The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,6
my latte down in front of me. “I didn’t know if you’d eaten or not, so I grabbed two blueberry muffins.”
“I already had breakfast, but thank you.”
“Hey, more for me, right?” His smile was easy, his eyes warm. Darcy didn’t give off creeper vibes. He was nice, friendly, even if a little forward.
“So, Penn Vet, how’s that going for you?”
“I want to say it’s a breeze, but then I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
“Yeah, freshman year can be a shock to the system, but it gets easier, I promise.”
“Why do I feel like you’re sugarcoating the truth?” Our laughter swirled around us. “Thanks, for the latte.” I brought the glass to my lips, reveling in the bittersweet smell of cream and coffee beans.
“Anytime. So why don’t you tell me what you struggled with last year and we can look at your classes for this semester and figure out a plan of action.”
“Sounds good.” Some of the tension left me. Darcy was my tutor. This was strictly a business relationship. Jason couldn’t get pissed about that. Besides, he knew I was his.
I felt a lick of determination skitter up my spine. I needed this if I was going to be able to survive sophomore year. I needed help.
And Darcy Bannerman came highly recommended.
After almost two hours, and a rigorous plan, Darcy and I packed away our things and left the coffee shop. “So I’ll see you Wednesday?” he said, waiting for me to move ahead of him.
“Sounds good,” I said, ducking around him and stumbling straight into—
“Jason?”
“Hey,” he shot me a smile that made my knees weak. “How was tutoring?” His arms went around me, as he dipped his head to kiss me.
“It was good. I... uh... this is Darcy, my tutor.” I wriggled free of his grasp to step aside and introduce them.
The second Jason’s eyes landed on Darcy his expression darkened. “You’re the tutor?”
“Darcy Bannerman.” He held out his hand. “You must be the boyfriend.”
Jason narrowed his gaze, staring at Darcy’s hand as if it was contagious.
“Jase.” I hissed, elbowing him in the ribs.
“Jason. Jason Ford.”
“As in starting quarterback Jason Ford?” Darcy’s brow went up.
“Felicity didn’t tell you?”
I rolled my eyes at that.
“No, it never came up.”
“Okay,” I rushed out. “This has been fun and all, but if you’ll excuse us, Darcy, I need to talk to my boyfriend about the etiquette of conversation.” He chuckled as I pulled Jason away. “What the hell was that?” I hissed once we were out of earshot, marching down the street.
“You failed to mention your new tutor was a guy.” Jason fell into step beside me.
“That's because I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, I suppose Darcy is a pretty girly name.”
“Jason.” I glowered at him. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“Will you get a new tutor if I say yes?” His brow arched in challenge. I wanted to believe he was joking.
I knew he wasn’t.
“If I’m going to pass this year, I need all the help I can get, and Darcy comes highly recommended.”
“I bet he does,” Jason grumbled, his eyes going over his shoulder, but Darcy was long gone.
Usually, I loved this side of him. Possessive and dominant. But now he was just being stupid.
“Jason, look at me.” I stopped, gripping his jaw, forcing his eyes to mine. “There is nothing to worry about.”
“And if our roles were reversed. If it was me spending time alone with a tutor who just so happened to be a hot girl?”
“You think Darcy’s hot?” I hadn’t really noticed.
“Don’t push me, Giles.”
Giles.
A shiver ran up my spine. He only called me that when I’d really pissed him off.
“I’d hate it, okay? But I would trust you. Because that’s what you do when you love someone. You trust them.”
His hard expression melted away, giving way to something that looked a lot like regret. “Shit, Felicity, I trust you, I do.” He pulled me into his arms, brushing his nose over mine.
“I know you do.” My hands curled into his Quakers hoodie. “But I need this Jase. I need to get a handle on classes before I sink too deep.”
“And he’s really the best?” He studied me.
I nodded.
“Okay,” he breathed. “But if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, I will—”
“Ssh, my Neanderthal.” I kissed him softly, but Jason took control, sliding his hands into my hair and slipping his tongue past my lips.
“Get a room, Ford,” someone yelled, and we both turned to find a group of football players.