Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(42)

I get it. She doesn’t want to be hurt again, but I’ve been hurt by plenty of unpopular people before. Being a dick isn’t an exclusive trait to just jocks. In fact, it’s probably more like ninety percent of the population.

“I will. And one last time, I’m really sorry that happened to you.”

“Thank you.”

Jane is still in her room when we get inside.

“I think I’m going to nap, too,” Violet says. “Dahlia should be back this afternoon. Jane and I thought we could have a night in, just the four of us. Or are you going to hang with your new boyfriend?”

“Stop it.” I laugh nervously. “Liam is so not my boyfriend.”

“Okay then, Darcy and dress up?”

“That sounds perfect.”

Hours later, after Mister Darcy and Elizabeth have confessed their love, I still haven’t figured out how to confess to my friends that my crush is no longer on the guy they think it is. Crushing on Liam was one thing, but Jordan? He’s the epitome of everything Vi hates about that crowd.

But the real reason I can’t bring myself to say the words is fear. I like Jordan. Really like him. Not like how I had a crush on Liam from afar. I’ve spent time with Jordan, I’ve kissed him… and I don’t know if it means anything or if I’m just setting myself up for heartbreak.

What I do know is that it’s just getting more awkward every time they mention Liam.

“Did he walk you home?” Dahlia asks as she helps me into one of Violet’s old dresses. This one is my favorite. It’s a pale yellow with a big, poofy skirt like a princess.

All the girls look to me for an answer.

“No. Jordan did.” I laugh nervously. “He was afraid Violet would cut off his nipples if he didn’t.”

“Ha!” she says. “Good. I’m glad he didn’t ditch you.”

“No. He was great, actually. We hung out a little before Liam got to the party.” I run my hand down the lace skirt.

“Hung out?” Jane asks. “Meaning he showed you his beer pong skills or let you observe him pick up other girls?”

“We played century club, but someone did try to get him to sign her boobs.”

They all laugh. It might not sound like it was a good time, but it was. I think it was the best night of my life.





Jordan comes over Sunday evening. I’m in the tree house sketching when he calls up from the ground. “Daisy?”

“One sec.” My heart races. I lost track of time, which isn’t all that unusual when I’m really into it, but I’ve been anxious about seeing Jordan again all day, and I wanted time to prepare before he showed up.

“I’m coming up.” His voice is closer this time, and I freeze because there’s no other exit route and nothing to do now but wait for him to get to the top. His dark head covered by a black backward hat pops into view. He looks around and then continues up, so he’s hunched over in the entryway. “You really do have a tree house.”

“Yep.” I wring my hands in front of me.

He shrugs out of his backpack and takes a seat with his long legs stretched out in front of him. “This is kind of badass, Daisy.”

“It’s my favorite spot. I come out here to sketch or think.” Or to watch parties across the fence.

Jordan’s gaze roams around the walls of the tree house. Some of my sketches are hung up with tacks, and he smiles as he gives each one attention. “All of these are yours?”

“Yeah.” Several are from parties where I watched him and his friends hang out. They’re just figures—backs of heads, broad shoulders, girls with small waists and big hair. He takes it all in.

“They’re good. Really good.”

“Thanks. How was the rest of your weekend?”

“Fine.” We’re crammed together in a tight spot where there’s basically no way to avoid being close. He taps his shoe against my thigh lightly. “What’d you do yesterday?”

“Not much. We stayed in. You?”

“Pretty chill. We went over to my buddy Brad McCallum’s apartment.”

My gaze zooms in on his lips. So many questions. Why did he kiss me? And more importantly, is he going to do it again? And do I want him to?

That last one isn’t a real question. Kissing him again is everything I want. I need to confirm that those sparks I was feeling Friday night weren’t because I was at a party I’d dreamed of attending.

He unzips his backpack and pulls out a thick textbook.

“You do own one of those, huh?”

One side of his mouth quirks up as he also gets a notebook and pencil, then shifts to get comfortable.

“We can go inside if you want.”

“Are you kidding? This is awesome.”

“Okay.” I’m pleased he likes it. “What areas do you still need help with for tomorrow?”

He adjusts his hat and gives me a sheepish grin. “All of it. I haven’t looked at it since the last time we studied.”

“O-kay.” I hold my hand out for his textbook.

He places it in my palm, and I flip through it to refamiliarize myself with the material.

“We could work some problems,” I suggest.

“Hit me.” He flips his notebook to a clean page.