The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1) (22 page)

“Me too. It’s great to have a mini-vacation before our mini-vacation.”

“Do your parents want you to bring them anything from the big city?” Jessica asked as they walked out of the store.
 

“Just us,” Kelsey replied.
 

Jessica smiled and looked around. Christmas decorations were already up on the streets.
 

“It’s so pretty,” Kelsey looked around as well. The lights were sparkling in the dark.
 

“I’ll enjoy it now. This will be our last trip here before Christmas.”
 

“Have to study as soon as we get back,” Kelsey said. They would only have a few weeks before exams, which were held before Christmas.
 

“I’m glad you said that,” Jessica said. “I wanted to hit the bookstore down here. See if I can find anything I think will help.”

“Great idea,” Kelsey said.

“Unless it confuses us further.” Jessica grinned.

“Impossible.”
 

“True, I could never be more confused.”
 

“You know that’s not what I meant,” Kelsey said.
 

Jessica laughed. “I know.”
 

They walked back to the mall and walked into the bookstore.
 

“Magazines!” Jessica said happily.
 

“I thought we were here for study guides.”

“I’m studying celebrities for a moment,” Jessica said, picking up a magazine. Kelsey walked around to the business section, and glanced through the covers. Jessica walked over a few moments later with a small stack.

“Something to read on the long car ride.”
 

“It’s two hours,” Kelsey said, smiling.

“Plenty of time.”
 

“I think someone’s already started their vacation,” Kelsey said.
 

“I know someone has,” Jessica said. She and Kelsey took the escalator downstairs and looked at the study guides. Jessica found some flashcards for civil procedure and added them to her pile.
 

“Remember reading the LSAT guides last year?” Jessica asked, glancing at them on the shelf.

“Completely,” Kelsey said. “I was a wreck.”
 

“Thinking of that makes Darrow seem less frightening,” Jessica commented.
 

“It was bad. Dylan was suffering with me though, so that made it a little better,” Kelsey said a little wistfully.
 

“I hope he’s okay,” Jessica said.
 

“I do too.”
 

“Maybe he just needs a break. Once we’re back, he’ll be as good as new,” Jessica said.

“That would be great,” Kelsey said. Jessica gave Kelsey’s back a pat.
 

“Let’s go pay.”
 

Jessica purchased her items and they headed out of the bookstore. Jessica looked at the bags hanging from her and Kelsey’s arms.

“We did good,” Jessica said.
 

“An excellent girls’ night.”
 

“Particularly since girls’ night for us usually means being in the Darrow Library,” Jessica said. “Ready to head back?”
 

“Yeah,” Kelsey said. They walked back to the bus stop and headed back to campus.

“So, it’s that time,” Keith smiled on the next day. “Time for you to get your first grades of the semester. As I said before, there’s no need to panic. This is just to let you know gently where you stand in the class. I was lenient, so only one team of students failed.”
 

There was a soft gasp in the room. No one had expected that anyone would fail the first assignment in a pass/fail course. Keith smiled. “They failed because they failed to get the assignment in on time. They turned it in at 12:03 a.m. the day after it was due. And the reason that they are failing, is simply because in the law, three minutes count. The court wants to see your pleadings on time. They want you to show up in court on time. Because in our world, time is equivalent to money.”
 

Kelsey let out a silent sigh of relief. She knew, because Keith had told them, that Tyler had turned in the assignment on time.
 

“Before I pass back papers, I want to remind everyone that the client letter is due today. I suggest that you get it in on time. Once again, I’ve received the assignment from Kelsey and Tyler and Erica and Marquis, and no other teams. I want to remind everyone but those four that if you fail this course, you’ll be spending the summer here, instead in some cushy office making a thousand plus a week. Get the assignment in on time. As for the team who failed, make sure that you meet up with me this weekend. My phone number is written on top of your assignment.”
 

Keith walked around and started passing out the graded assignments, which he had printed out and added comments to.
 
Kelsey took hers and Tyler’s. Tyler glanced at the grade and went back to typing into his iPad, while Kelsey read the comments.

A. This was the best of the bunch, but Darrow doesn’t give A pluses. Very impressed at the level of issue-spotting and your excellent research. Keep up the good work, Kelsey and Tyler.
 

Holding the paper, Kelsey felt a bit like a fraud. Tyler had done 95% of the work on the assignment that she was holding.
 

“Here,” she said, handing the paper to him.
 

Tyler took it and read the comments. “Great,” he said. He handed the paper back. “Want to keep it?”
 

“Sure,” Kelsey said, sticking it into her tablet case. It was the least she could do.
 

Having passed out the papers, Keith said, “We’ve only got this week together, then it’s time for exams. Next week I’ll email each of you your individual assignments, which won’t be due until our second meeting after the Christmas holiday.” As Keith continued with the day’s topic, Kelsey sighed deeply. Tyler looked at her, then went back to his typing.
 

After class, Kelsey gathered her things, and started putting them into her bag.
 

“You don’t seem happy with your A, Princess.”
 

Kelsey looked at him and frowned.
 

“I didn’t earn it.”
 

“Of course you did, we’re a team,” Tyler said, dismissively.

“I did almost none of the work,” Kelsey replied.
 

“Kelsey, part of success in life is letting others do the work for you,” Tyler said.
 

“Are you going to take my exams?” Kelsey snapped.
 

“I wasn’t planning to,” Tyler smiled.

“Then I’ve got to learn this on my own.”
 

“You did learn it. You know what to do next time,” Tyler replied.
 

“It’s not the same.”
 

“No, Kels, it isn’t. But it was a team assignment. We worked together. We’ll work together again. And we turned in the best work that the team could create.”
 

Kelsey sat silently.
 

“Are you angry that I did a good job?” Tyler asked.
 

“Yes,” Kelsey said honestly. “Yes, I am. How is it fair that you knew what to do on the first assignment?”

“Lots of law students have lawyers for parents. I bet Brandon did well too.” Tyler looked at Kelsey. “Life isn’t fair, Kels. Your job is to move the odds in your favor.”
 

“Spoken like a real lawyer,” Kelsey said.
 

“Thank you,” Tyler replied.

“It wasn’t a compliment,” Kelsey retorted.
 

“I know,” Tyler said. “Kelsey, you don’t have to do everything yourself. The best and the brightest get the help that they need. You said you admire my mother. But she didn’t build Tactec alone.”

“I suppose,” Kelsey said begrudgingly.
 

“Accept the A with grace, Miss North,” Tyler said, standing. “See you,” he said, and he left.
 

Kelsey walked back to the dorms thinking about what Tyler had said. She realized that it wasn’t the grade that had upset her, it was the thought that she couldn’t get an A on her own, with her own research and writing skills. She pondered this as she opened the door to her room.
 

“How’d you do?” Jessica asked, jumping up. “We got a B. Not bad for a first assignment.”
 

“We got an A,” Kelsey said, putting her backpack on the floor.
 

“In my world an A is good,” Jessica said.

“Tyler did most of the work,” Kelsey said.

“So?”

“That’s what he said,” Kelsey replied.
 

“What difference does it make?” Jessica said. “He’s smart. Learn from him.”
 

“I guess.”
 

“You’ll struggle to learn from Professor Dudley, but you won’t listen to Tyler? That’s just crazy,” Jessica said.
 

“You have a point,” Kelsey said. “I guess I just don’t want to feel beholden to him.”
 

“Does he care?”
 

“Not in the least,” Kelsey said.
 

“Then I don’t see why you should. Heck, maybe you should get some help from him in Civ Pro.”
 

“Maybe,” Kelsey replied.
 

“Then you can help me,” Jessica added.

“Ah, ha. Now I understand.” Kelsey grinned.
 

“I’m not above a little help. You shouldn’t be either,” Jessica said.
 

“You’re right.”

“You’re just mad because it’s Tyler.”
 

“He still calls me Princess.”
 

“So what?”
 

“He knows I don’t like it.”
 

“Which is why he calls you that,” Jessica replied. “He’s one of the good guys, Kels.”
 

“I know,” Kelsey said.
 

Saturday morning,
 
as Kelsey walked into the gym wearing her new top, Tyler was working out. Zachary had joined him.
 

“Hi, Kels,” Zach said.
 

“Hi, Zach.”
 

“Tyler said that I’d feel better working out in the morning. But I told him he was full of crap,” Zachary said. Tyler smiled, but kept lifting weights.
 

“It’s true,” Kelsey said, getting on the treadmill. “It’s good for you.”
 

“Why doesn’t your roommate work out?”

“Jess isn’t a fitness buff,” Kelsey said.
 

“Your girlfriend will appreciate it when she sees you next,” Tyler commented.
 

“My girlfriend loves me as I am,” Zachary said.
 

“Right,” Tyler replied.
 

“Do you run the entire time you’re here, Kels?”

“I do weights too.”
 

“Okay, now I’m feeling like a slacker,” Zach said.
 

“That’s what I’ve been saying all semester,” Tyler said. “Kelsey’s here every morning as well. All you have to is get out of bed.”

“That’s hard, dude,” Zach said. Kelsey giggled as she ran.
 

“You did it today. Do it tomorrow.”
 

“I did it because you pulled the covers off of me and played Metallica until I got out of bed.” He glanced at Kelsey. “I hate Metallica,” he said to her.
 

“You whine a lot, Zach,” Tyler commented.
 

“Why don’t you make Ryan work out with you?”

“Because Ryan spends his workout flirting. Right, Kels?” Tyler said.

“Funny,” Kelsey replied.

“Anyway, you’re my roommate. Ryan can work out with Brandon,” Tyler continued.

“LIke that’s going to happen.”
 

“Exactly my point. Look, stop talking and do something. Run next to Kelsey. Try to keep up,” Tyler said.
 

Zachary got on the treadmill next to Kelsey and started it. He set the controls and began to jog. Tyler was right, Zachary needed to work out.
 

Kelsey finished her run a few minutes later, and stepped off the treadmill. Zachary had slowed to a walk.
 

“Sad,” Tyler said as Kelsey passed him.

Kelsey stifled a giggle.
 

“Are you talking about me?” Zachary asked from the treadmill.
 

“Don’t be paranoid,” Tyler said.
 

Zachary turned off the machine. “Fine. Let’s see what
you
lift,” he said, walking over to Tyler.
 

“Your cat can out-lift you,” Tyler replied.
 

Kelsey lifted her usual free weights off of the rack. Zach walked to her.
 

“Let me see, Kels,” he said. Kelsey handed him one of the weights and his hand dropped.
 

“I should have let you stay in bed,” Tyler said, setting his own weights down.

“You have to start somewhere,” Kelsey said soothingly.
 

“Nah, Tyler should have let me sleep,” Zachary said, handing the weight back to Kelsey. “This is crazy. You really do this every day, Kels?”

“I try to.”
 

“You haven’t missed a day at Darrow,” Tyler commented.
 

“No, I guess not,” Kelsey replied.
 

“You two are scary,” Zach said. “I’m sleeping in tomorrow.”

Jessica was still fast asleep when Kelsey returned to the room, so she dressed quietly and headed for breakfast. She sat next to the picture window and gazed at Lake Washington. She couldn’t believe that it was almost Thanksgiving, and that next week she’d be back in Port Townsend. She was surprised at how much she had missed home over the past months.
 

Darrow had really been an experience. She felt like it had tested everything that she believed in.
 

As they were leaving the classroom on Tuesday,
 
Kelsey decided to say goodbye to Tyler.
 

“Tyler?” Kelsey said. He looked up from his backpack, where he had been putting away his laptop.