Natalie
I find Brody on the third floor, tucked into the corner that has become our spot. His books are spread out, and he’s looking over another set of flash cards I made for him. Each chapter is color-coded and I made sure to use big, block writing so he’s easily able to decode the words.
All I’m trying to do is help.
And yet, according to Brody’s dad, I’m a liability. I still feel shaken from the conversation. Dropping onto the seat across from him, I avert my eyes and lay my bag on the table.
“I thought we were meeting at four?” Brody asks with a slight frown.
“I’m sorry. Something came up,” I say evasively.
Even though I’m focused on pulling out my books and computer, I feel his eyes on me as if he’s waiting for an explanation. But I can’t give him a truthful one. I can’t tell him that his dad just paid me a visit. That he wants me to end things between us.
It’s all I could think about on the way over. If I tell Brody about his father stopping by for a private conversation, it’ll just cause problems between them. How can I do that? Brody doesn’t have any other family. It’s always been him and his dad. I can’t, in good conscience, do anything to jeopardize that relationship. No matter how much I care about him.
Mr. McKinnon wants the best for his son. I want that as well. The difference is that he doesn’t see me as the best thing for Brody.
And that hurts.
The last thing I want is to hold Brody back.
“Nat?” Brody asks, jolting me out of my thoughts.
He must sense something is off with me, because he didn’t refer to me as Davies like he usually does. It’s enough to make the backs of my eyes burn. When I have my emotions firmly under control, I glance up. Concern darkens his golden-colored eyes.
I lift the corners of my lips into a thin smile, one that will hopefully reassure him. “Um, Stacy, my boss from the internship last summer, called, and wanted to know what my plans are after graduation.”
“Oh?” Looking interested, he perks up.
I nod. “We ended up talking for about fifteen minutes. Sorry.”
He reaches out and snags my fingers. I stare at our clasped hands, realizing just how affectionate he is. We hold hands at every opportunity. Brody often slings an arm around my shoulder when we’re walking around campus and holds me in his arms when we’re standing in line.
“That’s great. What did you tell her?” He sounds genuinely happy for me.
“I told her that I was interested.” I clear my throat and force out the rest of the lie. “And that I’d like to meet with her to speak at greater length about the opportunity.”
His gaze sharpens. “You mentioned they have offices all over the country, right?”
I glance away. “Yeah, I think they have offices in every major city.” I have spoken with Stacy, but I’m nowhere near making a decision. It was the first excuse that came to mind.
“Good to know.” He gives me a little wink. “That could come in handy down the road.”
The implication of his words brings a lump to my throat. I need to change the subject before this conversation goes any further. Until I figure out what I’m going to do, I’m not going to mention his dad’s visit. “You’ve been going over the cards I gave you?”
“Every chance I get, I pull them out,” he tells me.
“How about I quiz you?”
“Sure.”
We spend the next hour going over the cards. The upcoming test covers a lot of ground and some of the concepts are tricky. I gave him the materials more than a week ago so he would have enough time to study instead of trying to cram it in at the last moment.
Leaning back on his chair, Brody lifts his arms over his head and stretches his body. The graphic tee he’s wearing rides up his belly, showing a tantalizing strip of tight abs. My eyes arrow to the sun-kissed flesh.
“I think we could both use a study break right about now,” he says, closing his textbook.
My eyes snap to his. A sexy smirk curves his lips upward. He obviously caught me staring at his perfectly chiseled body. Before I can respond, he grabs my fingers and pulls me up and around the table until I tumble onto his lap. Brody wraps his arms around me and slants his mouth over mine.
Unable to resist, especially after the brutal conversation with his dad, I open immediately, and his tongue slips inside my mouth before stroking against mine. His hands go to the sides of my face, holding me in place.
After a few breathless minutes, I break away.
Even though I could spend the rest of the night kissing Brody, I don’t want to get off task. It’s important that he does well on this test. So much is riding on it. If he bombs it or even gets a D, that will pull his grade down even further, and then he’ll end up benched. “We should probably get back to studying,” I remind him.
“Not yet,” he grumbles. “I haven’t seen you all day. I’ve missed you.”
His words make my heart ache. “Okay,” I give in. “But only a few more minutes. We have to make sure you ace this exam.”
He huffs out a breath. “That’s not going to happen. I’ll be ecstatic if I pull off a B.”
“If we study a little bit harder, you can do it. I know you can.”
“I’d rather study you,” he murmurs right before his lips coast over the column of my neck. As soon as his mouth makes contact, my eyelids feather closed. He nips at my throat before his tongue darts out to sooth the area.
“God, but I just want to get you alone,” he growls as his hands delve under my shirt, zeroing in on my breasts.
I groan as he palms the soft flesh and teases my nipples.
“Brody, you need to focus.” I’m barely able to get the words out.
“Trust me, sweetheart, I’m focused.”
His father’s words ring unwantedly in my head, leaving me cold. This is exactly what John was talking about. Instead of studying for an important exam, Brody would rather be making out with me.
Even though I would never do anything to intentionally hurt him, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what is going on. Am I nothing more than a distraction that pulls his focus from what’s truly important? Am I jeopardizing his future?
I tug his hands from under my shirt and jump off his lap. My body trembles as I slump on the chair across from him. “You have to study,” I repeat. “You need to do well on this exam. It’s important.”
Annoyance flashes across his face. “Chill out, Davies. You don’t need to remind me that it’s important. I know it is.” He adds, “My dad rides me enough. I don’t need to hear it from you, too.”
I wince. His words feel like a slap in the face.
Unable to meet his eyes, I stare sightlessly at the book splayed open in front of me. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I just want you to do well. That’s all.”
He sighs. His fingers slide across the table until they’re able to tangle with mine. He brings them to his lips and gently presses a kiss against my knuckles. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I know you’re just trying to help, and I appreciate it. I’m under a lot of pressure right now.”
I glance at him. “I know.” My heart feels like it’s about to crack wide open.
Maybe his dad is right.
Maybe I’m just in the way.