Even though this is good news, I have a long way to go toward lifting my grade and not a lot of time to accomplish it. “Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to eke out a C minus.” Trust me, I’m not complaining.
He chuckles before shifting his stance and angling his body toward mine. “I know the prospect seems daunting, but it’s completely doable. If you’re interested, I have some extra credit that will help.”
“Sure.” I’m always interested in earning a few bonus points. You never know when they’ll come in handy. Although, with this class, I need every single one I can grade grub.
“Great.” His smile widens. “I have some paperwork that needs to be organized and it shouldn’t take more than a few hours of your time. It’s nothing pressing that has to be completed in one sitting. I know you’re spread thin with your other classes and the play. So whatever schedule works for you is fine with me.”
I shift the backpack on my shoulder as his words run through my brain. “You want me to file paperwork in your office?”
“That’s exactly what I want.” Humor leaps into his eyes. “Were you hoping for a couple pages of stats problems?”
A gurgle of laughter bubbles up in my throat as I nod. “Maybe I was.”
He shrugs as if warming to the idea. “Well, I can certainly pile on more work if that would make you feel better.”
More statistics?
I quickly shake my head. “No, thanks. I have enough trouble with the assignments as it is.”
“Then it sounds like this could be a situation that’ll be beneficial for both of us.”
He’s right. It does seem that way.
When he’s finished packing up his briefcase, he grabs the handle and steps around the podium. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yup.”
Side by side, we move up the carpeted staircase to the exit.
“You must have a lot of students taking advantage of this offer.” I’m certainly not the only one doing lousy in this class. Every time tests and quizzes get passed back, there are always plenty of people bitching and moaning about their grades.
Dr. Holloway stares straight ahead. “You’re the first person I’ve offered it to, so if you wouldn’t mind, let’s keep it between the two of us for the time being.”
Oh.
Before I can dissect the comment, he tacks on, “I’m sure as the semester winds down, more students will stop in, begging for an opportunity to lift their grade.” His gaze flickers to mine. “Not everyone is as conscientious as you are.”
Hmm. I suppose that makes sense.
He reaches out and grabs hold of the door handle before flashing me a smile. “After you.”
“Thanks.”
The moment I cross over the threshold and step into the hallway, my attention locks on the blond football player and my feet stutter to a halt. His muscular arms are crossed against his chest as he leans against the brick wall. With narrowed eyes, his mouth tightens into a thin slash across his face. One look is all it takes for me to realize he’s pissed off.
“Carson.” Anxiety leaps into my voice, making it high pitched and reedy. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk after last night.”
I shift under the heaviness of his stare as my heartbeat kicks up. Any moment, my knees will buckle, and I’ll slide to the floor in a boneless heap. Thick tendrils of tension swirl through the air as Dr. Holloway follows me into the hall, stopping alongside me. Fury sparks from the younger man’s eyes as he straightens to his full height and takes a step forward.
Just when it seems like I might choke on the suffocating silence that has fallen over the three of us, Dr. Holloway clears his throat.
“I’ll see you on Friday, Elle. Take care and congrats again on a successful first performance.”
“Thanks,” I say faintly, relieved the older man is taking off before Carson can totally lose his shit.
He scowls at my professor’s retreating form for a few seconds before his steely gaze slams into mine. By now, the corridor has emptied of all students, and the only sound is Dr. Holloway’s fading footsteps as he disappears from sight.
“What the hell were you doing alone with that guy?” His voice is so low and tightly strung that it strums something deep inside the pit of my belly. Nerves skitter down my spine.
“Nothing. We were just walking out of the classroom.”
Wait a minute...
I don’t owe Carson Roberts any explanations for my behavior. I’m free to do what I want, when I want, no matter what he thinks.
I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
That last comment has his nostrils flaring as he closes the space that separates us with two quick strides before shackling his fingers around my wrist.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”