She opens the door and steps inside.
“Text me when you’re inside your apartment,” I say.
She smiles and nods.
A minute later, when I’m back in my car, I get her text.
I’m in. Thanks again for everything.
I text back a thumbs up and drive home. The rest of the night, I think about Poppy. I think about how, if she were really my girlfriend, she’d never, ever doubt how incredible she is. I’d make her feel it every moment of every day.
Chapter 19
Poppy
Ifinish skimming Nick’s research paper.
“Nice work. This is solid,” I say.
He grins. “You really think so?”
“Definitely. You cited your sources correctly, and you explained your points well.”
I go over the last page and point out a few parts where he could tie in the evidence more concretely.
When I hand him back the paper, he’s still smiling.
“I’m getting good at this school stuff,” he says.
I chuckle. “You are. See? School work isn’t so bad.”
“You’re the reason I’m managing, hot tutor.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling.
“I’m serious. Homework and studying sucked for the longest time. But then you became my tutor, and it’s a million times more fun.”
That dimple in his cheek pops when he flashes a handsome grin. That familiar giddy feeling loops through my tummy.
I can’t help but be smitten by Nick’s sweetness. Before, I’d just assume he’s screwing with me or trying to get a rise out of me. But I can tell he’s being genuine. Just like the other night when he comforted me after that phone call with my dad.
Every time I think about how pissed off Nick was, how he defended me and praised me, I get a warm feeling in my chest.
I didn’t expect him to react that way, to act so offended on my behalf when I told him about my parents’ high expectations of me.
But he didn’t hesitate to tell me how unreasonable they were—and how amazing I was.
When I think about that flash of intensity in his mahogany eyes as he held my gaze and told me I was perfect, I swoon.
When I think about how he held my hand and cupped my face to comfort me, I swoon even harder.
Every single thing he said and did in that moment to comfort me felt real. I could feel it in his stare and in his touch just how much he meant what he said.
You’re perfect. You’re amazing.
It felt like he wanted nothing more in this world than for me to believe all the good things he said about me. I do now.
But it’s not just his words of praise that have stuck with me.
