Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(31)

“And yet she moved into a house right next door to him.”

“That was actually my doing.” Daisy looks mischievous as hell as she grins. “Violet had the flu the day we were supposed to go see places with Jane and Dahlia. I fell in love with that house, and we put a deposit on it before she had a chance to see where it was located.”

“I’m shocked, sweet Daisy.”

“Told you I wasn’t that sweet. Honestly, though, I thought she was over it.”

“Didn’t seem that way last night.”

“No, it didn’t.”

We spend another half-hour reviewing my statistics homework. I’ve studied more this week than I have in my entire life, so when she asks if I’m getting the hang of it, I can answer without hesitation, “I’ve never been so clear.”

“You’re a quick study. I thought it would take weeks or maybe months.”

Right. I probably should have dragged this out more. I’m digging spending time with her. Who knew studying was such a blast?

“Maybe I can convince you to keep tutoring me once or twice a week, so I stay on top of it?”

“Yeah. I don’t mind.” She stands next to the bed as she packs up her stuff. Her gaze goes to the nightstand, and she picks up the lone picture there.

“Is this you?” she asks with a broad smile.

“Yep. Me and a buddy from high school.”

“You look exactly the same.”

“I’m like three inches taller,” I protest.

“It’s your smile.” She looks from the picture to me. “You always look like a cat that got the canary. Is he at Valley too?”

I scoot closer and take the picture. The edges are bent, and the photo is blurry where water spilled on one side, but I always keep it next to my bed. “Nah. College wasn’t for him. He got a job working for the county. He passed away my first year at Valley.”

“Oh.” I don’t look up, but I can hear the sympathy in her voice. “I’m so sorry.”

“He was always flipping off the camera or turning away. This is the only photo I have of him where I can really see his face.” The familiar pang of sadness hits me square in the chest as I stare down at the two of us, young, carefree, drunk off our asses.

Liam calls that the pizza is here, and I toss the photo back on the nightstand.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for pizza?” I ask as I open my door.

“I should get back. I have some studying of my own still.”

“Okay.” I lead her out into the living area. Ry across the hall is gone, and Liam’s setting the pizza boxes on the coffee table. The smell of cheese and grease hangs in the air, making my stomach growl.

Liam invites her to stay, too, but she gives him the same answer.

“Good luck at your game tomorrow,” she tells us.

“Are you coming?” Liam asks.

“I don’t think so.”

“Bummer.” He smiles. “See you next week in class.”

I walk her to the door. “Thanks, sweet Daisy.”

“I’m not sweet,” she says, but she’s smiling as she does.

When I close the door, Liam asks, “What’s she helping you with?”

He passes me a box of cheese pizza.

“Statistics, mostly.” I flip open the box and take a slice. “She’s really fucking smart.”

“So are you,” he says. “But it’s good to see you studying. You haven’t even overslept for classes the past couple of weeks.”

“Oh, man.” I pause. “Am I a nerd now?”

I bust up laughing, and Liam rolls his eyes.

“Nerds are hot,” I say and think of Daisy.

“She is. You? Not so much.” He laughs it off, but a prick of guilt hits me for being into the girl he likes. I’ve never hooked up with a girl a buddy dated or wanted to date. Never. My friendships are everything to me.

“You two looked like you were hitting it off last night.” I struggle to look at him, but I need to read his face and get some idea of just how into her he is.

His brows lift slightly. “Me and Daisy?”

I nod and take a bite of pizza.

“We were just chatting and getting to know each other a bit.”

“So you aren’t going to ask her out?” My pulse thrums quickly.

He gives me a weird look. “What is with you lately?”

I’ve never nagged him about when and who he was hooking up with, so he’s rightly confused about my bringing it up. Still, I push a little. “Just wanted to know if I should be putting in a good word for you while we’re studying.”

“Please don’t.” He barks out a laugh. “I can just hear you telling her I have a big dick or something.”

“Well, I mean you do, but I’d probably lead with your awesome personality. Or maybe how you pair your socks before putting them away.”

“I think I can handle it on my own, but thanks.” He laughs and stands with his pizza. “I’m heading out to the library to meet a buddy from history class. See ya later, nerd.”





On game days, we do a light skate in the mornings. It’s mostly a way to ensure guys don’t go out and do anything dumb the night before. Or if they do, they sweat out the alcohol and still have all day to recover.