Dad gave me a skeptical look. “I’m aware of what they won.” He blew out a breath. “Every conversation seems to include it,” he added with a small shake of his head. “Do you know how manyotheraccomplishments this school has achieved this academic year?”
“A lot.” I didn’t want it to sound like a question, but he heard it anyway.
“Yes. Do they get the same recognition? No.”
“I’m guessing they don’t come with the same TV deals, ticket sales, and merch sales.”
Dad gave me that pointed stare, and then I saw the small twitch at the corner of his mouth. “Yes, well, there’s that,” he said with a wry smile. “You’re clear on what I need?” he asked, all business again.
I forced a tight smile. “Of course, Dean Cole.” I stood. “Is that everything?”
“Yes,” he said, already reading his computer screen. “The Sunday brunch is at eleven, and we have the...”
“Benefactors Booster,” I supplied, “on Saturday.” I nodded. “I know, Dad.”
He looked up, even though my tone had been perfectly pitched, but his eyes were focused on my jeans.
“I allowed you to live in the dorms and not in the dean’s residence with me, Savannah, but please, remember your position and that you represent the school.” He pointed his pen toward my jeans. “You’ve thrown away better clothes. Slacks, if you have to wear pants, hmm?” He’d already turned back to the screen.
Don’t argue.
“I was late this morning.” Should have kept my mouth shut; his head snapped up like a cobra’s ready to strike.
“Why?” he asked. “Did the quarterback do something?”
“No!” I debated my next words for a second, but didn’t hold back. “Like you said, he’s a jock. You never know, Dad, he might be intelligent.”
Dad gave a huff of derision, the screen once more holding his attention. “If he were intelligent, he wouldn’t be close to failing, would he?”
“Bye, Dad.” I headed for the door.
“Make sure hebenefitsfrom thosemanysessions, Savannah. I’m counting on you.”
“Of course,” I said as I closed the door behind me. I had already made the promise to myself that my tutoring sessions with Dante would be short.
What Dad had failed to see in his assessment of the Wrighton University quarterback was that Dante wasn’t an idiot. I wasn’t sure Dante was the kind of guy youcouldspy on.
Chapter 5
Savannah
By the time I got to the meeting room the next night, Dante was already there, slouched in his chair like this was a punishment instead of the only thing standing between him and losing eligibility.
He gave me a nod, and if I hadn’t known any better, I’d have said he was almost sleeping.
“Hey,” I greeted. “You good?”
“I’m fantastic.”
Delivered with a flat, dry tone.
“Right...” I set my bag on the table, pulled out my notes, and prepared to get comfortable as I watched him pull his phone from his hoodie pocket and smirk at whatever he was reading.
The clock on the wall ticked like it was personally offended by how long it took me to set up, and in that time, Dante Spence hadn’t looked up from his phone once. His laptop was sitting closed on the table, and I saw that he’d brought a notebook. I’d bitten my tongue to stop myself from saying something sarcastic, but I noticed that the only thing on it was a doodle that looked suspiciously like a play call, not educational policy.
I uncapped my pen. “You realize this is mandatory tutoring, right? Not optional office hours you can flake on when you get bored.”
Dante looked up and leaned back in the chair, that lazy grin settling into place. “I’m not bored, Cole. I’m learning.”
