Page 14 of Hard Rock Love

I averted my gaze quickly and shuffled the papers in front of me.

“Hey,” Seth said softly. He cast his eyes to the group before turning back to me. “Are you okay? Is one of those guys bothering you or something?”

I shook my head, mute, unable to speak.

“If one of those guys is an asshole, just tell me and I’ll knock out his teeth,” he said.

I huffed a laugh.

“No, it’s okay.” I didn’t want to get into it. “I think I’m just tired. My eyes burn from looking at books all day.” I rubbed at them, using my sleeve to quickly dry the few tears gathering around my lash line.

Seth put a hand on mine and patted it. My heart leaped to my throat. His touch was warm, reassuring. It felt more like one friend comforting another and less like a sexy rock star god igniting my body.

“Let’s call it a day,” Seth said. “Next time we get together, I’ll have finished the books.”

“When you see how long those books are you’re going to regret promising me that,” I said.

“Oh man,” he groaned. “Don’t tell me this is a Lord of the Rings kind of thing? Three whole pages describing the green of the leaves on a tree?”

I sniffed back a giggle. Already my heart felt lighter. Seth had a way of lifting my spirits without even trying. He was just that kind of guy.

“How about you finish book one and we’ll go from there,” I told him.

“I can do that,” he said. “I’ll make sure to pay attention to the hero’s journey thing. There’s only five parts, right?”

“Seth…” I groaned.

He flashed me a grin. “Kidding. I remember there’s twelve.”

“Maybe you won’t be as difficult as I thought.”

“Hey, I’m a model student,” he said, feigning indigence. “After all, I’ve got a great teacher.”

He put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. His thumb pressed into the bare skin of my collarbone exposed by my slouching sweater dress. That thumbprint burned into me. All of those friendly feelings disintegrated, replaced by a yearning hunger.

After what had happened at that frat party, I’d sworn off men and dating altogether. I was going to focus on my studies. I didn’t need that kind of complication, that kind of heartache.

But Seth was so kind, so funny and sweet. Would it really be so bad to let myself imagine…?

Of course, that was silly. Seth was a talented rock god, world-famous, able to have any girl in the world.

And I was just… me. Boring, forgettable Abigail Davis. There was nothing exceptional about me. Nothing that would cause a man like Seth to give me a second thought.

“I better go,” I said, standing abruptly. Seth’s hand fell from my shoulder. I mourned the loss, but knew it was better like this. There was no use pining after someone I had no chance with.

“Abby!” Seth called out before I could flee. I turned to him, gripping the straps of my bag with two clenched fists. He examined me, head tilted. “See you next week?”

Another bout of laughter sounded from the other table. I thought I caught someone murmuring my name. Seth’s eyes flicked to the table, a curious look on his face. I forced myself not to look over.

“Sure,” I said. “Next week.”

I just hoped to god Seth didn’t hear any of those rumors before our next tutoring session. I didn’t want his opinion of me to change.

If he knew what people were saying about me…

My throat closed up.

The thought of Seth looking at me the way all those others did made my heart crumple in my chest.