Schooling the Jock (Nerds Vs Jocks #1) - - Eli Easton Page 0,37

shrieks about the cast, and then they were out the back door, Mack trotting along with them. Jesse started to stack the plates.

“No. Jesse, Dobbs—you guys go for your run. I’ve got this,” Mrs. Knox said with a slight edge to her voice.

“I can help,” Jesse said.

“Go! You need the exercise, and I need the quiet time,” Mrs. Knox insisted.

So we did. Jesse hurried upstairs and changed into running gear in two seconds flat, and then we headed down the long farm driveway.

We didn’t say anything. I honestly wasn’t thrilled about jogging with Jesse. He was Mr. Athlete, and I was more of a plodder. But I did my best, trying not to embarrass myself, and if he thought I was slow, which he had to since he was a, uh, running back, he didn’t show it. Dirty snow remained on the ground here and there, and overnight frost still dusted the shadier parts of the foliage along the road and sparkled on one broad field of golden stalks. The sky was clear and light blue, and the air was cold enough to see our breath. It felt really good to be out in the fresh air. And it was beautiful. I wasn’t kidding when I’d said my parents were city mice. I’d been born and raised in a brownstone in downtown Minneapolis, so this was new to me. I liked it a lot.

We jogged past cows. A friendly farm dog raced us on the other side of a fence.

“Sorry I haven’t had much time for Quiz Bowl since we’ve been here. This must be boring for you,” Jesse said at last.

“It is kind of boring. But I’ll be able to sell information on your home life back at campus, so that’s a perk.”

He snorted and elbowed me. Which made my heart soar giddily. Getting Jesse to laugh was becoming a thing I liked too much.

“You have classes Monday?” he asked.

“Four. Monday and Wednesdays are my heaviest days.”

“Me too. Though Tuesdays and Thursdays are nearly as bad. I have football training those days.”

“Mmm.” I remembered what he’d said at our meeting about not being able to do Quiz Bowl practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “What day would be good for you to get together for Quiz Bowl then? With the group?”

“Wow. Asking instead of decreeing. That’s new,” Jesse said sarcastically.

“Hey, I’m not unreasonable. As long as I get my pound of flesh one way or the other.”

“And I’d, er, like to give it to you.” He coughed. “But, I don’t know when. Mondays and Wednesdays, I have a physiology class from 6 to 8 p.m., and I’m toast after that. I had to take the night class because the day class filled up before I got registered. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have football training. I could do Friday nights.”

“No way. The group would kill me if I booked up Friday night.”

“Tuesdays and Thursdays my first class isn’t until ten, so I could do mornings,” he suggested, sounding reluctant.

“Get Billings and Johnson up early? Not gonna happen.” I shook my head.

There didn’t seem to be any good solution, and I wasn’t in the mood to press the point or get nasty about it. The morning was too peaceful. It was too…pleasant…jogging on a wintry country road with Jesse Knox. I let it drop. If the group had to practice without Jesse, we would. I could probably get him to cram on his own. Or maybe meet in a smaller group.

Or with just me. Friday nights?

Ah, Dobbs. Dobbs, Dobbs. There was a slippery slope there, finding an excuse to spend Friday nights alone with Jesse. I could feel the earth sliding under my feet. I couldn’t go down that path, so I pushed the problem from my mind. We’d figure something out later.

That afternoon, I helped Mr. Knox do the lunch dishes while Jesse and his mom tried to get the twins settled in the playroom. Micah was letting out intermittent shrieks and, it sounded like, throwing things.

“He’s tired,” Mr. Knox said as he dried a dish. “He didn’t sleep well in the hospital, and his arm probably hurts. But Micah has never been a napper, not even when he was little. His brain is too wired.” His voice was a little gruff as it usually was. I felt like he was trying to apologize for Micah’s behavior or something.

“I sprained my ankle once,” I said. “God, it hurt so bad that first week. I’m sure I was a total pill.” I