“Who knew?” She sounds more surprised than I feel.
Chapter Ten
Lacey
Saturday morning, Vaughn arrives at my house almost before the sun is up.
“When I agreed to this, I thought we’d start sometime after noon,” I say, pulling my hair up in a ponytail. We were together studying until almost midnight. How is he even awake right now?
He texted on his way, giving me just enough time to brush my teeth and wash my face, but I’m still in my pajamas.
“I have practice at ten,” he says, walking into my house and looking far too big and tall for the space. And also, way too good for seven o’clock in the morning.
“Is your dad home?”
“Yes, but he was already in his office when I got up.” I leave out that it was only five minutes ago.
With a nod, Vaughn stands in the middle of the living room, looking uncertain.
“Sit wherever you want. I need to make coffee.”
“You drink coffee?” He moves over to the couch and takes a seat.
“No, but I like the smell, and my dad will wander out from his home office eventually to have breakfast.” I start the coffee, lingering for a moment and hoping the rich smell helps wake me up.
Vaughn Collins is in my house.
For as much time as we’ve spent together over the last week, it shouldn’t feel weird, but it does.
When I turn back to him, Vaughn is leaned over tentatively, scratching Burt’s head. He looks almost afraid of him.
“Do you like dogs?”
Without looking up at me, he shakes his head. “I don’t know. Never had one.”
“What about cats?”
He shakes his head again. His blond hair has grown out a little from his usual short haircut. “We’re gone too much to have a pet. Rowan had a tarantula one time that was pretty cool.”
My eyes widen so quickly that it pulls a laugh from Vaughn.
“I’m guessing you’re not a fan of spiders.”
A shiver works its way down my spine. “They can exist, I just don’t want to see them.”
I take a seat next to him on the couch. He glances down at my legs and then quickly away.
He clears his throat and then says, “So where should we start today?”
“Let’s review everything we did last night and make sure you’re solid before we move on.”
His jaw clenches and that dimple in his chin appears. “At this rate, I’ll be ready to take the test next year.”
I fight to hold back my laughter. He looks so damn frustrated but also adorable.
“What?” he asks when he sees me grinning.
“It’s like you’ve never been bad at anything before.”
