Page 34

Jake

M y racing heart had nothing to do with the brutal practice Coach just led us through.

It’s from the feeling of uncertainty heading into this meeting where Violet is going to confirm whether or not I’d be benched for the rest of the season.

Eliana’s assurances had kept me calm up until this point.

Approaching Mason’s office now is bringing up feelings of anxiety I didn’t even know I had.

I’m hyper-aware of every movement as I enter.

Like the way Mason and Violet pull apart abruptly from each other as if I’d just caught them in action.

The way the seats are laid out in his office like an intervention.

The tense look on Mason’s face as he glances at the whiteboard on his desk with drawn game plays. Plays that may or may not factor me in.

Before I can start, Eliana flounces in behind me, a large mocha frap with extra whipped cream in hand.

While she immediately sits down in a chair across the desk from Mason and Violet, I remain frozen, leaning against the door frame.

I can tell I’m pissing off Mason, but that was what Eliana and I had planned.

For me to play the role of the cocky hockey captain who was still acting like a brat to his tutor. If only they knew.

If my acting is convincing, then Eliana should win an Oscar for the way she turns around to nod her head towards the empty seat next to her, all while sending me a menacing glare that makes my cock twitch.

Fuck, forget having her beg for me. I wanted her to boss me around and tell me exactly how to own her body.

I move to sit down and look down at my hands entwined on my lap, knowing if I made eye contact with Eliana now, I would blow our whole cover.

“Alright, so why don’t we get started,” Violet offers.

“I’d like to first hear from you two about how tutoring has been going.

What’s been working and what hasn’t been?

Can we make any changes to help you both out during this process?

And then we can end with discussing where to go next and Jake’s eligibility for the rest of the semester. ”

Violet hands Mason my class report, where he will clearly see how hard I’ve been working.

Eliana is the first to respond. “We had a bit of a rocky start—“ I snort, “But over time, we came up with a plan to stay on track. And things have been better since then.”

“ ‘ Mutual agreement’ is a very nice way of saying she threatened to let me flunk several times if I didn’t do all of these assignments on her hellish timeline,” I say not-so-subtly under my breath.

“Part of my responsibility as your tutor is to make sure that you complete all your assignments in a timely manner. It’s not my fault you have issues with planning and prioritizing your responsibilities.”

“And it’s not my fault they gave me a drill sergeant instead of a tutor.” I watch her eyes turn dark in a way that lets me know she’s enjoying our game. “Seriously, could you be any more uptight? I don’t respond well to authoritarianism. ”

“You can get snippy with me all you want Jake, but that doesn’t change the fact that my methods have been working.

” Damn right they were. I was one sultry look away from getting on my knees and begging her to do whatever she wanted with me.

From the smug look on Eliana’s face, she knows just how wrapped around her finger I am.

Eliana continues, “You’re welcome, by the way. ”

“You are so full of yourself,” I press, hoping it comes off as seething.

“Just giving my student a dose of his own medicine.”

“You know what?” I lean over my chair to bring myself closer to Eliana, who doesn’t cower away.

If anything, she leans closer and looks just as ready to go head-to-head with me.

I needed one of the adults in the room to interject or else I was about to drag Eliana to the closest trainer’s room and lock us in until we got all of this “tension” out of our systems.

“Okay,” Violet interjects. “I hear that some things have been really effective. Jake, from looking at your assignment grades before you started tutoring to now, you’ve really turned things around, which is great.

” A sense of pride fills my chest. “But maybe we can work on being a bit more flexible when it comes to scheduling and check-ins?” Violets offer.

A compromise. Now is the time for me to perk up in response.

“So, he can keep playing?” Mason speaks for the first time, asking the real question we’d all been waiting to ask. Eliana looks offended, as if he’s questioning her capabilities as a tutor. If only she realized he wasn’t skeptical about her performance, he was skeptical of mine.

Violet looks at her laptop for a few seconds before turning her attention back to Mason. “He can keep playing?—”

“Thank fuck. ” I exhale.

“But I do recommend he keeps up with his tutoring. At least until the end of the semester. And maybe next semester too if he plans on taking more psych classes.” Fat chance that would be happening.

“Pending Eliana is available. She’s our best psychology tutor and tends to be high in demand.

” The latter comment is not-so-subtly aimed at me and my snarky attitude.

Violet didn’t need to remind me of how incredible Eliana was, but I hoped hearing it out loud would ease any doubts Eliana had in her head about how she was perceived.

I turn my attention to Eliana and shoot her a sincere look, “You are a really good tutor, even though you may act like a drill sergeant.”

“Thanks.” She rolls her eyes and turns her attention to Violet. “I have to head over to the lab, if that’s okay? I’m helping Maya run a scan soon.”

“Yes, definitely. We’ll talk more soon.” Violet gives her a wave as she heads out of my office.

She’s working another shift? I must have missed that in her calendar.

She was already pushing nearly 40 hours of work this week on top of being a full-time student.

I knew she could handle herself, but I hated seeing how exhausted she was at the end of every day.

Once Eliana’s out of the office I turn to Violet.

“Have you considered giving her a day off or something? She practically lives in that lab.”

Violet looks caught off guard. “I’m sorry?”

“It wouldn’t kill her to have some fun. All she does is school, tutoring, and research.”

“Research can be fun,” Violet challenges.

“God, no wonder you hired her. You’re like, the same person.” Does every academic have this incurable desire to burn themselves to the ground? I’ve seen it with my mom, my sisters, and now my girlfriend. “So, am I good to go?”

“Yeah, you’re all set,” Mason responds. “I do want to finalize some things with Violet though so just shut the door on your way out.”

Eliana texts me as I leave Mason’s office, telling me she wants to make dinner for us tonight to celebrate my being back in the team’s good graces.

I smile to myself, realizing that a few months ago my definition of celebration would probably look like hitting up a couple of bars or throwing a party at Hockey House.

Now the thought of a night in with my girl sounded perfect.