Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

RYAN

I slump further in my chair as I grip the quiz and stare at the red marks slashed across the page like a defender’s stick. Shit. A sixty-five percent. This is bad. No, it’s way worse than that. It’s a career-ending catastrophe.

“Alright, that’s it for today. Remember, next week’s quiz coming up,” Professor Whitman’s teacher assistant calls out as the sound of shuffling papers and zipping backpacks fills the air. “I highly suggest a study partner.”

Fucking fantastic. Another quiz where I won’t know what I’m doing. I may be ineligible to play hockey if I get another low mark. What will I do then? I love the game. With two years left to play, the last thing I want is to be benched because I can’t grasp a simple physics concept.

Frustrated, I glance at Maddy. She stands and shoves books into her backpack, but for once, it’s not her that has me mesmerized. It’s her damn paper that I can’t tear my eyes away from and that glaring mark. What the fuck? She got a freaking one hundred percent. How is that possible?

I mean, she’s smart, no doubt about that, but absolute perfection? There was stuff on the quiz the teacher never went over, nor was it in the assigned reading. I would know. I read the chapters. Twice.

Tearing my gaze away, I stare at my desk and think. Convincing Maddy to study with me just became a top priority. She obviously relates better to this garbage than I do. But how am I going to convince her? She still doesn’t want anything to do with me. Her body does, but not her brain. That was obvious from the Delta’s party.

And what about me? The smart thing to do is to avoid being alone with her. I have no self-control. That’s another thing I learned from that night. But I couldn’t take all the blame; my body reacted to the biggest set of blue balls that currently resided in my pants. My last release was with her. And as pathetic as it sounds, that’s not even the worst part. I haven’t had sex with anyone else because I didn’t want to lose the memory of how she felt against me.

I bite back a frustrated sigh and shove the quiz and notebook into the backpack. With the deadline for physical therapy applications fast approaching, I need to do something. Otherwise, I not only risk losing my chance at playing hockey but also becoming a physical therapist.

My hands tighten on the straps of my backpack. Alright, universe. You want to play hardball? Game on. I’ve got goals to crush, both on and off the ice.

“Hey, what if—” My words die when I turn and take in the empty seat beside me. “Shit! Shit, shit, shit.”

I scan the room as my hands fumble with the zipper, but I can’t find Maddy anywhere. How’d she move so fast?

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I nearly knock over my chair in my haste to leave. My sneakers squeak against the polished floor as I burst into the hallway. The corridor’s packed with students. I weave through the crowd, muttering “Excuse me” and “Sorry” as I dodge backpacks and elbows. Getting to her is vital. I need to ace this following quiz.

“Come on, come on,” I mutter, searching for that telltale flash of auburn curls. Where is she?

Moving forward, I dodge a group of freshmen and nearly collide with a trash can.

“Slow down, dude,” a voice calls out.

“Not on your life.” I press forward and sigh as I spot her near the exit. “Maddy!”

She turns, and her green eyes widen as I skid to a stop before her. I’m breathing hard, probably looking like I just came off a double shift on the ice. But I don’t care. I’ve got her attention now, and I’m not wasting it.

“Ryan?” she says, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “What are you doing?”

“I need you to reconsider studying with me.” Way to put it on blast, idiot.

“You ran down the hallway just to rehash this again?”

“I’m serious. I bombed that quiz and really need your help.”

“I’m not sure if you got the notice, but we’re not friends.”

I try to slow my racing heart with a deep breath, but I’m keyed up. There has to be a way to convince her.

“I’ve got a proposition for you,” I say, flashing her my best smile. “How about we study together?”

Her eyebrows shoot up. She opens her mouth, but I press on before she can shoot me down.

“I’m sure there’s something I can do for you in return.”

She tilts her head, giving me her best deadpanned expression. “I can’t think of anything I would need from you besides you leaving me alone.”

“Come on, Grimes,” I say, leaning in slightly. Her strawberry scent wafts over me, and I inhale too strongly. But I can’t help it. She smells so delicious all the damn time.

My gaze drops to those slightly thin lips as she bites the lower one. God, she’s cute when she does that.

Focus, Sorenson.

This is about studying. Nothing else. Right?

The splatter of freckles across Maddy’s nose scrunch up as she furrows her brow. There’s no stopping the grin crossing my face. That girl is skeptical, but I can work with that. I’ve faced tougher opponents on the ice.

“I don’t know what you’re up to, Sorenson.” She shifts and crosses her arms. “Why are you insisting we study together?”

“Look, I’m going to be straight up with you. I bombed that last quiz, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I need to pass the next quiz to stay eligible to play hockey. I really need the help.”

Maddy’s eyes narrow, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “And what makes you think I need your help?”

“Oh, come on,” I say, leaning against the wall with an easy confidence. “Everyone’s got room for improvement. Plus, two brains are better than one. It’s like having a solid defensive line—we’ve got each other’s backs.”

Maddy’s a genuine people pleasure. It’s not a surprise to see her resolve waver. I press my advantage. “Look, Grimes, I’m not asking for a lifelong commitment here. Just a few study sessions. If it doesn’t work out, no harm, no foul. But if it does…” I trail off, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

Maddy’s eyes lifted to the heavens, but not before I saw a blush creeping up her neck. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Impossibly charming, you mean,” I quip, smirking. “Come on, what do you say? Give it a shot?”

I hold my breath, waiting for her response. Come on, Maddy. Say yes. I need this more than you know.

“But why me? Can’t you get help at the tutoring center?”

“You know how that goes. Waiting for your turn takes forever, and I don’t have time, not with hockey and my other studies. Besides, nobody else gets me like you.” It may have been a while since we hung out, but this infuriating girl always understood what I needed, even if it was as simple as a good laugh or shoulder to lean on.

Maddy chews her bottom lip again, her eyes darting around the bustling hallway. “I don’t know, Ryan. It’s not that simple. What if someone sees us together? The team, the coaches … hell, the whole campus would have a field day with that gossip. And if it ever leaked out…”

A pang in my chest tightens. She’s not wrong. Our little encounter at Becky’s party is still fresh in our minds. I run my fingers through my hair to buy time to think.

“Look,” Maddy continues while fidgeting with the strap of her backpack. “That night was … it was fun, okay? But we can’t just pretend it didn’t happen. What if studying together just makes things weird?”

I lean in closer and lower my voice. “Maddy, I get it. I do. But we’re both adults here. We can handle this like pros, right? Besides,” I add with a wink, “a little tension never hurt anyone’s study game.”

She lets out a nervous laugh and shakes her head. “God, you’re infuriating. But…” she pauses, those green eyes muddled with conflict.

A surge of hope races through my veins, but we’re not quite there yet. Maddy still holds back, but as her body language screams caution, a flicker of curiosity coats her face. I need to sweeten the pot. It’s a long shot, but I do have something to teach her. However, I’m not sure how well it will be received.

“You know, we could remedy a certain situation,” I say when she goes silent.

“What do you mean?”

“We make a trade. You teach me physics, and I enlighten you to the art of giving head.”

“Jesus,” she swears.

“Think about it. This could be a win-win for both. I don’t know about you, but I could use a relief.”

“Okay, first of all, if I say yes, it’s only for the studying part, not the other.”

“You really need to reconsider this friends-with-benefits opportunity.”

“There is no FWB opportunity. If anything, it’d be more like frenemies-with-benefits.”

“Angry sex is still good sex.”

“You’re impossible. There will be no sex.”

“I mean, it’s your loss.” I point toward my junk.

“When people talk about their big sizes, they usually can’t back it up.”

I just look at her.

She huffs. “Fine! You do. But if we do this—which I haven’t agreed on yet—but if we do, then it stays between us. If our parents…”

“They’re not going to find out.” I study her for a moment. “What’s really scaring you?”

A beat of silence passes before she sighs. “I don’t want to give my dad any more ammunition against yours. Regardless of everything that happened, I still care about your father.”

Talk about a punch to the gut. The smart thing to do is walk away before Madison gets under my skin, but I need her. I need us to work.

“Fine. We won’t tell anyone. But Maddy, I never want to keep you a dirty little secret.”

“Then it’s a good thing this isn’t real.”

Touché.

“Do we have a deal?” I ask.

“Yes, we have a deal.” She points her finger toward me. “But it’s purely platonic. But what about a study spot?”

“I’ve got it covered. We’ll find a spot where no one will see us. The library has private study rooms on the top floor. Or the alcoves at the rec center. Hell, we could even hit up that 24-hour diner on Tiverton if we need to. Trust me, Maddy, discretion is my middle name.”

“You really think we can pull this off without anyone finding out?” she asks.

I nod, full of confidence. “Absolutely. We can be discreet. Just two students helping each other out. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Maddy nods, absentminded. “I swear to God, if this blows up in our faces…”

My smirk returns. “It won’t. Promise. So, when do you want to start? I’m free tonight if you are.”

“Eager much? Let’s start tomorrow. I’ve got other things planned for tonight.”

Why do I want to ask with who? It makes no difference to me.

“Tomorrow it is,” I agree, already looking forward to it. “Meet me at the library after your last class? We’ll grab one of those study rooms.”

She nods, adjusting her backpack. “Okay. But remember, this is strictly business. We’re here to study, not ... anything else.”

I hold up my hands in mock surrender. “Scout’s honor. All work, no play.” I smirk, but as I walk away, I add, “Until you want your payment, that’s it.”