Bragan Boys (Bragan University Boxset)

by Gianna Gabriela

  “You come to my House. You’ve seen me before.”

  “I didn’t really notice you,” she says, finally looking me in the eyes.

  “And you didn’t bother to look up my last name on Facebook when you realized you were going to tutor me?”

  Shit. Did I just unintentionally tell her I did that?

  “No. Is that what you did?”

  I might as well go for broke. “Yeah. I couldn’t find you, but that’s probably because you didn’t give me a last name and gave me your middle name instead of your first.”

  She straightens in her chair. “You didn’t need to know more.”

  “I like knowing who I’m dealing with,” I say with what I hope is a winning smile. I still need her on my side at the end of the day. Otherwise, my ass will be riding the bench during the most important game of my life.

  She closes her computer loudly. “Coach told me to tutor a football player who failed. I didn’t care who the player was—I still don’t. So, are you ready to figure out our meeting schedule, or are you going to sit here and play twenty questions? Because if you are, I’m happy to leave now and enjoy the rest of my day.”

  Her words and tone surprise me, but they also make me realize she’s got some backbone. “I thought we were getting to know each other.”

  “We’re not. We’re supposed to be getting to know biology better—at least, you are. I got an A in biology the first, and only, time I took it.”

  EMMA

  His questions are driving me crazy. His smug face is driving me crazy. Everything about him is throwing me for a loop, and for the life of me, I can’t understand why it’s affecting me so much.

  He can obviously tell I’m uncomfortable with his line of questioning, but he doesn’t stop himself from asking them anyway.

  He looks at me, puzzled. “You’re a little harsh.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “First, you ignore my email, then you keep throwing the fact that I failed biology in my face.” He looks really wounded for a second, like what I’m doing is actually hurting him.

  “I’m sor—”

  He cracks a smile, which shows me he’s not really offended. “Oh, don’t apologize now. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

  “You’ve never had a conversation with me before, so you wouldn’t know,” I tell him.

  He nods. “Until our emails, which you didn’t respond to.”

  “Are you going to keep harping on about that or can we get started?”

  He turns to his bag, pulling out his computer and setting it up in front of him. “Alright, what do we do first?” he asks, his fingers hovering over his keyboard.

  “We need to figure out when to meet next.”

  “We haven’t finished the first meeting and you want to know when you’ll get to see me next? Damn, Emma.”

  I shake my head. “That’s not what—”

  “Don’t worry about coming off too strong. I like women who know what they want.”

  At his words, I get up from my chair. I can’t sit here and listen to this anymore.

  “Whoa, what’s going on?” he says, standing up too.

  I stuff my laptop into my bag. “You’re not taking this seriously.”

  “I am!” he argues, but the smile on his face says otherwise.

  “I’ve wasted too much time today already; I’m not going to waste more.”

  He rounds the table. “You can’t leave.”

  “Yes, I can.”

  “I need you, Emma.” The sincerity in his tone halts my movements. “Look, I’ll stop joking around… It’s just kind of what I do,” he says with a boyish smile.

  I think about whether I believe him or if I should quit while I’m ahead. Then again, it’s not like I can quit, even if I wanted to; Dad wouldn’t allow it. “Promise?”

  “I promise to try and stop making you feel uncomfortable,” he says, the smile leaving his lips as his eyes focus on mine. I look toward the exit then back at the guy standing next to me. He’s got an unsure smile, and beautiful red hair. His eyes beg me to stay and, despite knowing I probably shouldn’t, I sit back down.

  “Do over?” he asks.

  I nod. “Do over.”

  “Zack Hayes,” he says, extending his hand to me. I smile at his antics.

  “Emma Lynn,” I tell him, sliding my hand into his. “Are you going to sit down, or what?”

  Reaching over the table, he grabs his bag before sliding his computer over to my side and taking a seat beside me.

  He’s so close I can smell his cologne. “Here?”

  “Here, what?”

  I thought he said he was going to make me feel more comfortable, but his proximity is not helping. “Weren’t you sitting over there?” I point.

  “I was, but this way, if I say something dumb—which I promise I’ll try not to—I can beg you to stay.”

  I can’t help but laugh. I pull out my laptop once again. “So, what days would work for you?”

  “For tutoring?” he asks, and while I can feel him watching me, I keep my eyes on my computer as I search for the calendar app.

  When I turn to him, I’m immediately struck by the greenish-hazel of his eyes and I wonder how I hadn’t noticed them before today. They’re so vibrant that it makes the red in his hair stand out even more. “Yes?”

  He grins. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted your number. I have a schedule that changes weekly.” He points at me. “And before you look at me like that, I promise I’m taking this seriously. We just have to schedule dates on a less strict basis.”

  “Okay, so when will you know when you can meet next?”

  “I think Thursday and Sunday next week would work. I won’t really know for sure until Monday.”

  “Next Sunday is Christmas,” I remind him. Doesn’t he have plans for the holidays? Everyone else in the world does…

  Everyone but me.

  “I think I’ll be going home that Saturday for dinner, but I should be back by Sunday.”

  “Okay, well, Thursday and Sunday work for me.”

  “Won’t you be going away for the Christmas weekend?”

  “Nope.”

  It’s crazy. I didn’t even tell Zoe I didn’t have plans for this weekend, but here I am telling Zack Hayes with the beautiful eyes and red hair everything.

  He looks at me with pitiful eyes. “None at all?”

  I think about what to say but decide to just avoid his question altogether. “You can email me when you know for sure if you can meet. Are you ready to get into biology now?” I’m prepared for him to press me on my Christmas plans but am surprised when he drops it.

  “I don’t think I ever will be, but you are, so let’s do it.”

  16

  EMMA

  A couple of days later, I’m sitting in my room thinking about the tutoring session. I’m still annoyed, angry and frustrated my father is forcing me to tutor someone, but Zack isn’t so bad.

  He continued to make jokes here and there—trying to distract me from teaching him a subject he clearly hates—but there were fewer than he would’ve made if I hadn’t threatened to leave. I hate to admit I was distracted by him for other reasons too. Every time his eyes found my face or he bit his lip as he gave me his full attention, I felt myself blushing.

  And now, I can’t stop thinking about him. Even in my sleep, the words he said to me in the car that night haunt me. I wonder if he really doesn’t remember.

  Stop it, Emma. This isn’t a book. Reminding myself of my reality, I search through my book case and find my next read.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Zoe asks as she comes out of the bathroom.

  I put my book down and sit back on the bed. “You keep asking me that.”

  “I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “I already knew you were going home for Christmas.”

  “Yes, but now I’m leaving two days earlier.”

  “Two days? How could you? How will I ev
er survive without you here?” I tell her dramatically.

  She shakes her head. “Do you want to come with me? You can head over to your mom’s from my house.”

  Call me a terrible roommate for lying to my friend, but I just don’t want Zoe to worry more than she already is. It’s the holidays, and I know she’ll either force me to go to her house with her or check in on me a million times while she’s away.

  “It’ll be fine. Plus, you always interrupt my reading. I’m basically getting a holiday from you.”

  Her hand comes to her chest. “Wow,” she says. “That hurts, Emma.”

  “Don’t you have to get changed and leave?” I ask. She’s walking around the room with a towel wrapped around her as she sorts out what to wear.

  “I’m getting there! Stop rushing me.”

  “I remember the first time we met you set a pretty clear clothing-at-all-times rule.”

  She grabs her clothes from the bed and starts walking to the bathroom. “I recall. I’ll go and change so you don’t accuse me of breaking my own rule.”

  “Good.”

  While Zoe changes, I think about what I’ll order to eat today. I’m not leaving this room for at least a day and a half. My plans involve pajamas and reading. No distractions—just me and my book boyfriends.

  “Crap! Jesse’s outside,” Zoe says, leaving the bathroom fully dressed and with her phone in hand.

  “Hurry up, woman!”

  “If I wasn’t so sure you loved me, I’d swear you were trying to kick me out of my own room to dive in to your next book.”

  “I love you and I am trying to kick you out so I can read. You should know by now that my relationship with books goes beyond ours.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Don’t be offended. It won’t make a difference.”

  She gives me a small smile. “You’re a cruel woman.”

  “You’ll be okay, Red.”

  Zoe zips up her small suitcase and places it on the floor. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “You said you’re coming back the week after Christmas.”

  “Yes. Oh, the Football House is hosting a New Year’s party.”

  And I’m definitely not going to that. “Okay, so I’ll see you next week.”

  “See you then.” She gives me a parting hug and rolls her suitcase out the door. “Oh, before I forget. Remember that the week of the New Year’s party, we’re doing Good Night Lights.”

  “Got it, it’s on the calendar.”

  “Okay, now I really got to go. Bye!”

  “Bye!”

  The door closes behind her. Only seconds later, my book is open in front of me and I’m happily getting lost in the story.

  I wake up to the sound of my stomach grumbling. I remove the book from my face and get up. Looking out the window, I realize it’s already dark. In my daze, I grab my phone and look at the time: it’s 9 PM. I fell asleep over six hours ago. Returning my book to the bookcase, I’m about to lie back down when my stomach growls again, reminding me of the fact that I haven’t eaten anything since the sandwich I made earlier.

  I need to order food. I think about pork fried rice and chicken teriyaki and my mouth begins to water. A decision is made. I’m about to dial the number for Chef Ho’s when a new email comes through. My heart somersaults at the thought of who could be writing to me this late.

  Ignoring my hunger for a few more minutes, I go straight to the mail app, opening the one that’s got my heart beating faster than it should.

  To: ELW7564@braganuniversity.edu

  From: ZH2332@braganuniversity.edu

  Subject: What are you doing?

  Emma Lynn,

  I still can’t believe you didn’t give me your phone number. The only people who email me are faculty and coaches.

  I know you’ve probably been anxiously staring at your phone, waiting for me to write you. I meant to reach out and tell you that I won’t be able to meet tomorrow. Sunday night still works for me if it works for you. I know it’s Christmas Day.

  Zack Hayes.

  To: ZH2332@braganuniversity.edu

  From: ELW7564@braganuniversity.edu

  Subject: This is a weird subject line.

  Zachary Hayes? Zackary Hayes? Zack Hayes?

  Emails are more efficient.

  I have better things to do with my time than sit by and wait for you to talk to me. I can meet Sunday night. What time? Look at the two of us not having any Christmas spirit.

  Emma Lynn.

  ZACK

  I let go of the breath I’ve been holding since I sent Emma an email. Half of me was expecting her to ignore it like she had before. I should’ve emailed her earlier about tomorrow not working for me, but with practice and work, I just forgot.

  I’m not ashamed to admit I’m looking forward to our next session. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the red in her cheeks as I sat next to her. I didn’t mean to make things so tense. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t up and leave. I can’t say I minded the way she seemed affected by my closeness.

  When my phone pings back with a response, I’m a little relieved that she at least wrote me back. Let’s hope it’s not a dry-ass reply like the last time.

  I start my usual walk from the bus stop to campus, feeling the weight of exhaustion from the last few days. I can’t wait to be in bed.

  To: ELW7564@braganuniversity.edu

  From: ZH2332@braganuniversity.edu

  Subject: What are you doing? I’m asking again.

  Zack Hayes. My friends call me Hayes. You can call me Zack.

  I’m sure you do stand by and wait for me. I’ve never checked my email as much as I do now. Thanks for that.

  I have a Christmas dinner on Saturday with my parents. Then, I’m right back to campus on Sunday. I’ve got things to do. Why aren’t you going home for Christmas? You didn’t say.

  Just Zack.

  Just for You.

  Her response comes back quicker than I expected and I immediately click on the notification.

  To: ZH2332@braganuniversity.edu

  From: ELW7564@braganuniversity.edu

  Subject: I’m getting ready to order some Chinese

  Just Zack,

  I wouldn’t consider myself your friend either, so Zack it is.

  You’ve caught me in a lie…

  Of course I was awaiting impatiently for your next sign of life (here’s to hoping you can grasp sarcasm better than you do biology). By your own message, it seems you’re the one waiting by your phone for me to email you.

  I’m not feeling very holiday-y this year. Also, I didn’t elaborate because I didn’t want to. I still don’t.

  Emma Lynn.

  It’s not too late. It’s only 9 PM, and I could use some food before hitting the hay. Before I can convince myself it’s a bad idea, I type up a response and send it to the girl who’s taken up too much of my time.

  To: ELW7564@braganuniversity.edu

  From: ZH2332@braganuniversity.edu

  Subject: Good to know

  Emma Lynn,

  We can be friends. I’m not opposed to that. I haven’t had any female friends before though, so I don’t know how it works.

  I’m well-versed in sarcasm, trust me. And what can I say, you keep me on my toes. I never know what you’ll say next, so I find myself glued to my screen waiting for your next smart-ass reply.

  I’m quite hungry myself. Think you could order for two? I’ll send you some cash for it when I go pick it up. If yes, I love pork fried rice and chicken teriyaki.

  Hungrily,

  Zack

  17

  EMMA

  When he comes to pick it up? Is Zack Hayes inviting himself over to my place? Whatever he’s asking, it means I’ll see him tonight.

  I smile when I read over the last few lines. His food order is exactly what I was thinking about getting. He even signed it ‘hungrily.’ I mean, would it be terrible if he came to pick up food from my dorm? We are bound now by these tu
toring sessions. The least we can do is be friendly toward one another.

  I type up my response.

  To: ZH2332@braganuniversity.edu

  From: ELW7564@braganuniversity.edu

  Subject: If you’re hungry, it’d be rude of me not to feed you.

  Hungry Zack,

  I’ll put in your order. I live at New Dorm, Apartment 3F. Email me when you’re outside.

  Now I’m reconsidering whether I’d like to be your friend. No prior female friendships isn’t really assuring.

  Your food provider,

  Emma Lynn.

  I regret my reply the moment I press send. I fly into panic mode.

  Zack is coming to my room!

  Getting up from the bed, I start to pace the small space, clutching my phone to my chest.

  I can’t believe I agreed to him coming over.

  Looking down, I realize I’m still wearing pajamas. It’s almost 10 PM and here I am in the clothes I slept in last night.

  I need to shower!

  Grabbing my towel, I start toward the bathroom but remember I still have to order the food. Grabbing my phone, I put in the food order—two of everything—then hang up. I think I have thirty minutes to get ready, but then again Zack didn’t say when he’d get here, so I don’t know how much time I really have. Picking up my towel once again, I run into the bathroom.