Page 74 of The Surprise Play

Tugging on the fabric, I get it sitting as best as I can, then select my favorite winter coat. I hardly ever wear this one, because it’s white and I have an inability to keep my clothes clean, but I take a risk anyway, sliding it on before adding a touch more lip balm to my mouth.

I don’t really wear makeup.

Mom has never been into it, and I’ve never really had anyone show me how. I could watch YouTube clips, but what if I screw it up?

I seriously don’t need to give people any more reasons to hassle me.

Clearing my throat, I turn away from my reflection before I’m tempted to change again. My fingers shake as I spray two squirts of perfume on. Aunt Shayla gave it to me for my birthday last year, and I’ve only worn it one other time.

Why are you wearing it now? It’s a tutoring session, not a date!

I huff, annoyed with myself for losing my head but not having time to wash the scent off. I’m now running later than I want to be, so I finish tying my boots as fast as I can, then head out the door, double-checking first that I have everything I need.

Wily hasn’t told me much about this finance test he’s doing, so I’ll have to figure out my teaching plan when I get there and I see what he’s specifically studying for. I’m sure I can throw something together. I grew up watching Dad do his books for the diner, and I’ve got a pretty good head for numbers. Whatever class Wily’s taking is bound to be one of the easier ones, and I should be able to pick it up fast enough.

Anything I don’t know, I’ll just research and teachmyself before the session after this one. I’ll do everything in my power to get him prepped for his test.

Buttoning up my coat in the elevator, I try to calm the insanity in my stomach. Seriously? What is wrong with me?

I have no idea why my body is reacting this way.

It’s atutoringsession. That’s it.

Just because Wily stood up for me the other day and I haven’t seen him since is no reason to get all tingly and lose my head.

But he stood up for you!

He was sweet and funny, and you like him!

My eyes bulge as the thought dawns on me.

No. No, I can’t do that.

I can’t go liking the guy.

The last time I had a crush on a football player, he used me to do his homework for him, then laughed at the size of my underwear.

I’m not having any kind of mushy feelings toward Wily Wilson.

He just happens to be a nice person who just happens to be a football player.

That’s it.

That is so not it.

He also happens to be a super-hot, super-strong, gorgeous man who literally swept me off my feet, and a sweet older brother who takes his sister to concerts, and a fan of one of my favorite bands, and can strut like a catwalk model in order to make me laugh, and pretends to be King Wily for a two-year-old princess, and?—

Stop it! Stop finding reasons to fall for this guy.

Too late! You like him. You really like him.

I ignore the taunting voice in my head and barrel outside without paying proper attention.

A mistake I’m about to pay a very high price for.

“Hey, hippo,” a sultry voice says, and I jolt to a stop.

Oh shit. No! Not now. Please not now!