Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 85453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
When McKayla remains staring, waiting for the perfect remedy, I murmur, “Hair of the dog.” Although her confusion keeps her stagnant, I act as if I don’t know she’s bewildered. “I wasn’t sure which textbooks you wanted me to bring, so I brought them all.” I wave my hand at my stack of books that cover every subject I’m studying. “My grades were okay across the board until last semester.” Shame highlights my tone when I admit, “They’ve been steadily falling since.”
“Is there a particular reason?”
“No.” Lying is sometimes easier than telling the truth. “I register what Professor Ren is saying and jot it all down, but it doesn’t seem to sink in.”
While pursing her lips, McKayla ruffles through her backpack. “That could be for a number of reasons. Stress. Lack of sleep. Even a learning difficulty that was previously overlooked.” There’s no belittlement in her voice. No secondhand embarrassment. She talks like Professor Ren. Without judgment. “How about we go over Professor Ren’s latest study plan and see what trips you up?”
She locks her eyes with mine to gain permission for her plan. When I give it to her, she smiles before plonking into the seat next to me.
I assume that is the end of our conversation until she murmurs, “Thank you for making sure I got home okay last night. I’m not sure I would have made it on my own.” Before I can assure her it was nothing, she drops her eyes to a sheet of paper she pulled out of her backpack and asks, “Based on the equation, which of the following must be true?”
“A learning difficultly can be taken off the table,” McKayla gabbers out when we finish the last equation on the sheet. “So that leaves stress and a lack of sleep.”
“My sleep is fine. I get a solid seven hours every night.”
I don’t realize I’m walking into a trap until my foot gets snared. “So it is stress.” I assume she will hone in on the reason I’m so desperate to keep my scholarship, but she veers our conversation in another direction. “Is your breakup with Vivienne weighing heavily on your shoulders?”
“No,” I push out with a chuckle. I got burned because I forgot the rules. Nothing permanent. But my slip-up isn’t what keeps me up at night. “I’ve got stuff on my mind.”
If the veterinary practice doesn’t work out for McKayla, she could take up therapy. She can’t help but probe. “Stuff?”
“Stuff. School. Basketball.” I slouch low in my chair before running my fingers through my chin-length hair. “If I fail my next exam, I’m done. I can’t play anymore.”
Genuine concern echoes in her voice when she asks, “For the semester?”
McKayla’s shocked huff hits my cheek when I shrug. “Who knows? I could lose my scholarship. Why do you think I was so desperate for you to tutor me? My last two tutors had no clue what they were talking about, and the ones before them wanted more.” More is the polite way of saying they thought I reached out to them for sex. “I’ve been called vain many times in my life, but when it comes to floating or sinking, I’ll always choose the option that will keep me afloat.”
When silence reigns supreme, I stray my eyes to McKayla. She is quick to wipe the riled expression off her face, but it does little to dampen her curiosity. “Sorry, I just… I thought your brother went pro, so he was paying your tuition.”
So she hears some rumors. Just not the life-destroying ones.
“He did go pro.” The lowness of my voice exposes my dropped heart. “Then he got into an accident and lost his contract. Anything he earned was gobbled up in medical bills and lawyers’ fees. He has nothing left to give.”
McKayla curls her hand over my balled one on the table. “I’m sorry, Cash. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. It is nothing. He made his choice, and I made mine.” My riddle gives her more questions than answers, but I act as if my heart isn’t in my shoes. “Talking about games, though, we should probably get you to one. No one will believe we’re a couple if you don’t watch me play.”
The sorrow on her face instantly switches to disgust. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I went to a party. That’s enough.”
“You showed up to a party, got drunk after one Chugger, then hurled half of it onto a shrub on the way home.”
“I knew I vomited!” She glares at me about my earlier lie before returning her prima-donna attitude to a manageable level. “But that’s the idea, isn’t it? Show up, make a spectacle of yourself, then leave.”
I stand to my feet and gather my textbooks. “Maybe for the frat boys, but I’ve heard those drama nerds are a little more demanding.”