“Hey! He really is.”
“As long as he’s good to you, you know that’s all I care about.” And from what I’ve seen, he is. I got to know him a little bit when we got drinks. He seems smitten with her. I’m cautious for my friend. I don’t want to see her get her hopes up for some guy to ghost her.
I’m protective of the people I love and don’t want anything bad happening to them.
“Enough about me. Go meet Troy and try not to stress.”
“Bye, Harper.”
I wave after her as she leaves my room. She knows me too well. Because all I’ve done is worry since I told Troy last night that I would help him.
I’m the good girl. The one that always does what she’s told. I never step a toe out of line. I’ve never had a reason to. Being the rebel or drinking in high school didn’t interest me.
Maybe this is my way of rebelling. By helping the person I’m not supposed to be helping.
It’s the thought that plagues me as I walk across campus to the library.
I told Troy exactly where to meet me and that’s where I find him.
“It bodes well for you that you’re already here.” I keep my voice light as I drop into the seat beside him.
“Didn’t want you to quit on me the first day.”
“I wouldn’t do that.” I tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear and look at him.
The SDU hockey T-shirt he’s wearing stretches acrosshis chest. His hair is damp, so it’s likely that he just came from practice. Brown eyes are playful as they study me.
I wonder what he’s thinking. Am I as big of an unknown to him as he is to me? Does he hate my family as much as my family hates his?
“Good.” Troy’s the first to break our staredown. “What do you want to start with?”
I pull his book toward me, not really seeing which one it is. “What are your classes looking like?”
“We have that astronomy test coming up soon, and I am already lost in that class.”
“Then we’ll start there.”
“How about this book then?” Troy’s voice is light as he passes over the correct book. Looking down, I have his calculus book in hand.
“Might be helpful.”
“Looks like I might be teaching you something too.”
I ignore him. “What are you struggling with the most and we’ll start there.”
“Uhh…” Troy scrubs a hand over his neck. “Everything?”
I stare at him. He’s got a sheepish look on his face. “Do you even like astronomy?”
“No.”
“Then why’d you take the class?”
“Because the guys on the team said it’d be an easy A. But I can’t figure out how to calculate how far away a black hole is to save my life.”
Dropping a hand on his forearm, I open the textbook in front of us. “It’s okay. That’s what I’m here for.”
“I know this is hard for you.” Troy drops his hand on top of mine. I ignore how good it feels. How the warmth spreads through me. “I’m only asking for help with classes. Nothing else. Only studying.”
