And what about you? What do you plan to do with a history major?”
His mouth twists to the side. “Honestly? I have no idea.”
“Then why major in it?”
He laughs. “First of all, unlike you, not everyone in college is hyper-focused on their career plans. But you might find it hard to believe I’m not one of those students.” He winks. “I’m majoring in history because the major I want wasn’t an option.”
“And what do you want to major in?”
His face is devoid of emotion as he studies me. I can see he’s trying to decide whether he can trust me. “Physical education.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand. It seems like the perfect fit.”
“My parents have very definite ideas about my career path, and my major has nothing to do with that.”
“You mean soccer?”
He takes a deep breath and nods. “I’m good, and I have a shot at the pros.”
“But you don’t want that?”
“I don’t know what I want.”
“I don’t believe that.”
He shoots me an odd look but doesn’t answer.
“Why can’t you major in physical education?”
“If I go pro, and I’m successful, I can’t go back and teach kids P.E.”
“Why not?”
“Can you imagine David Beckham teaching high school students?”
“Did you seriously just equate yourself to David Beckham?”
Tucker bursts out laughing. “Where the hell have you been hiding?”
“Living in Shelbyville, Tennessee.”
His eyes widen in surprise at my revelation. I figure if I insulted him, the least I can do is give him something from my past.
“It seems to me that you’re pinning a lot on a dream that isn’t even yours.”
He shrugs.
We walk in silence, but it’s not uncomfortable, despite how our conversation ended. When we’re about to reach our starting point, Tucker points to it. “We’re about to start jogging. We’ll go halfway around, then walk, then jog halfway, then walk. Then we’ll see how you’re doing.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to be watching you and checking your form so you can correct any bad habits before they start.”
We start to jog and Tucker keeps his attention on me. “Eyes ahead, Scarlett. Don’t look down. Your shoulders are too tense. Let them relax.”
“That’s a lot to think about while I’m running.”
“I thought you like to think.”
“Not while I’m running.” I puff out.
He laughs. “We’re just getting warmed up.”
We run several strides.
“Your arms are good, but don’t clench your fists.”
We reach the halfway mark, and Tucker slows to a fast walk.
“Am I this bossy when I tutor you?” I wheeze.
“No. I’m just naturally bossy, and you’re naturally nice. We’re a good balance.”
“Lucky for you,” I grumble.
He laughs. “I totally got the better end of the deal.”
We go around the track three more times, the last round, he has me run at quarter lengths. Tucker has watched my pace, slowing down to make sure I’m not too winded, then picking it up when I caught my breath. I’m tired, but I don’t feel like I’m about to pass out on the side of the track. We slow to a walk that’s not as brisk.
“This is your cool down. Some people skip it, but it’s important to let your body slow down.”
I nod, catching my breath.
We walk around once, then Tucker picks up our water bottles and hands me one. “Now we need to stretch.”
We move to the side of the track and Tucker takes me through a series of leg stretches. I’m surprised how good they feel. We sit on the floor, just finishing butterfly stretches. Tucker grins at me. “Well?”
“Well what?” I tease.
“What did you think?”
“While I’m not a huge diehard fan of running at the moment, I can see the benefits. I feel more relaxed.” Although if I’m truthful, I’m not sure if the run has relaxed me or if it’s Tucker. “But I do know that you are an excellent tutor. Thank you.”
“Do you want to do this again? I have to work out four or five days a week. It gets pretty boring, and I’ve been anything but bored tonight.”
“I don’t see how you got a workout if you’re slowing down to my level.”
He shakes his head. “It’s the offseason, Scarlett. As long as I’m working out somehow, I’m good.” Tucker gets to his feet then reaches down to help me up. His hand feels right in mine, which catches me by surprise. But he lets go and picks up his bag, and we head to the exit.
Tucker went out of his way to do something nice for me. The least I can do is help him. “You said you were nervous about your test on Thursday. If it makes you more comfortable, we can get together tomorrow or Thursday before your algebra class.”
He opens the door to the lobby and looks down at me. “I don’t want to inconvenience you, Scarlett.”
“Tucker, if you need more tutoring sessions, we can set something up. I want you to feel comfortable when you go in to take your test.”
We go over our schedules and determine that we’re both free tomorrow from eleven until our noon classes.
“We’ll need to meet on campus.” He sounds anxious, which catches me by surprise. “But we can’t meet in the library.”
“Why not?”
He shakes his head. “I just can’t.”
I’d suspect he’d goofed around in the library and gotten banned, but he seems genuinely anxious. “Okay. No library. Where?”
“We could meet at the coffee shop.”
I hesitate. Our first meeting was there, and that was disastrous. And I’m getting coffee with Daniel at the same place tomorrow. But why should that matter? It just means I’ll already be there. “How about I meet you at the coffee shop, and if it’s too noisy, we can go somewhere else.”
“Thanks.” He releases a heavy breath of relief.
“No, thank you. There might be something to this exercise thing.”
He opens the outer doors, following me outside. “Where are you parked?”
I tell him, and we walk in silence, but it’s not awkward. I’m amazed how comfortable I am with him.
We stop next to my car, and Tucker smiles. “Thanks for tonight.”
I laugh. “You’re the one who helped me. Why are you thanking me?”
“Because for the first time in a long time, I had fun working out.” He hesitates, then opens my car door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As I drive away, I shake my head in confusion. Just when I think I’ve figured Tucker out, he shows me another side, confusing me even more.
Chapter Ten
When I get home, Caroline wants to know where I’ve been, but I give her a vague answer. I know she won’t understand why I met Tucker, especially after last Friday, and I can’t say I blame her. If I were her, I wouldn’t trust Tucker either. I can’t explain what’s going on with Tucker to myself, let alone Caroline.
But Caroline isn’t easily fooled. She’s sitting on the sofa with her laptop and she sets it to the side, narrowing her eyes. “Let me get this straight. You just decided—out of the blue—to start exercising. At eight o’clock at night?”
I shrug.
“Where were you? Really.”
I hang my coat in the closet and wave to my clothes. “See? Workout clothes. I ran at the fitness center.”
“And when, pray tell, was the last time you ever ran in yo
ur life? And running to class because you’re late doesn’t count.”
I hate lying to her, and I suppose I’m not. Unless you call this a lie of omission. I sit on the arm of the sofa and gnaw on my bottom lip.
“You suck at secrets. Spill.”
I take a deep breath. “I was running at the fitness center. I was with someone, but you have to promise not to freak out.”
“Oh, God. You’re freaking me out.”
“I told you not to freak out, and I haven’t even told you who it is yet.”
“It was Tucker, wasn’t it?”
“It’s not what you think, Caroline.”
She crosses her arms. “Fine, then tell me what it is.”
I sigh and flop into the seat next to her. “He’s not interested in me that way, if that’s what you’re worried about. He’s been a perfect gentleman.” I pat her leg.
“You and I both know that Tucker Price isn’t a perfect gentleman. His reputation precedes him. He’s up to something.”
I turn to my side. “Why do you assume the worst in him?”
“It’s totally unlike you to assume the best. Where’s the girl who practically wears a chastity belt?”
Grunting, I smack her with a throw pillow. “I did assume the worst of him. And then I spent time with him. It’s weird, Caroline. He’s not like the person he is on campus or what we hear. He’s nice. He’s polite. He listens. He’s thoughtful.”
“What about the first time you were supposed to meet him at the coffee shop? He was none of those things then.”
I sit back and bury myself in the pillow. “I know. But then he came to me and begged me to give him a second chance, and he was different.”
“So what was tonight about?”
“He knows about my anxiety.”
“You told him?”
“No, that’s just it. I didn’t. But he knows things about me.”
“You mean he’s spied on you?”
“No, I mean he’s observant. He sees things about me that no one else does. He’s been doing really well studying, and he said he wanted to teach me a way to de-stress.”
She snorts. “I bet he did.”
“He meant running, Caroline. He met me at the track, and he taught me proper form and how to warm up and stretch afterward.”
Cocking her head, Caroline scrunches her nose in disbelief. “You’re telling me he hasn’t made any moves on you. At all?”
“No, I told you that it’s not like that. We’re just friends.” And as I say the last sentence, I know it’s true. I’m friends with Tucker Price. Why does that surprise me after the last couple of times we’ve been together?
“That’s weird. It’s like you’re in one of those old Twilight Zone episodes.”
“Tell me about it.”
We sit in silence for several seconds before she says, “You’re positive that he hasn’t made a move. Maybe you’re too naïve to pick up on it.”
“Caroline.”
She shudders and picks up her laptop. “You can’t blame me for asking. You haven’t been on a date in a year.” She turns to me again. “What’s going on with you and that guy from the party?”
“Daniel and I are meeting tomorrow morning after my class.”
“Why hasn’t he asked you out yet?”
I make a face.
“Wait. What does”—she tries to duplicate my face—“that mean?”
“It means that he did ask me out, and I told him I wanted to take it slow.”
“Why? I thought you liked him.”
“I don’t know, Caroline. I do but something doesn’t feel right.” I want to tell her about kissing him and feeling nothing but a slightly pleasant feeling, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
“But you went out with Tucker?”
“I didn’t go out with him. We went as friends. No pressure. I don’t have to worry about what I say around Tucker because he likes that I tell him the truth. Daniel’s a nice guy, but I’m still self-conscious around him.”
“Just be careful, Scarlett. He’s going to break your heart.”
“Why do you think I’m going slow?”
“I’m not talking about Daniel.”
I push myself up off the sofa, suddenly exhausted. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”
“I mean it, Scarlett. Be careful.” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Caroline sound so nervous and worried.
“I think you know me better than that. I’m not stupid.”
“I’m sure many a smart girl has gotten her heart broken by Tucker Price.”
“Maybe so, but I won’t be one of them.”
My legs have stiffened in the short time I’ve been on the sofa. I hobble to the bathroom, eager for the warm water to loosen my muscles.
When I go to bed, I sleep better than I can ever remember sleeping. Maybe there’s something to this running thing after all.
***
The next morning, Daniel is waiting for me after my set and logic class. He’s wearing a cheesy smile, and he looks cute, but my heart doesn’t flutter and my stomach doesn’t flip-flop. Isn’t it supposed to? Aren’t I supposed to get all atwitter when I see him? My stomach’s a mess, but not in the right way. I feel slightly nauseated with nerves. What if we run out of things to talk about?
My worry is needless. After Daniel asks a few questions and I give short, concise answers, he fills the silence by talking about himself. I easily glide through the conversation without having to add much to it. We walk to the coffee shop, and he opens the door like a perfect gentleman, but it feels automatic and not thoughtful.
Now I’m just looking for faults.
I nearly gasp as the truth hits me straight in the forehead. Is that what I’m doing? Looking for faults so I don’t have to go out with him?
Before I have time to figure out why, I realize Daniel has asked me a question. I blink. “What?” We’re standing in front of the pastry case.
“I asked you if you want something to eat.”
“Oh.” Since I’m meeting Tucker instead of eating lunch, I decide to get something. I pick a scone and order my coffee. The cashier tells me my total, and I realize Daniel has already paid for his drink.
He expects me to pay for my own.
I shouldn’t be irritated. It’s not like he’s obligated, but he did invite me. Will our date be the same way? Or does he consider this pre-dating so he doesn’t have to pay? I realize that a guy paying for the girl is outdated, but I’m kind of old-fashioned. Or maybe I’m looking for more excuses not to go out with him.
We sit by the window, and Daniel tells me about living in a frat house. He’s not much of a partier, which I can totally relate to, but he says being in a fraternity will come in handy when he’s in the business world.
Twenty minutes go by before he smiles and looks nervous. “I’d love to take you out on Friday night. Maybe we could catch a movie.”
Panic brews inside my head. I don’t want go out with him. Why? He’s a really nice guy who has a life goal. Logically, he’s perfect for me. So why do I want to turn him down “Uh...”
“Hey, Scarlett.” Tucker walks up to me, then looks down at Daniel. The smile falls off Tucker’s face. “Bailey.”
Daniel stands. “Are you still stuck tutoring him?” The question is for me, but he glares at Tucker.
“I’m not stuck tutoring him. It’s my job.” I want to defend Tucker and add that he isn’t a screw-up when I tutor him. That he pays attention and is learning and progressing, but I keep these things to myself. It’s none of Daniel’s business.
“Can’t you get out of it?” Daniel asks dryly.
My mouth drops, but Daniel turns and leaves before I can respond.
“I’ll see you Friday.”
I watch him go out the door and wonder if he means for coffee or for a date, because I most definitely didn’t agree to a date.
Tucker drops into his vacant seat. “Did I interrupt something?” He tries to look apologetic
but fails.
I grin and slightly shake my head. “You had perfect timing.”
Tucker looks over his shoulder, out the window and watches Daniel walk to the business building. “Are you two dating?” He sounds strained.
Why does his question make me uneasy? “No, but we would be if Daniel had his way.”
His eyes find mine. “You don’t want to go out with him.” It’s a statement, not a question.
I shrug, and my back begins to prickle.
His face softens. “Scarlett, it’s none of my business. Forget I asked.”
But I can’t forget. Why? Tucker’s asking a harmless question, but it sets me on edge. I can’t really come up with a good explanation why I don’t want to go out with Daniel. It just doesn’t feel right. Maybe this is the chemistry everyone’s always talking about. But what if I’m broken, and I don’t ever feel chemistry with someone? Or maybe I need to go out with him and give chemistry a chance to show up.
I decide it might be a good idea to get a guy’s perspective. Tucker and I are supposed to be friends, right? “Caroline wants me to go. But something is holding me back.”
His eyes darken. “What’s holding you back?”
I purse my lips and look out the window with a sigh. “I wish I knew. There’s little things that bug me”—I shoot him a glare and point my finger at him—“and if you tell him I said so, I’ll kill you.”
He laughs. “Don’t worry. You won’t catch me talking to Daniel Bailey.”
I recognize the animosity between them, but I realize Tucker might have some information on Daniel that can help me sway my decision. “Why not?”
His eyebrows lift. “Let’s just say we agree to disagree.”
“Over a girl.”
He smirks and leans back in his chair. “How’d you know?”
“When guys fight, isn’t it usually over a girl?”
Shaking his head, he laughs and crosses his arms over his chest. “True enough.”
“So you know him?”
He lifts one shoulder into a half-shrug and picks up his coffee. “Not that well.”
“But you know him well enough to tell me whether I should go out with him or not.”
Tucker is mid-sip. He chokes and begins to cough.
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