I wanted to ask her what she meant by that. I wanted her to tell me what had taken her childhood away from her. But I knew better. I had to wait for the little tidbits she’d give me and piece it together on my own.
At least until she trusted me.
* * *
LOLA
I paced in front of the counter in the diner, waiting for my student to arrive. Shit. I had a student. How insane was that? I had to keep reminding myself that I could do this. I had all the knowledge I needed to help a high school freshman that was flunking, so why the hell was I so nervous?
“You’re gonna wear a hole in my floor, Lola-Girl,” Sal grunted from the kitchen.
I narrowed my eyes at the grin on his face. “I’ll replace it if I do.”
Sal chuckled and stepped back. “I’ll hold you to that.”
I shook my head and opened my mouth to reply, but the whoosh of the door opening distracted me. I spun around and stared at the kid who was sauntering into the diner like he owned the joint, his gaze tracking over the few people in here, and stopping on me.
“Lola?” he asked, his voice deeper than I was expecting.
I pointed my thumb at my chest and cringed at the action. “That’s me.” I stepped forward and held my hand out. “You’re Cade?”
“Yep.” He placed his hand in mine and gripped it harder than was necessary, probably trying to act older than he was. “Mom didn’t tell me how hot you are.” He glanced down at my legs and over my torso, stopping on my chest and raising a brow. “Dayummmm.”
My head reeled back, and I choked out, “Excuse you?”
His lips lifted into a smirk, the same smirk that all teenage guys wore when they thought they were hot shit. “It’s all right, babe.” I screwed my nose up at that word. God, I hated it with a passion. “I see you.”
“You see me, do you?” I raised a brow and crossed my arms over my chest, using all my willpower to hold in the chuckle that desperately wanted to escape. “And what is it you see, Cade?”
His eyes lit up. “A damn fine body.”
“Wanna know what I see when I look at you?” He tilted his head and stared at me intensely. It didn’t matter that he was my height, I still looked down at him. “I see a teenage boy who’s failing his classes and using his charm to get to where he wants to be.” I paused, staring into his dark-blue eyes. “But wanna know a secret?” I leaned closer to him and dropped my voice. “Your teachers don’t give a shit if you can get a girl into your bed. All they care about is the work you can do.” I pulled back. “Now I’m gonna ask you something, and think very carefully before you answer.”
He scoffed. “Whatever.” He pulled his shoulders back. “My mom is paying you to tutor me, so you gotta do what she—”
“That is where you’re wrong.” I stepped closer to him, solidifying in my mind that if I didn’t put him straight right now, we’d never get anywhere with his studies. “You don’t know me, and I don’t know you, but let me tell you, my first impression is one I’m hoping is wrong. Don’t be like every other entitled kid who comes in here. You’re better than that.” I frowned. “At least, I hope you are.”
His gaze flicked down, a sure sign that I’d hit some kind of nail on the head.
“Are you willing to work to get your grades up? Because if not, then you should walk out of that door and don’t come back.”
The atmosphere was tense, and I could see his mom's car idling in the lot, watching us through the windows. But I didn’t give a shit. Rule one was to show no weakness, even to teenage boys who thought they were the best invention ever.
He glanced up at me, his dark-blue eyes holding something that hadn’t been there when he first walked in. “Yeah. I’ll do the work.”
I wanted to whoop and holla at what felt like my first victory, but I tamped it down and twirled around. “Great. Follow me.” I moved past the counter and into the break room where I’d al
ready set up some drinks and a snack. “Sit,” I told him, taking one of the seats.
He placed his bag on the floor and ran his hand through his short brown hair, making it stick up on end. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, slowly sitting down. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
“Apology accepted.” I leaned forward. “Let’s start over.” I held my hand out. “I’m Lola Martin.”
“Cade.” He placed his hand in mine and smiled, making his whole face light up. “Easton.”
“Well, Cade Easton.” I pulled my hand from his. “Tell me what you’ve been learning so far this year and where you’re struggling.”
He nodded and leaned down to his bag, pulling out several books and then placed them on the table. “Math and English.” He groaned. “They’re gonna kill me.”