“Help him how?” Melanie asked, unable to keep the exasperation out of her tone. She wouldn't give him extra-credit because it would be unfair to other students, and she wouldn't go out of her way for Noah Walker. Intro to Psychology wasn’t the only course she taught. She had three other courses and many other students to focus on.
“Maybe you can give him private tutoring?”
Melanie swallowed her annoyance, trying to keep her face neutral. “Coach Benson, I know it might not seem like it right now, but I’m a very busy woman. I have three more classes outside of the class I have with Noah. On top of that, I work outside of Weston as a psychologist, and I’m currently working on my third book. My time is limited, and I can’t spend it on a student who doesn’t care—”
“I understand you’re a busy woman, Melanie. I can see that,” he said, gesturing to all of the plaques of recognition in her office. “I can tell you’re a hard worker, and I respect that. But I think what you don’t see right now is that Noah is a hard worker like you, and if you give him the chance and the help, he’ll be able to pass your course with flying colors.”
“Todd—”
“He needs this, Melanie. He really needs this. I’ve seen his work. I’ve been watching him since he was ten years old. He is great. There is ice running through his veins, and I know he’s going to be big. I know it. I want the world to see him for him. Not for his parents. Please, help Noah. Please, Melanie.”
The puppy dog look on his face made her sigh and want to default to whining. She truly did not want to tutor. It wasn’t just because she didn’t have the time; it was also because she didn’t want to give any of her personal time to Noah Walker. She hated slackers. She hated people who didn’t take their work seriously. She hated students who wasted her time, not doing her work, and during the last week, coming to her with fake sob stories of how they were going through problems when in actuality they were too busy partying and thought sob stories would work on her. But they wouldn’t. And in this case, they shouldn’t.
But with the way Coach Benson looked at her now with a pleading look on his face, Melanie couldn't help but think he let his pride walk out the door for Noah's sake. A part of her would feel bad if she made him walk out the door like a kicked puppy with its tail hidden. Or, maybe it was his eyes. Coach Benson was a handsome man.
Finally, she acquiesced. "Okay."
A smile immediately broke out on Coach Benson's face as he thrust his fist in the air in victory. At that moment, Melanie couldn't help but feel like she had been bamboozled. She had to get something out of this. “But—”
“What is it? Anything for you, Melanie. You’re an incredible woman for helping my boy. Do you want to go out to dinner?”
Melanie blinked. Dinner? Why would he ask her that? That had been the last thing on her mind.
“No, thank you,” Melanie said, ignoring the slightly disappointed look on his face. “But I’ll help out Noah with private tutoring for tickets to the game.”
Now it was time for Coach Benson to look at her confused. “I thought you didn’t like—”
“But my close friend loves it. She’ll be happy.”
Coach Benson nodded. “I’ll get you both free tickets for the whole year.”
“Oh, wait,” Melanie said as she stood, shaking her head. “That isn’t necessary.”
“Of course, it is. Thank you again for being willing to help him.”
“I make no promises that he’s going to pass,” Melanie said, quickly. “All of that depends on how hard Noah works.”
“Trust me,” Coach Benson said, winking. “He’ll pass.”
He turned to leave until he stopped in his tracks. He looked back at her with a charming smile that probably made all the ladies fall for him.
“At first, I asked you out to dinner to thank you. But maybe someday we can go to dinner to get to know each other?”
"Uh..." Melanie started nervously, at a loss for words. Even though she was closing on her thirties rapidly, she had yet to get used to talking to men who were interested in her. It always made her extremely nervous, and she could never find the right words to say.
Besides, should she go to dinner with Coach Benson? She started to go down her list of requirements she needed in a man she dated. He was older, so that meant he had to hold some semblance of maturity. Check. He worked as a head coach for a hockey team, so hedefinitely made enough money to be the primary breadwinner. Check. He was handsome, so their children would be fine in the looks department. Check. He looked healthy and in shape, but she would need to know the history of diseases in his family. For now, she would have to leave that unchecked. She would have to check if Coach Benson had been previously married or had kids because that was a big fat no in her department. She wanted to marry someone without any baggage. Right now, she couldn't tell if they would necessarily be compatible. She would have to do more research to know that.
As of right now, Coach Benson checked off most of her requirements, but there was a big glaring problem she couldn't ignore. He worked at the same place she did. Many problems came with dating someone you worked with, even if you both didn't work in the same department. What would happen if he wanted more favors of her in the future, and it was expected of her because they were in a relationship? What would happen when their coworkers gossiped about them? Was that something she wanted?
Melanie shook away her thoughts. This was why relationships never worked out for her. There were way too many variables outside of her control to know whether things would work out, and she didn't like to waste her time. There was no point in dating Coach Benson if it wouldn't go anywhere. It was best to get off the ride before it even started.
“That sounds nice, Todd. But I’ll have to take a rain check. I’ll be too busy tutoring Noah.”
"Okay, but, hopefully, next time you won't be too busy," he said, tossing her a wink before he left her office.
Melanie sat back down, realizing she was now stuck with tutoring Noah Walker, one of her most annoying students.
CHAPTER
