The Dating Tutor (8 page)

She shivered at the sound of her name being murmured in the heat of the moment. It gave her hope that he was attracted to her. He wasn’t just kissing for the sake of it. He was kissing
her
. He was conscious of whom he was with, and he didn’t mind.

“Alec…” She scratched her nails against the back of his neck, letting them tangle in his hair. When his tongue brushed hers, her toes curled with pleasure.

“I swear this laundry multiplies in the basket!”

At the sound of her mother’s voice as she trudged down the steps, Ellie and Alec simultaneously broke away from one another. Ellie brushed her fingers frantically through her disheveled hair while Alec rubbed at the lip gloss that sparkled accusingly along his lips. They’d barely made themselves presentable by the time her mother descended into view.

At the sight of them, she gave a sound of surprise. “What are you two doing here? I didn’t expect to see you. I thought there was a game tonight.”

Trying to get her breathing under control, Ellie gave a little laugh. “There was. Alec got ejected for starting a fight.”

Cindy smirked. “Did you at least win?”

Alec laughed and returned her grin. “Of course I did. Knocked him on his ass.”

“Thata boy.” With a wink, she disappeared into the laundry room.

As soon as she was out of sight, Ellie turned to Alec with widened eyes.

He let out a nervous chuckle. “That was close. I would not want to explain to your mother why my tongue was halfway down your throat.”

She narrowed her eyes at his crass description, then shook her head. She’d come to realize that his less than gentlemanly comments were a way for him to make light of…them. She was still uncertain of whether he was making light of it because it really was that inconsequential to him or if he was trying to hide budding feelings for her. She wished for just a moment, she could get inside his head and know what he was thinking. This uncertainty was killing her. “Yeah,” she agreed. “That wouldn’t have been fun.”

“Next time, we make sure we’re somewhere with a locked door.”

“Next time?” she asked with surprise. It took everything in her to keep from getting too excited. Just because he was offering her another kissing session, it didn’t mean anything more than his wish to be helpful. They’d been interrupted after all.

He shrugged. “Sure. I mean, that wasn’t bad, but…practice makes perfect, right?” His eyes darkened seductively as he gazed down at her. “And you need a lot of practice.” Then the look was gone, and he was back to just being Alec her best friend. He returned his attention to the television and turned up the volume.

Ellie studied him for a moment before shifting her gaze back to the intermission report as well. At this point, she did allow herself a small smile. Whether he was ready to admit it yet or not, she was starting to think Alec might have feelings for her, too.

Chapter Nine

“So you made out with him, huh?” Jake waggled his eyebrows before letting out a laugh at Ellie’s disapproving look.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but after he playfully elbowed her ribs, she grinned. “Yes. I did. It was amazing.”

“So he was into it?”

“Definitely. He told me we should do it again so I can get more practice.”

“Really?” Jake raised an eyebrow at her as he took a bite of the apple he held loosely in his hand. “If this was a real relationship, I think I might have had to kick his ass at this point.” He chuckled. “Good thing it isn’t. After watching him take down a much larger guy than myself, I don’t think I’d like my chances.”

She laughed softly and shook her head. “If this was real, I wouldn’t have asked him to keep teaching me. That was
your
idea, if you remember.”

He nodded as he chewed. “I know. This whole scheme was my idea. I have no doubt of your integrity. You’re a nice girl. You’d never mess around on someone behind their back. You care too much about people’s feelings. That’s why I picked you to ask out. That’s why I trusted you with my secret. I knew you wouldn’t betray my confidence.” He gave an easy shrug. “You care about him. I understand that.” His eyes suddenly locked onto something behind her. “Speaking of Alec…here he comes.” He snickered. “And he doesn’t look pleased. He’s frowning at me.”

“Why?”

Jake grinned. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m competition. And right now, as far as he knows, I’m winning.”

She didn’t get to reply to that logic because Alec dropped his tray next to hers on the table with a loud clack of the plastic. His dark eyes bore into Jake’s pale ones as he scooted into his seat in a manner that could only be described as aggressive. “So you’re eating with us now,” he observed with displeasure.

Jake gave a bright smile. “Sure am. I want to spend as much time with Ellie as I can.” Grabbing her hand, he tugged her forward and kissed her soundly on the lips.

Though she knew the kiss was only for show, she still pulled back with an embarrassed laugh. “I like spending time with you, too.” As she tried to pretend she didn’t notice Alec’s growl of agitation, she pondered once again over the fact that it felt completely awkward to kiss Jake.  It was still a little hard to believe at times. She’d wanted to go out with him so badly and now…nothing. A switch in her heart had been flicked, and there was no turning it back on.

“Speaking of spending time together…” Jake reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out two laminated slips of paper. “I bought our prom tickets this afternoon. You’ll do the honor of attending me, won’t you?” He chuckled lightly. “I hope so. Otherwise, I look pretty foolish right now.”

She couldn’t contain her surprise at the sight of the brightly colored tickets. Prom had never entered her mind. She wasn’t the best dancer, and the dresses were usually too over the top girly for her. She’d assumed she would be skipping the affair altogether, but here was a ticket with her name on it. “Oh…thank you. Of…of course I’ll be your date.”

Jake beamed, flashing a set of pearly white teeth. “You’ve just made me the luckiest boy at Noble High.”

Alec rolled his eyes.

At this, Jake’s grin widened and he climbed to his feet. “I hate to cut this short, but I promised I’d help the prom committee select this year’s theme.” He scooped up the sandwich he had on his tray and took a large bite. “I was told by Mrs. Evans that she demanded my handsome face be present.” He winked. “I think she’s trying to be my campaign manager for prom king.”

At this, Alec self-consciously ran his fingers over the puckered flesh of his injured forehead.

“Oh don’t worry, man,” Jake said nonchalantly. “I’m sure that will heal before picture time.” Feigning ignorance of Alec’s glare, he bent down to give Ellie a one-armed hug. “I’ll catch you later, sweets.” Then with a whistle, he sauntered from the room.

Alec’s glare followed him the entire way out of the cafeteria. Then he stared at the spot where Jake had disappeared as if he expected him to return at any moment.

Ellie watched him with raised eyebrows, wondering how long he would glower at an empty doorway. As much as she wanted to believe Alec had feelings for her, there was still that possibility that he was being overprotective in a brotherly sort of way. She stared at him, trying to decipher what his anger meant. It wasn’t until her cell phone chirped that she looked away. Lifting it from the tabletop, she read the message from Jake that flashed onto the screen.

Sorry to spring prom on you like that. It worked just as I intended, though. I’m fairly certain that boy is in love with you.

She smiled down at the words, her heart skipping a beat. Jake thought Alec loved her.

“He just left the room,” Alec complained with a growl. “What could he possibly have to say to you?”

She looked up with an innocent expression. “How do you know it was from Jake?”

“By that stupid, lovesick expression on your face.”

She feigned guilt. Though seeing as the lovesick look had been over him, she didn’t really think he had room to complain. “He was just telling me that he missed me already,” she lied.

“Bleck.” Lowering his head and fork over his helping of school macaroni and cheese, Alec grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.

Ellie smirked but then forced her expression to grow serious. “You’ll help me prepare for prom, won’t you?” When he looked up, she blinked her eyelashes innocuously at him.

“Help you with what?”

She gave a shrug, not really knowing what she could need help with. She was more clueless about prom than she was with dating. She would no doubt be a wreck at prom, but it wasn’t the dance she was concerned with. It was spending time with Alec. “Oh…I don’t know. Whatever it is people do at proms. No doubt there’ll be more dancing, and we both know I never mastered that.” Shooting him a pleading look, she sweetly asked, “You’ll practice more dancing with me, right?”

Her eyes lowered to the ticket in her hand. “Prom is two weeks away. I didn’t even think I was going. Now I’m going with the potential prom king. I really need your help, Alec. Please?”

He let out a sigh and dropped his head to his hands. “Fine,” he said after a moment. “Fine. Okay.”

Beaming, she reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. “Thank you. You are totally awesome.”

He grinned and lifted his head to look at her. “I sure am. I do believe you love me,” he teased.

“I do.”

His comment had been light and mocking, as had her reply, but the words hung between them like an accusation. It was only funny until they’d both had a moment to think on it. Now it was uncomfortable.

“Yeah, well…” He spoke slowly, uncertainly. “Don’t forget it.”

She doubted that would happen any time soon, because she was completely consumed with her feelings for him.

* * * *

Two nights later, Ellie lay in bed with her cell phone pressed to her ear. “I agree that Ian Somerhalder is extremely good-looking. I would have to fight you for him if it ever came down to the two of us.”

Jake burst into laughter. “I would rather fight you for Ian than fight Alec for you. He is one scary dude.”

“He’s different off the ice,” she said in her best friend’s defense.

“I kept waiting for him to get up out of his seat and pummel me today at lunch.”

“He’s just posturing. I swear. He’s not nearly as violent off the ice as you think. He’s more…annoying.” She supplied the last word with a laugh.

“Annoying, huh? Then why are you so gaga over him?”

She smirked. “Because he’s less annoying than you.”

He made a wounded sound that quickly turned to a laugh. “I would be offended if I didn’t know that to be true.” He paused before adding, “Keep that up and I’m not taking you to prom.”

Ellie grinned at the playful tone of his voice. “Well, I wouldn’t want that. I’m honored to be your date.” She frowned for a moment, her thoughts turning serious. She didn’t want to get too mushy on him, yet she wanted him to know how much she valued the friendship that had sprung up so easily between them. “I’m really glad you chose me, Jake. I’ve gotten to know you over the course of our fake relationship, and you’ve become a true friend.”

She expected him to grumble at her statement, so his heartfelt reply surprised her. “I don’t have any true friends besides you.” His words were a soft admission. “All the drinking buddies and party hoppers…they like the reputation I have, not the person behind it. If they knew the real me…”

He made a sound of frustration low in his throat. “I’m not naïve enough to think they’d accept me with open arms. It would be over. The parties. The popularity. All of it. I would be a pariah.” He let out a sigh. “Am I a coward for living a lie?”

She had smiled at his initial confession of her being his only true friend, but her mood became solemn at the grim words that followed. “There is nothing wrong with not wanting to shout your most private secrets from the school’s rooftop. My secret is far less heavy than yours, and I can’t find the nerve to come clean. I’m terrified of what Alec might say. I don’t blame you for holding on to the peace and normalcy for a little while longer.”

“Good. I’d hate to lose the respect of the only friend I’ve got.”

“You won’t,” she assured. “Now get to bed.” Before they’d started discussing Ian, Jake had told her how tired he was, and she knew he had an Economics test first thing in the morning. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, Ellie.”

She smiled and disconnected. Jake really was a sweet guy. It was a shame no one else had bothered to see past the superficial stuff to the kindhearted person beneath. He shouldn’t feel the need to have to hide who he truly was. He was an amazing person who shouldn’t be ashamed of himself or his choices in life. Still, she understood why he was keeping quiet. High school was hard enough without adding complications.

Plugging her phone into its charger for the night, she climbed into bed with a yawn. It had been a busy couple of days, and she was grateful to see the week wrapping up. Tomorrow was Friday, and she and Jake had plans to watch a movie at her house. It was a setting possibly visible to Alec, but it was away from the rest of the student body. Jake had admitted to being tired of putting on a show for the rest of the school. This weekend, he just wanted to hang out with her and enjoy himself. She wanted that, too.