Make My Move (Hannaford Prep #5) - J. Bree Page 0,18

me, slowly taking in every detail of my appearance from head to toe. It’s a fucking weird feeling and it takes me a second to realize that it’s because she never looks at me. Not really, she glances at me or maintains eye contact when she has to, but even when she’s tutoring me she keeps her eyes on the work in front of us.

I can tell she likes what she sees and fuck if that doesn’t make me reconsider my plan to just try to forget about this attraction to her.

The grin on my face is so fucking wide and I’m about to do something fucking stupid when she bursts that little bubble.

“No thanks.”

What the fuck?

I manage to jam my foot in the doorway right as she tries to slam the fucking thing in my face. “Mounty, for fuck’s sake. Hear me out. Please.”

She hesitates.

She fucking hesitates, but with a sigh she finally steps away and I push the door open again. I straighten myself up and try not to get fucking fidgety now she’s looking at me even more like I’m a fucking problem.

Why did I think this would be easy?

“Right,” I clear my throat, and just fucking lay it out there, “I’ve made another deal with my dad. If I graduate senior year with a 3.0 GPA or higher, he’s going to let me take a gap year without pitching a fit. I want to fit in a world tour and a new album. I also want to use that time to convince my parents that college isn’t for me.”

With another sigh, she motions me into the room.

The place is immaculate like always, the shower running so I know where Avery is. Thank fuck she didn’t see Lips shut me down, the hell she would give me for it would be a fucking nightmare to endure and if Harley caught wind of it? No fucking thanks. The coffee machine starts beeping and I swear Lips’ eyes damn near roll back into her head at the sound.

“You didn’t need to come here; I already tutor you. We can go through all of your syllabi and get a plan together on how we’re going to make it work,” she mumbles as she stalks toward the kitchen.

She fixes us both a coffee, sliding a cup and the fixings over to me, all without looking at me. Now that I’ve noticed it, I can’t stop myself from eyeballing her and wanting to figure her out. Does she ever look at me? It’s not like she’s fucking shy—did I really put her off of me that badly last year and now we’re not ever really going to be friends?

Why does that bother me so much?

I shove that thought away. “Lance is taking up too much of your time. Ash would back off and let you work with me in peace but the little Mounty fuck wouldn’t.”

The glare she levels at me is fucking savage.

Fuck.

I choose my words carefully, gritting them out because I fucking hate feeling this exposed. “I don’t want Lance to know how much trouble I have with my classes. He’s an arrogant asshole and I’d rather not have to beat the shit out of him if he runs his mouth. If Avery finds out, it’ll be the next Mounty hunt.”

She startles a little and glances at me before looking away quickly like I’ve shocked her but, I mean, she knows how fucking useless I am at my classwork.

None of this is news to her.

My skin starts to prickle with hot irritation and I start chewing on my lip to distract myself from it. I fucking hate talking about this shit but before I lash out and say something stupid, she scrubs a hand over her face like she’s clearing her head.

She holds up three fingers and, fuck yes, I’ve won. “Three rules.”

I nod.

“One: you’ll come to every study session on time and with the agreed work done before. If I’m going to put in the time and effort you will too. I don’t care if it’s wrong and we have to redo it, you have to give everything a go.”

Easy. “Agreed. Next?”

“Rule two: you’ll show me respect while we study. We can do it here, Avery has ballet and dance most nights so we can pick a few nights a week and we’ll be left to it but I’m not having you get pissy and tearing into me for no reason. Save that for the dining hall or parties