Teaching Tucker (Face-Off Legacy/Campus Kings 3)

He lifts a piece of paper from his desk and studies it for a second before peeking up at me from beneath his dark lashes. “I see you’re the assistant editor at the Strickland Gazette.”

I fold my hands on my lap and sit up straight. “Yes, sir. I’ve worked at the paper since freshman year. Writing is a passion of mine.”

“Your grades reflect that.” He smiles, and then drops my resume on top of a pile of neatly stacked papers, most likely the resumes of my competition. “A double major in law and journalism. And straight A’s in both. Very impressive, Samantha.”

“Thank you, sir,” I choke out.

He takes a sip from his coffee cup and sets it down. “I’ll be honest with you… I have a lot of qualified candidates coming in for this job over the course of the next week. I’m almost positive, after reviewing the other students, that the job is yours.”

I smile so brightly my cheeks hurt, but his change in expression causes me to worry, the smile slowly slipping from my lips.

“But you need to show me you have what it takes. This class is part fact, part subjective. I need to see how you would grade an assignment before I make a decision. Every student-teacher will be asked to grade the same assignment as you.”

“That’s fair.” I choke back the bile rising up from my stomach and feign a smile. “I’m up for the challenge.”

He rests his elbows on his desk and leans forward, his gaze intense. An awkward silence passes through the room. Then, he opens his desk drawer and shoves a manila folder across the desk right in front of me. “You have until the end of the week. Drop it off with my secretary after you’re finished. She will make sure I get it. I’ll make my decision next Monday. You’ll know either way if you have the job or not.”

I stand, assuming the interview is over, and hold out my hand for him to shake. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

He flashes a closed-mouth smile, his fingers stroking my hand in an uncomfortable way. “Good luck, Samantha.”

And now, I’m left wondering if I want the job after all, or if I imagined him caressing my hand.

Chapter Nine

Tucker

Finding a tutor seems like an impossible task. For whatever reason, no one is available mid-semester. After confronting Sam, I haven’t bothered to contact her. She’s clearly not interested, and I’m not in the habit of embarrassing myself around women.

I’ve exhausted all of my resources. The tutoring center is filled to capacity, their schedules already planned out until the end of the semester. Professor Cox pretty much told me to fuck off when I asked him for help. After Trent swapped places with me in his class, I don’t blame him. So, that option is off the table.

I even considered asking a past hookup but vetoed that stupid idea immediately. The past should stay there, where it belongs. Sam’s already haunting me enough, making me feel… I don’t know.

How do I feel?

Unwanted?

Unworthy?

I’m not sure what to think about our last interaction.

I went to the library with every intention to study for the midterm, surprised to find Jemma on the top floor sitting at the only table. What I didn’t expect was for her to make a move. She jumped on my cock like a cat in heat, and I wasn’t about to turn her down. I’ve wanted her from the second I knocked her over in the Quad. But something’s off about her demeanor. Unless I’m reading every girl in my life wrong.

After showing Jemma a good time in the vacant classroom in the library, we walk downstairs in awkward silence.

This is a first.

I expected a satisfied grin.

Instead, she’s wearing a pissy scowl. She’s acting like we’ve already had sex, like I already had her number and lost it. But this was the first time.

Jemma rushes past me. She bursts through the front doors of the library, her red hair flapping in the breeze. Scratching the corner of my jaw, I follow behind wondering where the hell I went wrong.

She’s mad at me for something. But what? I didn’t do anything—that I know of. It’s hard to tell with women. Jemma came on to me. She made it clear she wanted to have sex with me. And now, she’s… disappointed?

I wave to my brother to catch his attention. He stares at me like he’s just seen a ghost. Jemma’s mouth opens in horror as she looks at Trent and then me as if she had no idea we’re twins.

Everyone on campus knows we’re twins.

How can she not?

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Jemma balls her hands into fists at her sides. She stares at Trent in disbelief. “Was this some kind of initiation prank? Did my sisters put you up to this?”