Your Tutor

Chapter Nine

"Hey, buddy!" I squeal, opening my arms to my cousin and squatting to the floor. Daylon runs over to me, his shoes lighting up green as he does so. I scoop him into my arms, picking him up as I stand. "It's been so long. I missed you." I kiss his forehead.

He giggles, covering his face with his arms. I put him back down, ruffling his hair with my hand.

Daylon moves over to an equally as happy Cameron behind me.

The kid has my whole heart.

I walk over to my aunt who's standing behind the counter in an apron. "Hey," I greet, a smile still on my face. "Sorry for the no show. I have an income source, sort of, but I'm coming back tomorrow, I promise. Right after I get out of class."

Adeline flashes a gorgeous smile. "It's okay. How's school?"

I groan, leaning against the counter. "Hard. Tiring. You know, you've been there."

She nods. "Yeah, well, it's different for everyone. You got a boyfriend yet? I would love to see you get married."

Cameron pushes beside me. "I would too, but the idiot I trusted messed it up." She shakes her head. "We'll have to keep trying until she gets a good one."

I snicker, but I can't help the guilt that washes over me.

I want to tell her, I need to tell her. But she'll freak out. The news will break her. Literally. She might just stop functioning — just out of pure confusion. First, I like him, then I hate him, then we're 'friends who kiss,' as I'm calling it — because I refuse to admit that we're anything more. I'm lost, myself.

When does my cycle start — maybe I'm just hormonal? I can blame that for my stupid choices this week.

"Or, you could let me do it myself," I say.

"Let's be real, I won't see you in a relationship if someone doesn't set it up. Who better to trust than your best friend?"

I shake my head, grinning. "Fine. You won't find anyone, though. Not anyone that I would say yes to, anyway."

Cameron sighs. "I know." She looks at Adeline. "And the crazy thing is, I thought I found the perfect one, but he's just an asshole. I mean, I knew that, but I thought that just maybe, just maybe, he would be a little nicer to her."

My phone buzzes in my pocket, vibrating to the familiar incoming call rhythm. I slide it out of the back pocket of my jeans and look at who's calling.

I answer and press the phone to my ear. "Hey. You okay?"

It's only been twelve hours, he couldn't have gotten into trouble already. I hope not.

"You haven't been to my apartment, have you?" Brooks asks. "Fuck, I'll come to you."

I furrow my brows. "What—? No, I'm not home. Hey, what's wrong? Talk to me, please."

Cameron nudges my shoulder. "Who are you talking to?" She asks.

I pay no mind to her for the moment and continue listening to Brooks. "Nothing. I just wanna see you. And your face relaxes me."

"Is there a reason you're not relaxed? What happened?" I hold up my finger to Adeline and Cameron before turning and walking outside. "Is there something wrong?"

"I won't see you today other than if I come see you. But I only have an hour and a half before I have to go."

I smile. "You miss me, huh?" I tease. "Aw, that's cute."

"I missed you when we weren't something. Now I have a reason to just ask you to come over. So, yes, I may or may not miss you, Peaches. Now come over."

"That's what was wrong? You just missed me?" I ask. He answers with a hum, and what I can assume, a nod. "What do you have to do today? Oh, you have a game, don't you?"