Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(4)

When the professor has finished and given us the go-ahead to start, I sigh and glance at the empty chair next to me. It’s the third week in a row that my lab partner has been a no-show. She’s either dropped or on her way to failing.

I read through the instructions that I partially missed while staring at Liam. He and Jordan always walk in at the last second, so it really isn’t my fault that I need the first few minutes of class to scope him out.

I pull my hair back into a ponytail as Liam stands in front of his stool. He’s tall, and his broad shoulders pull the fabric of his shirt as he leans over to scribble something on a piece of paper. His partner is less enthusiastic, sitting and watching as Liam gets them started.

Blowing out a breath, I drop my gaze back to my own desk. I like physics, but this is going to be a lot to get through on my own.

“Miss Johnson.” Professor Green approaches my table as I’m re-reading the first steps of the lab. He clicks his tongue, hand on his hip as he looks at the empty space beside me. “Your partner is missing again.”

I offer an awkward smile.

“These labs are really meant for two.” He opens his stance and stares down his nose at the classroom. My pulse thrums quickly as he weighs his options. Every other table is paired up. It’ll be just my luck that he’ll decide to be my partner or stick me with a group that ignores me and continues in their happy twosome. I hate this kind of attention. It’s like walking into a room full of people or being called on in class. My skin itches and I twist my hands in front of me.

It feels like everyone is avoiding looking up from their table because they know Professor Green is searching for somewhere to place me. It’s irrational. I know this. Most of them probably don’t even realize what’s happening. It isn’t like they notice me any other time, so why would now be different? Still, I hate the thought of being added to a group that doesn’t want me.

“Let’s put you with Mr. Price and Mr. Thatcher.”

My heart drops into my stomach. Frozen, I don’t speak or move while Professor Green steps closer to Liam and Jordan with a pleased smile at his problem-solving.

“Miss Johnson will be joining you until her partner returns,” he tells them.

To my horror, Liam looks around, completely clueless about who Miss Johnson is.

It’s me, you idiot, I scream in my head, then silently apologize because it isn’t his fault I’ve never once worked up the courage to speak to him. Actually, that isn’t true. Once, I sneezed, and he said, “Bless You,” and I thanked him.

Jordan and Liam finally locate the only unpartnered person in the class. Liam’s eyes widen in an observing sort of way as he stares at me. He lifts a hand in a polite wave. Jordan scoots his stool over with a loud screech against the tile floor.

I scoop up my belongings, and on rubber legs, I move the eight feet from my table to theirs.

“Hi, I’m Liam.” He moves into the middle spot behind the table and offers me his chair. “This is Jordan.”

He leans back slightly so I can see Jordan on the other side of him.

I nod to each of them.

“I didn’t catch your first name,” Liam says. “Unless you want us to call you Miss Johnson.”

“Dai-sy.” My voice shakes on both syllables.

His smile sets free a thousand butterflies inside of me. This close, he seems so much taller.

“Cool. Nice to meet you, Daisy. We were just about to trace the rays of the concave lens. Do you want to do the honors?”

Jordan snorts. “Honors?”

Liam ignores him and flips on the light on the projector. Rays of light stretch out onto the paper. I’m still partially frozen.

“Need a pencil?” He lifts his from the top of his notebook, and because I’m not sure where mine is at the moment, I accept it.

My hand shakes as I trace along the rays with a ruler. I’m embarrassed to admit how his presence a mere foot away from me has me unsteady on my feet and struggling to make air flow through my lungs.

The daisy charm on my necklace swings forward as I crouch over the table. Liam drums his thumbs absently on the table.

“There,” I say when I’m done.

I finally get a deep breath that clears some of my nerves, but then I get a big inhale of his faint cologne, and my chest tightens. He even smells perfect.

Liam looks to Jordan. “What’s next?”

Jordan stays sitting on his stool while Liam and I finish marking the paper. Every step, Liam checks with him, and then the two of us complete it. I can tell it’s how they always do things, and it doesn’t surprise me that Liam has been doing the brunt of the work.

While Liam reads through the next step in our assignment, I take the opportunity to stare at him up close. His brows tug together in concentration, and the tip of his tongue pushes between his teeth. He has great bone structure, high cheekbones, and a long, straight nose. He’s clean-shaven, and his skin has warm undertones that make his blond hair and blue eyes contrast nicely.

I feel Jordan’s gaze on me. When I meet his dark stare, a humored smile curves his lips. Blushing at being caught checking out his friend, I fidget with my necklace and look around at the other tables while Liam finishes.

“So, Daisy.” Liam’s voice brings me back. “What’s your major?”

“Physics,” I say automatically in the practiced response I’ve honed, and then I add, “and art. Physics and art.”