“He can’t do that, can he?” Ellie asks, chewing on her lower lip, her blue eyes filled with worry.
“He can,” Brody grumbles. “Not that I agree with it. There have been complaints that the sports divisions have been getting preferential treatment. That athletes have been given multiple chances, getting special treatment when it comes to their grades and their behavior. Theo is breathing down their necks now, keeping a close eye on them. I guess this is Coach’s way of doing what is expected.”
“Let me talk to Theo. I’m sure there’s something we can do. The school year has only just started, and there’s no way to know if you’re going to fall behind or not. And there would only be what, a month left of your football season in the new semester? Then you're graduating. They can’t take this from you! I won’t let them.”
“Don’t do it.” I smile softly at Ellie. She’s my best friend, someone who’s more like family to me. “Don’t give me special treatment.”
“If I can help, let me,” she pleads.
Ellie’s personal life is a complicated one. It’s her final year at SVU as well. Silver Valley is her hometown. She left after high school because of some tragic personal reasons and came back a few years ago to better her life for her daughter, Lilly.
Brody, the man on her arm, is one of her five partners. She’s in a polyamorous relationship with her childhood best friends and our new dean of the school, Theo.
It’s a long story, but this girl has been through so much. Way more than any person should ever go through in a lifetime.
What kind of best friend would I be if I took advantage of the fact that one of her boyfriends happens to be in charge of the school?
I won’t. I’m not that kind of person. This is my issue, and I’ll deal with it myself.
“Did he say anything else?” Brody asks.
“Told me it might be a good idea to get a tutor, and get a head start on things before I get the chance to fail.”
As much as the idea of getting a tutor sucks, I think it might be the best option. We’re only a few weeks in, and already I’m finding the workload to be a struggle to handle between classes and football. I'm also struggling to keep my mind on my assignments long enough to get the information to stick.
Adding tutoring to my schedule might leave me with less free time, but at least I’ll have the weekends.
“I’d look at it this way, he’s giving you a chance to stop it before it happens,” Brody grunts.
“Yeah.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair and grimacing when cold sweat squishes through my fingers.
“I can help,” Ellie says.
“No.” I shake my head. “I love you, babe, you're my bestie, but I’m not going to take up the extra time you have. I want you to enjoy life and let loose.” Ellie just had her second kid, Bennett, a few months ago. There’s no way I’m going to make her give up any free time to help me when she already has so much going on.
“What are you going to do?” Ellie asks. “The tutoring program can be expensive.”
Silver Valley University is a prestigious school. Most people who attend have more than enough money to throw around. However, I’m here on a scholarship. I have a part-time job working as a mechanic at my dad’s shop, but that only earns me enough to get by.
I live at the football house with the other players for free, and the school pays for my tuition and textbooks as well. I am grateful to have a meal card, but it’s only useful for the average student. I’m a football player, the meals I’m given are nowhere near enough to sustain me, so most of my paycheck goes to feeding myself.
“Coach said something about volunteer tutors for the scholarship students. I’m going to look into that and see if anyone is available.”
“You know, I could—”
“I’m going to stop you right there.” I hold up a hand, shooting Brody a smirk. “If you think you can throw your money around at me and I’ll take it, then you don’t know me well at all.”
He narrows his eyes. “Why do you have to be so damn stubborn? Take the help, Cooper.”
I shrug. “Not who I am. I’ll try my best to work my ass off for it before I let anyone help.”
“Too damn noble for me sometimes.” Brody sighs.
“It’s one of the reasons I like him so much.” Ellie grins up at Brody
Brody narrows his eyes. “You like him, huh?”
“Stop it.” She laughs. “Don’t go getting all jealous.”
