“Of course, if you were my teacher, there’s also a strong possibility I’d be a walking, talking erection.”
“Rider!” I attempt to give him a whack on the shoulder, but he grabs my wrist. Next thing I know, our textbooks have hit the floor, and I’m straddling him.
“See what I mean?” He thrusts his hips up and his massive boner attempts to bust through his zipper.
My eyes go wide. “What if Ben finds us like this?” I hiss.
Rider told me he hasn’t seen much of my brother since Sunday, which works for me. I’m still upset with how Ben flipped out. At the same time, I don’t want to be at the center of any more drama.
“Ben’s a grown-ass man who has done worse in this house.”
“Ew.”
He laughs obnoxiously and tugs me down to him.
Part of me wants to resist Rider, resist this pull, but the other part, the girl who’s crushed on him since she first laid eyes on him during their tutor session, wants to give in.
Guess who wins?
Surrendering, I run my hands through his hair. Breathe in his sexy masculine scent. Trail my lips over his. “We’re supposed to study tonight.”
He pulls me closer. “I am studying. My favorite subject. Anatomy.”
I shake my head, but relent and give him a kiss, but before he can reciprocate, I hop off him. “Nope. No funny business. Homework first. You said you need to stay focused, so finish that assignment first.”
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “You really do sound like a teacher. Next thing I know, you’ll be lecturing me for my shenanigans.”
I giggle. “Nobody says ‘shenanigans’ anymore. Although it really is a great word.” He’s quiet for a while, and when I’m done penciling notes into my planner, I find him frowning.
“What’s your teacher schedule like again?”
“You mean at Archer?”
“No, don’t you have to do a student teacher thing first?”
“That’s next semester. I got a placement at a middle school, but like I mentioned before, I’m hoping Archer will hire me full time in the fall. I’m going to talk to Mrs. Nolan the next time I see her and ask if she’ll give me a letter of recommendation. As much as I hate all the busy work they’ve given me, I’m in love with their modular system. Those kids are so lucky. They basically have a collegiate schedule and use the extra time to study or get help from teachers or talk to counselors.”
I barely pause for a breath. “No wonder my mother wanted us to go to school there. Because of that temp job, now I know they have a teacher retiring next year, and I can be ready to apply. Rider, my mom would be so happy to know I got a teaching job there. If I can finagle it somehow.”
His eyes travel over me, his expression growing somber. “You will. I can’t imagine anyone more perfect for the job.”
It means so much to me that he thinks so, but when I smile, he looks away.
I’m about to ask if something’s wrong when Olly and Trevor stomp down the stairs, pausing to shove each other through the doorway of the living room. Rider shushes them. “If you wake the baby, I’m gonna be pissed.”
“Oh, shit. Right.” Olly shoves Trevor for good measure with a chuckle. “It’s his fault. He doubts my ability to make a mean turkey.”
“You can cook?” Olly seems more academic than most of the guys on the team, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised his talents extend to the kitchen.
He holds his hand over his chest. “You wound me, Gabs. Of course I can cook. Are you coming over for Thanksgiving?”
The holidays are always tough for me. Ben usually goes home to visit our uncle while I stay around campus.
I look to Rider, who nods. “If you’re gonna be in town, you should definitely swing by. None of us can go too far because we have a game that Saturday. So glad we have a bye weekend first.”
“You guys could definitely use a break.” I squeeze his arm and turn back to his roommates. “What can I bring? I’m not great at main dishes, but I can do sweet breads. Do you like empanadas? I can make a batch.”
Trevor nods comically. “I’m obsessed with the ones they sell at Rise ’N Grind. Have you tried those?”
