Page 10

CHAPTER 10

Andry

Something is bothering my little genius. He has been off since dinner. Something I did or said must have upset him.

I want to fix it. I wish I knew how I could.

Is he wanting me to take care of him more? Did I not prove that I am dedicated enough? Or is it something I have no control over?

My little genius’s self-esteem seems low. Despite being smart beyond his years, he holds himself as if he needs to blend into the background. It's like he wants to be invisible, so no one sees him.

I don't like it.

Not one bit.

He deserves to be printed on billboards and blasted across TV screens. People should praise him for how smart he is. They should recognize that he’s someone they need to look out for. Someone who can do more than they ever could.

Instead, I feel as if he’s trying to let others rule over him.

I'm going to have to help him break that bad habit. If people believe you’re weak, they’ll treat you as such. If they believe you’re strong, they won’t challenge you.

When it’s time to go, I realize that he’ll have to drive me all the way back to campus and then double back. It's not a good situation. I decide to order a car instead.

“Come wait with me,” I tell him while Ma works to finish cleaning up the kitchen.

I tried to offer to help her; however, she threatened to take away the leftovers she was sending me home with. I couldn't let that happen.

The food is delicious. It was something I'd never had before, given my limited options back home. And I wanted more of it. Wanted to eat until I was stuffed.

Then I wanted to cuddle up with Rodney until we dozed into a peaceful sleep. I could envision it clear as day.

He is my future.

“Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?” he asks again.

“I'm positive, little genius. You don’t need to get out because of me.”

He relents eventually and stands on the porch with me. It's cool tonight. The weather gives me the perfect excuse to pull him to my chest and wrap myself around him.

His arms slip under my jacket after a few minutes. As my warmth blankets him, he shivers. I press a kiss to the top of his head as I let my emotions move through me.

There's joy and peace.

And even a bit of excitement.

I can't deny being this close to him does things to me. My cock aches, wanting to be buried inside him. Wanting to see those gorgeous lips wrapped around me.

I could do such filthy things to him if he let me. I could also treat him like the prince he is. I could lay him out and feast on him for hours.

Pushing down the thoughts when I feel my body reacting is hard. I have to tilt my hips back to not give myself away.

I have a feeling he knows anyway if the soft chuckle is anything to go by. It's the first time he's laughed or shown any happiness since dinner, and I'm thankful for it.

In my moment of euphoria, I blurt out, "Will you go on a date with me?"

All the progress I thought I made flies out the window. He yanks himself away and crosses his arms. It's a move that's clearly meant to say ‘ no’ even if his voice doesn't relay the message.

I tilt my head as I look down at him.

"Little genius?" I ask.

He doesn't say anything. Unfortunately, he doesn't get the chance to either. A car pulls up right as I'm about to ask again. From the impatient driver’s look, this is the type of person who will not wait on me.

I let out a heavy breath, then pull him into a quick kiss. I'd love to wrap myself around him more to truly sink into it. With how he's been back and forth tonight, I know it's not a good idea.

"See you soon," I tell him.

Then I climb in the back of some stranger's car and give them my address.

As I drive away, I watch Rodney on the porch. His eyes never leave the vehicle until we're so far gone I can't get a glimpse of him anymore.

I wonder if he’s going to think of me as much as I’ll think of him until we're reunited.

I hope so.

* * *

When Rodney doesn’t answer my text the morning after dinner at his place, I chalk it up to him being tired and maybe sleeping in.

But then three more days pass.

Then another.

And another.

At the seven-day mark, I feel myself on the edge of losing my mind. I’m a feral beast locked in a cage trying to fight its way out.

I’m fierce on the ice, taking down my opponents and giving my teammates a hell of a run. Coach is overjoyed because we won by shutout in our last game. I also got a hat-trick, which shouldn't have happened given my position.

But the anger and the helplessness I felt fueled me.

Now though, I've gotten to the stage where I need to do something. I have to fight for him.

While I know where he lives and could just go knock on his door, I feel as if that may be crossing the line. He wants to be with me. I know he does.

You don't kiss someone like that, don't fall apart in their arms if you're not interested.

There are things holding him back. Or someone. Maybe a few someones.

I think back to my team and how they were talking about him before. How they act as if they're superior in some way.

I think about how Rodney was upset to find out I was a hockey player.

The signs all point to them being the issue.

So why is he not talking to me instead of fighting against their stupid ideals?

I push down my frustration and stalk my way up to the student center.

Earlier, I emailed asking for help in one of my classes because the schoolwork here is frustrating. I understand English just fine in verbal form. Completing all my assignments is a different beast.

There are a few things that go deeper than I was taught. Whenever I study, I struggle to keep the concepts clear.

It's mostly English giving me issues, but there is some math that I'm struggling with too. Before it gets too bad, I want to have someone help me.

More than a few people wave and shout my name as I pass. My performance in the last game has turned me into somewhat of a local celebrity.

I'm pretty neutral about it all. They can wave all they want. Unless they're my little genius, I really couldn't care less.

When I reach the student center, I’m directed to the tutoring department by a girl who blows the biggest bubble gum bubble I've ever seen.

As she’s pointing, it pops, splattering all over her face. I nearly laugh, but her shriek of terror sends me running instead.

In the tutoring department, a familiar face greets me. It's Rodney's friend from the party. The one who I thought was trying to date him.

"You," she says, her tone shocked.

"You," I repeat, "You’re Rodney's friend."

"Yes."

She nods, her lips press firmly together.

“And you’re Andry Rykov, star player for the hockey team. What can I do for you?"

I point to her countertop where there are stacks of paper.

"I’m here for a tutor," I tell her.

She frowns, then goes through her paperwork.

"Oh, you are. I thought you were here for a different reason.”

The fact that she recognized me on sight and seemed hesitant to speak to me tells me what she’s thinking.

"Do you know why he won’t answer me anymore?" I ask her bluntly.

She gapes at me, then shakes her head. “It's not my story to tell. He has his reasons though, rightfully so.”

I take in her defensive stance. She's not going to give me any more information. Maybe if I tell her a bit of my side of things, she’ll help me.

I can always use someone in my corner.

Taking a moment to gather myself, I drop my normally icy mood, and I give her the truth.

“I think that Rodney is a victim of my team's ego. They have teased him and things like that, right?”

The girl bites her lip. She doesn't say a word.

I continue on. “And when Rodney sees me, he thinks I’ll be like them. He thinks that I’ll hurt him somehow or that this is all a joke.”

I lean forward, my hands pressing into the desk.

“This is no joke. I like him a lot. I want to be with him. For him to be mine — my boyfriend, my partner. I want to take care of him and protect him. I want to treat those assholes to the beating they deserve for ever being rude to him. But I can't do that if he doesn't answer me. I can't do that if he avoids me and pretends I don't exist. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” she nods quickly, then grabs her pen and starts writing notes on the paper with my name on it. “I know he'll kill me for this. I really do think you’re being sincere though, and that you mean what you say. If you hurt him I will… I will hurt you. Don't ask me how. I'll have to Google it or something. My big brother would definitely take care of you. He's fierce.”

As much as I want to roll my eyes, I don't. She needs to believe that she has the power here or at least enough of it that I will heed her warning.

It's useless since I need no warning.

All I want is what's best for him.

“Your help is appreciated. No need for threats. What are you doing?”

She holds up the paperwork. “I'm assigning him as your tutor. Rodney is one of our most asked for because he guarantees results. This year, he decided not to tutor full-time. I promised to only send him the cases where he was needed desperately. This is me sticking my neck out for you.”

I give her a full smile. I've been told that it makes me look charming. I've also been told that it's a bit scary.

Yaz shakes her head at me. “Save the smiles for him. I only need you to sign this paperwork and then I'll get it done.”

“Thank you,” I tell her again as I sign my name and confirm my phone number.

“I'll text you when we have a date set up. You’ll meet him at the library in a certain room. I won't tell him who you are, only that you'll be waiting for him. That should buy you a couple of minutes to hopefully explain yourself.”

“It's perfect.”

I leave to plan my speech. While I would rather show him how much he matters to me with my actions, I’ll have to convince him with my words first.

* * *

Three days later, I'm waiting on an ancient, uncomfortable chair in this small room for Rodney to show up.

My little genius tried to fight Yaz. Her text told me that I was lucky to be struggling with more than one subject because when she put it that way, he had to agree. The other tutors were only skilled in one subject each. She couldn't afford to spare two people for me.

I've gone over what I want to say a million times in the last seventy-two hours. I want to prove to him that he can depend on me. That I am at his mercy. That he truly holds the power no matter how our relationship pans out.

And to do that, I figure I have to give him a part of myself that I normally wouldn’t. I have to tell him that I am a Daddy and that I want him to be my boy.

Sharing that I want to be his caregiver and partner will make him look at me differently.

My only worry is that I’ll have to explain the dynamic to him if he doesn't already know it. And I have to make it clear that it wouldn't interfere with anything else.

Being his Daddy means he has protection in a way that he wouldn't otherwise.

The clock ticks slowly, making the chair I'm in even more uncomfortable. There's two of them in this room with a desk between us and a very dirty dry erase board on one wall. The window in the door is the only one showing the outside world, and I'm sitting in a way that you can't see me through it.

It's no surprise that when Rodney barges in right on time and sees me, his jaw drops. The door clicks shut behind him right as I motion for the empty chair.

“Five minutes is all I want.”

His mouth closes, and he takes a step back.

I hold my hand up, hoping he’ll follow the silent command. Thankfully, he freezes.

“I just want five minutes, little genius. Let me say what I need to say, then you can go if you wish. Please don't shut me out anymore.”

I watch his throat as he swallows.

“Five minutes,” he agrees, taking a seat at the desk. He sets a timer on his watch, leaning it my way to prove he’s keeping me on the clock.

I open my mouth and prepare to give the most important speech of my life.