“I don’t even know her that well,” I argue. Then I catch Cam’s eye and shrug. I can’t hide much from him. “Yeah, I like her. She’s easy to be around, you know? She’s fun. I don’t have to worry about what she wants from me.”
“I get that, but you lead her on and I guarantee she’s not going to go quietly into the night when things don’t turn out the way she expected.”
I wave him off. “No, man, we’re on the same page. Neither of us wants a relationship. I’ve got football to focus on and she’s got her school plans. Nine months from now, we’ll be living on opposite sides of this world, and we’ll barely even remember each other.” I busy myself adjusting my belt so Cam can’t see the lie written all over my face. Nine months or nine years, I’ll still remember every minute I’ve spent with Jade.
“You’re playing with fire.”
“You don’t like us together?”
“Actually, I think you two are sorta cute together. But pretending you’ve hit the jackpot and you two can just coast on friendship and no-strings sex? That never works. You know it.”
“We’re not having sex.”
He smirks. “Okay, I’ll come back tomorrow morning and try my speech again.”
“Right on,” I say with a grin. “It was her idea to meet at her place. I think she was annoyed about being shushed at the library last time.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s why.” He shakes his head. “Jade’s a trip.”
“Amen.” I check my hair one last time and head for the door. “Thanks for the concern, Cam. I know Lenni’s in your ear about me and Jade, but she can chill. I don’t have any secrets up my sleeve. Jade and I want the same thing.”
Jade looks smokin’hot when I show up to her place. She’s changed her hair—instead of the pink with the dip-dyed red ends, it’s a badass shade of dark maroon and hangs down her back in a glossy curtain. Her dress is simple and black and hangs almost to her ankles, but it hugs her body in all the right places and is cut low enough I’m powerless not to stare at the curve of her breasts, which are clearly not contained by a bra. She looks like something out of a James Bond movie.
“Nice hair,” I say.
“Likewise.”
I’m half expecting to find her apartment scattered with candles and rose petals—why else would she schedule tutoring at her place?—but I should have known better than to think she was that predictable. It’s not exactly a sexy scene. There are papers piled on the table, a laundry basket on the floor with half-folded bras and panties and socks, and the TV blaring some reality show with a couple of dipshit drunk ladies in a catfight.
“I’d offer you a drink,” Jade says, gathering up the papers on the table, “but we need to kick these Spanish lessons into high gear. I found out today one of the schools I’m looking at is hosting in-person interviews in New York in December, and my adviser says I might have a shot at getting an interview.”
“In Spanish?”
“Part of it.”
“So it’s on me to whip you into shape by December?”
She gives me a pleading look.
I blow out a breath. “Shit, you better make us a couple pots of coffee.”
She smiles and gives me a hug that’s way too short. “Thank you.”
“En español?”
“Oh.Sí, señor. Um,sí, yo voy acocinar il caffè. Mucho caffè.”
I let out a hoot. “Il caffè? I don’t even know what language that is.”
“Sorry, I took Italian in high school.”
“You took Italian in high school and you’re still this bad at Spanish?”
She gives me an indignant look, but her eyes are glittering.
“Know what? Forget the coffee, better make it cocaine.”
Jade islucky she looks so good tonight because her attitude is making me want to quit the tutoring thing altogether.
