Wyatt’s hair peeked out from underneath his beanie as he stared at his homework.
I had been working on the same problem for the last ten minutes, trying desperately to concentrate to no avail. My brain circled with warring thoughts. How crazy was it that we had the same taste in dessert, but also how could he be so clueless as to text someone they couldn’t make it?
It seemed at odds and no matter how hard I tried to focus on the math problem, all I kept thinking was that.
I placed my pencil in my notebook and closed it over the Calc book. “I’ll be back. I’m going to grab a soda.”
Wyatt nodded but didn’t look up. He was focused on the second paper for Mr. Andrews now that his own math homework was finished.
And that was another thing. He received two As on papers I barely helped complete and his science paper was good too.
I had only a few grammar tips for him, which were minor at best. Could I really say I was tutoring if he seemed to be doing all the work himself?
I hopped up on one of the red topped stools with dark wood stain for the legs and waited for the bartender to walk toward me.
Someone sat next to me. I sent a sideways glance and realized it was Claire.
Her dark red hair was cut in a short bob that angled toward her face. It made her light blue eyes pop as the light from the bar glinted against them.
“Hey,” I said.
Recognition filtered through her expression before she launched at me in an embrace. “You came! I wasn’t sure if you’d take it seriously that you’re our good luck charm.”
“Well, I have to admit I’m skeptical.”
“Really? Even after knowing we got the call?”
My mouth dropped open. “You got the … call? Wyatt didn’t mention anything.”
And how stupid was I that I didn’t ask? I was absorbed in all the commotion about him ditching me that I hadn’t even bothered to ask.
“Yep. They called at nine on the dot. It’s not like a record label is signing us, but they liked our presence. They want to meet with us in a couple of weeks. We have to have an original ready to play for them.”
“Wow. That’s fast and intense.”
Claire grinned from ear to ear. “And amazing. This is the break we’ve waited for.” She nudged my elbow. “And you were there, so good luck charm.”
I giggled. “I suppose.”
The bartender sauntered my way. “What can I get you?”
“Pepsi please.”
She nodded and fiddled around the back to make my drink.
“You know, Wyatt’s a good guy.”
My nose wrinkled. Why was she saying that?
“He doesn’t open up much, but he has seemed happier lately. I think that’s because of you.” She hopped off the chair and walked to a different table.
What did that mean? Why would he be happier with me? I wasn’t doing anything.
I grabbed my drink and took it back to the table.
Wyatt dutifully wrote in his notebook and by looking alone it appeared he had gotten at least to the third paragraph.
My seat made a scuffing noise as I scooted closer to the table and placed my drink down. I waited until he glanced up before I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me Broken Axles got the call?”
A slow smile splayed across his face.
My stomach lurched. It was sexy and endearing all at once.
“I planned to tell you.”
“When?”
“At your car, but …”
I sighed. “But I looked crazier than the Mad Hatter.”
He tilted his head side to side. “Yes and no.”
“Well, I’m an idiot for not asking. I’m sorry.”
“No worries, Marley. It’s no big deal.”
I placed a hand over his. “It is and I’m sorry.” Our gazes locked for a few seconds, before I released his hand and shifted my notebook. “Do you have any ideas on the song you’ll perform? Claire said it has to be original.”
Wyatt slouched in his seat as he leaned against the backing. “Nothing set in stone. Playing with a few melodies and lyrics.”
“Do you write it or Jack or Claire?”
“Depends. We dabble here and there on different parts.”
“That seems nice.”
He nodded and bent his head back toward his work.
I took the cue to get back to work. Which I needed anyway. Calc was something I didn’t mess with. No matter what.
* * *
The couch cushions had been pushed behind my back as I rested against the arm trying to study for AP Calc. Sage had agreed to come over after school on Tuesday to study and do practice problems together. This was our final test before we took the advance placement final. It would determine my grade in the class, while the final would determine if I could skip Calc in college.
Sage and I had the same teacher, Mr. Warren, but at different class periods, which in this case came in handy. It was easier to study with someone when they had the same teacher.
Sage tapped a pencil to her forehead as she laid on her stomach feet up behind her while hovering over her books. “Did you try number eight again? I keep getting a negative and I’m not sure how. I know it should be positive, but I can’t figure it out.”
I peered off the couch toward her notebook. “That line looks wrong.”
She narrowed her gaze and nodded. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” I glanced toward my phone, face down on the end table. It was on silent, but even then I knew Wyatt hadn’t texted me. I hadn’t seen him at all since Lucy’s last night when he dropped me off back at school.
I supposed I should be happy. He was using today to finish the two remaining papers he owed Mr. Andrews. Then all he had to do was study for finals and pull at least Bs on them all and he would be golden. Perfectly able to graduate.
It was an honest miracle. One I wasn’t sure I could have actually pulled off, and yet … it was happening, at least so far.
“If you want to talk to him that badly, just text him.”
My gaze shifted away from the phone and toward Sage. “Who says I want to talk to him? Let alone badly?”
“You’ve been staring at it for five minutes.”
My mouth opened and then closed. “I was not.”
“You really were. What’s the deal?” She scooted onto her bottom and sat crisscrossed awaiting my response.
“His band won from that contest the other day and he hadn’t told me. Claire did.”
“And?”
“And isn’t that strange?”
“Aren’t you his tutor?”
“Yes, but so what? It was a big deal for his band. You would have told me sooner.”
Sage crossed her arms. “There’s too many points wrong with that statement. I’m your best friend. Obviously, I’d tell you sooner. He also doesn’t seem to be the person to spill his guts. And he didn’t deny it, right?”
“Well, no.”
“So, are you upset that he didn’t tell you or that you thought he would and didn’t?”
“I don’t know. I’ve had other people I tutor tell me stuff before. I just expected he would have too.”
“Maybe he didn’t want to be too hopeful. He could be waiting until it’s all a sure thing. Did you talk to him about it?”
“Of course not. We were at Lucy’s and he was doing his work. It didn’t seem to be the right moment.”
“Maybe that’s your answer right there. If you couldn’t tell him something like that in that moment, maybe it wasn’t how he wanted you to find out either.”
Maybe she was right, but either way I didn’t respond. Instead, I shifted my weight on the cream cushion and turned to the next page. I had at least ten more problems to practice in this set before it was a good time to break.
When I heard the rustling of Sage’s notebook pages, I stole a glance. As I had figured, Sage had gotten back to practicing.
After a few more minutes the garage door closed. “Marley, I’m home,” Dad called.
“Sage and I are in the family room.”
No sooner than I had finished my statement, did my dad come around the corner.
He smiled. “Whatcha watching?” He scrunched his gaze at the TV, but frowned when he realized it was off. “No TV?” He leaned over to peer at the cover of my textbook. “Calc. Yuck. I hated Calc.”
I giggled. “Well, soon I don’t have to worry about it because it’ll be done.”
He ruffled my already curly monstrosity. “Very true. How about I make some dinner? Might help refuel you both.”
I glanced at Sage who shrugged, then back to Dad. “Sure. Thanks, Dad.”
He nodded and walked back toward the kitchen.
I strained to ignore the pots and pans banging and clanking as he prepared something for dinner. If I had any luck, I could get done the practice problems in time to eat, maybe Wyatt would text me, then curl up with a good book before bed.
I always told those I tutored that once preparation was complete, it was important to relax and set one’s mind to something else. Cramming never worked long term and would only make the test more stressful.
And I had the perfect book to read on my shelf if I managed to succeed.