Page 58 of Fighting Fate
Stay focused, Miles.
"Moreover," she continues, "I don't even know what this guy looks like. How's he going to find me for the tutoring session?"
Hearing her groan, my instincts kick in. I feel an urge to comfort her, to just pull her into a hug and let her sink into the familiar warmth we've shared so many times.
Do not do it, Miles.
But, fuck it, this is my girl, and without thinking, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. She's momentarily stiff with surprise, but then she exhales deeply, melting into my embrace. It feels incredibly right, her body fitting perfectly against mine.
It reminds me of those times after my chemotherapy sessions, when our hugs were a refuge, a way to escape the harsh reality for a moment. Now, it's my turn to offer her that same escape from her stress.
As she pulls back, her face tilts up to mine, our arms loose around each other. She nestles her face into my chest, and my heart thumps loudly.
God, this girl.
Looking up again, she searches my eyes, and I gently cup her chin, my thumb lightly grazing her lips. "I'm pretty sure he won't have any trouble finding you," I say, trying to lighten the mood.
Her gaze sweeps across the room, dodging any direct eye contact. "Well then, where is he?" she murmurs, her voice laced with a tinge of panic.
"I think he's already here," I say, hoping she'll pick up on the hint.
Her eyes finally settle on mine, a flicker of realization crossing her face. "You're my 'special' student, aren't you?"
Inwardly, I smile. If only she knew how special she is to me.
"Yeah, it's me," I respond, a sly grin spreading across my face. "Right here, your very own 'special' student."
She places a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh, her blue-green irises dancing with amusement. I brush my thumb against her lip again, asking, "Ready to study, or what?"
Teasingly opening her mouth slightly, she playfully bites my thumb, her eyes locking onto mine with an unmistakable, unabashed hunger. My cock turns stiffer than the pencil in my back pocket. God, what would those lips look wrapped around my...
A little giggle finally breaks out, causing my thoughts to shift, and witnessing her giggle like when we were kids has my heart squeezing. Stepping back, she replaces my thumb with a pencil.
"Something on your mind, Miles?" she asks, her eyes briefly dropping to the noticeable outline in my sweats before meeting mine again. And, just like that, gone is the stressed Milli, and there's a new edge to her smile now, one I haven't seen before—it's more daring, more flirtatious.
Fuck if it's not a turn on.
She looks at me with confusion, probably wondering why I'm not responding to her teasing challenge. As much as I'd like to take this further, I know I need to focus. This moment isn't about giving in to impulse; it's about priorities, about staying on track.
All other thoughts need to be shelved for now.
Milli tilts her head, a questioning look in her eyes. "But why?"
It's a fair question. Miles Chasen needing a tutor? I've got the whole package—the charisma, the looks, and the skills on the field. Yeah, I'm as brainy as I am athletic, and that's a side of me everyone gets to see. Most people don't know about the struggles I've faced—needing a hand with football, fighting through cancer, struggling to keep up in school. I've been in a constant state of catch-up, always pushing to be better, to do better. Eventually, I got there. My football skills? Top-notch. My grades? Better than most. College was supposed to be my escape, a break from the pressures of my past. That's why a freshman class didn't get my full attention.
But now, I'm here, scrambling to pass statistics—a class I took in my wild freshman year.
Opting for Milli as my tutor? Never would've crossed my mind. It's not that I doubt her skills—it's just, she's my best friend. And lately, she's been more than that in my thoughts. Every little thing she does seems to resonate with me on a different level.
Adding her into my already hectic schedule means we're going to be spending even more time together. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about that part. But sometimes, it's just too much. I need space to clear my head, to dispel these thoughts that keep surfacing.
I lock eyes with her, trying to explain. "I guess you're wondering why I need a tutor. Honestly, I'd rather not be here, seeing as how busy you are. I don't want to waste any of your time."
She stands there, hands on hips, giving me that look that always messes with my head. I adjust my stance, trying to play it cool. She notices, her eyes flicking down, then back up to meet mine.
I gesture toward the chair. "Mills, sit down."
She hesitates, but eventually does, still looking a bit guarded.