“I’ll see you around, maybe,” he says, jumping to his feet.
“Maybe so.”
I trail him out into the street, and we stand there, gaggles of students rushing all around us.
“Have a good one, Carrie.”
He gives me a quick wave and walks away.
I was kind of expecting him to ask for my help again. Why am I disappointed he didn’t?
I watch as his tall frame recedes into the distance, and when he glances back over his shoulder at me, I’m surprised to find myself smiling at him.Should I… Nah. Forget it. And anyway—there’s nothing my books can teach him. Not really.
“Be real, Carrie,” I mutter to myself. “You’re probably the last person on earth to be giving advice, what with your dad and all your failed situationships and everything.”
Yeah. Donovan definitely reached out to the wrong person. I’m doing him a favor. I’m not—
“Wait!” I shout.
Before I know it, I’m running down the sidewalk. I’m going to regret this; I can feel it in my bones. But right now, all I can think of is getting to him before he vanishes.
“Wolinski!” I yell, louder. “Hold on!”
By the time I catch up to him, I’m gasping for breath, and he gives me a once-over. I’ve never been the sporty type, and never pretended otherwise.
I raise a hand, urging him to wait a second while I get myself together. When my heartbeat finally starts to settle, I straighten, and lock eyes with my soon-to-be student. This is complete insanity, but what the hell.
“So, when do we start?” he throws out, smiling broadly.
A part of me—the one that thinks this whole situation is flat-out ridiculous—wants to jam my fingers up his nose at his renewed confidence.
“Tomorrow. Pick me up at South Hall. Three p.m.” I shoot him a warning look. “Don’t make me regret this. And don’t even think about showing up late. My lessons don’t wait for anyone.”
8DONOVAN
The shrieks coming from the back of my car are making me want to drive us straight into a tree. While most of my rides involve one or two passengers, today I’ve got a wagonload of four overexcited girls. One of them is hollering straight down my ear canal.
“When do you start back with practice?”
“Next month.”
“Oh my God! We aresocoming to all your games. You guys are the best.”
“Go Cardinals!” the four of them squeal.
When we finally reach South Hall, I spot Carrie waiting for me on a bench, her nose stuck in a book.Surprise, surprise.I hit the gas and screech to a halt right in front of her. She jumps. Peering into the car and taking note of my flock of passengers, she flips her book shut.
I’m doing my best to slip out to join her, but a tight knot of fangirls are blocking my way. The brunette winks at me.
“Thank yousomuch.”
“Always a pleasure to be of service.” I grin with a wink.
“I’ll call you when we need picking up,” the blond one coos, snaking her arms around me.
I hug her back and do the same to the other three. Glancing overtheir heads, I catch Carrie looking like she’s about to lose her shit.Uh-oh.
“I need to go, ladies. Duty calls!”
