Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
He’s about to speak when Professor Frazier pushes open the door and stumbles into the room. “Why is the door locked?” He shoots daggers in my direction, and my blood runs cold.
Damn it, Tucker. He locked it. And now Professor Frazier will chew my ear out over it. We’re not supposed to be behind closed doors with students.
“Umm…”
“Sorry, Prof,” Tucker interrupts. “That was me.”
Professor Frazier nods, crossing the room to meet us. Then, his gaze shifts to me. “Don’t let it happen again.”
I cringe at the coldness in his tone.
“Thanks for letting me make up the quiz,” Tucker says. “See you in class,” he says to Professor Frazier.
He exits the room faster than he appeared, leaving me alone with Professor Creepy. Ever since my interview, he’s given me weird vibes. But this position pays better than my other jobs.
“Samantha…” Professor Frazier says, taking a seat behind his desk. “Do we need to discuss the rules?”
“No, sir,” I mutter. “I didn’t know he locked the door. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. The hallway was noisy when he walked in. I shut the door so he could take the quiz without distractions.”
“Don’t let it happen again.” He sets his briefcase on the desk and clicks the lock, pushing the top open. “I have some work to do. After you enter the grades into Strick Net, you can go home.”
I smile. “I updated everyone but Tucker. He just finished.”
He points at the chair Tucker recently vacated. “Have a seat.”
I do as he instructs, reaching for the red pen on his desk, but before I can lift it, he covers his hand over mine. A ripple of shock and fear floods my veins.
What is he doing? I stare at him, eyes wide and confused.
“Don’t mistake my absence for ignorance, Miss Marchand. I’m always aware of what’s going on at this school. Do you understand?”
What the hell is his problem?
A pang of anxiety crushes my chest, stabbing me. My life is hard enough. I don’t need another complication.
“Yes, sir,” I say.
He releases his hold on my hand, allowing me to sit and grade Tucker’s paper. I see why Tucker asked me to take it easy on him. I circle the bright red D at the top of his paper and add it to the stack of quizzes inside the pocket of my organizer.
He will need my help passing this class.
Too bad he won’t get it.
Chapter 13
Tucker
Grinding my teeth, I stare at the computer screen, furious with Sam. “She gave me a D,” I tell Trent, who’s sitting on his bed.
“Did you study?” Trent’s tone is accusatory, mocking even, because he damn well knows I didn’t have time to study.
“Yeah, I studied. She has it out for me.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me, glancing up from his phone. “Who?”
“The teaching assistant. We fucked at a party, and now she hates me.”
Trent laughs and continues typing a message to Jemma. That’s all he does anymore. Sit on his phone and talk to his girl. “You must not have fucked her good enough.”
“She was a virgin,” I confess. “I didn’t know.”
He makes a face as if thinking over what I just said. “You need to fix it. Smooth things over with her.”
I snort. “Nothing will work on this girl. She hates me.”
But she let me get close enough to touch her leg on the first day of class. She can’t hate me that much. Not when she didn’t even try to push me away.
“Maybe it’s your approach,” he counters. “Hey, baby, want to see my stick-handling skills won’t win her over.”
I laugh. “Fuck you! I don’t say that to girls.”
He rolls his eyes.
“Time to switch up the game,” I mutter, considering his comment. “How do I do that?”
“Find out what she likes. Start there.”
“She works at Broad Street Beans, so I guess she likes coffee.”
“Just because she works there doesn’t mean she likes coffee, you idiot.” He shakes his head and sets his phone down on the bed. “Her screen name on Strick Net is Heir of Slytherin, right?”
I nod, not following his train of thought. “So? What’s that got to do with anything?”
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “As in Harry Potter.”
“Still not following, bro.”
He sighs. “How have you never seen a Harry Potter movie? She’s a fan or wouldn’t have chosen that as her screen name.”
“And?”
I still don’t get it.
“You could shock her by learning about the books. It would give you something to talk about other than the past.”
“Is that what you did with Jemma?”
He shrugs. “It’s easier with Jemma. We click. But you’re at a disadvantage. Sam likes books. She’s smart, obviously, and you’re a fucking idiot who won’t even open a book to pass a class on your own.”
“Hey, I passed Business Law last semester on my own.”
“Barely,” he growls. “A C- isn’t something to brag about.”