Page 48 of Brat Baby (Sugar Life #1, #3)

Emery

I glance at the time—five minutes left of Derek’s class, and I’m pretty sure this is the last slide.

For the last hour and forty-something minutes, I’ve been plotting my next move. The only thing I’ve come up with so far is to just go and talk to Derek. Catch him while he is still in professor mode and force him to talk to me. Maybe ask him for one-on-one tutoring.

“And that’s all for today. Please ensure you have read chapter five and completed the exercises, as Wednesday’s class will assume you are up to date on the content.

We will not be returning to this content until your mid-term exam,” Derek states in that don’t-mess-with-me tone he gets sometimes, closing his laptop.

I have to actively not think about the times I’ve heard that tone, with a slightly firmer quality, because if I do, then I’m fairly certain I’ll combust on the spot.

As quickly as possible, I pack up my things, shoving everything into my backpack haphazardly. I start to stand, but a weight presses down on my shoulder.

I almost crick my neck with how fast I turn to look at the offensive thing touching me. Which turns out to be Will’s hand. Oops.

“Hey, Ems, you okay? You didn’t look great earlier.” My irritation melts away at the very real concern in his light blue eyes.

That all-American boyish charm, softened by his need to comfort me, does something weird to my heart, which I ignore.

Doing my best to shove down my annoyance—because how would he know he’s slowing me down from attempting to seduce our professor?

—I try to find an answer for him. “Ah, yeah. Just, girl things, you know?”

Understanding dawns and his eyebrows shoot up. To his credit, he doesn’t back off or get embarrassed. “Do you need anything?”

At first, I’m a little lost for words, because who is this guy? There would have been a Tray-shaped hole in the wall the moment I started to say anything about my period.

“Ah, no, I’m good. Just a bad cramp. Thank you, though.” I reach up and pat his hand awkwardly. “You’re a good guy, Will.”

With a smirk, he finally releases my shoulder and sits back in his chair. “I know.”

I laugh and roll my eyes at him. “Whatever.”

He turns serious again. “Are you still interested in that study group? I got a few messages during class about asking you to join.”

Oh, right. “Ah, yeah, sure. Happy to join. Send me the details?”

He grins and pulls out his phone. “You’re going to have to give me your phone number. We have a WhatsApp chat.”

I purse my lips and squint at him. “Promise to only use it for the study group?”

He grabs at his chest, a shocked look on his face. “Do you really think I’m the kind of guy who would ask for your number for a study group and then use it for ulterior motives?”

I laugh, loud, before hitting him with my most serious expression. “Yes.”

Will lets out a put-upon sigh and draws a cross over his heart. “I swear on the hockey gods to only use your number for study group reasons.”

Out of nowhere, one of his friends leans into our conversation, the diamond stud in his left earlobe catching the light. “I don’t know why, but this conversation is turning me on.”

Will puts his entire hand in his friend’s face and shoves him as I choke on laughter. Then he turns a pleading look on me. “Pretend like that didn’t happen, please. We really want you in our study group.”

“Ohhh, you asked her?” the friend says.

“Yes, now shut up before she says no. I was about to get her number.”

“Nice.” The friend turns to me, a massive smile on his face. “Welcome to the study group.”

I shake my head with a chuckle. “I haven’t actually joined yet.”

He offers me his hand over the table, completely ignoring my response. “I’m Vinnie, by the way.”

Taking his hand and expecting a shake, I am completely caught off guard when he stands and leans over the table to kiss the back of it. “E-emery.”

“Nice to meet you, Emery. We both promise not to use your number for anything other than study group purposes, unless you give us the signal,” he states with a wink.

I’m completely speechless. What is even going on right now?

A phone is passed in my direction, open to a new contact screen. I don’t give it too much thought and simply tap in my number and click save. But then I check the name my number is saved under and roll my eyes.

Emery – Hot Math Genius.

Boys. Seriously.

Thoughts of boys turn to men and…

Oh shit.

Whipping back around, I scan the front of the class and find it empty of all teaching staff. My stomach drops and my vision becomes watery.

Derek is gone. I missed my chance.

Fucking Will.

Distracting me. Again.