by Karen Pokras
“No, Suzanne, I’m not like that. It’s not what you think!” Ava felt the tears begin to well in her eyes.
“I think,” Suzanne began, “that I’m wasting my time with both of you. I could be studying for my own exams right now. I don’t need this crap.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the money Ava and Max paid her earlier. “Here you go. A full refund for today’s session. I’d keep it, but it would just make me feel … dirty.” She shuddered and placed the money on the table before heading to the door. Just before she stepped into the main room of the library, she turned and said, “I’d tell you it’s been a pleasure, but it really hasn’t. See you two ... never.”
“Suzanne! Wait!” Ava called, running out into the main room after her. Unfortunately, it was too late; Suzanne was already lost among the stacks of books. Groups of students studying at tables looked up to give Ava warning looks about her raised voice. It didn’t matter. Ava knew there was no way Suzanne would agree to come back anyway. She stormed back into the room, where Max still stood by the wall, and slammed the door behind her. Screw those people studying out there. She didn’t care if the slam was loud—she was angry, and she wasn’t about to let those people be privy to her gripe with Max, that’s for damn sure. The door needed to be closed. At least for now.
“Just great!” Ava cried. “I hope you’re happy. This is all your fault.”
“Actually, I don’t think it was all my fault. If I recall, you seemed to be enjoying yourself ... or was I mistaken, because I’m pretty sure I wasn’t imagining your hands on my—”
“All right, all right. I get it. For the record, my hands were on your back the entire time.”
“Uh huh,” Max grinned.
“What am I going to do? I’m going to fail Statistics … again!”
“Not if you let me help you, which is really all I was trying to do to begin with, remember?”
“I don’t understand. You’re here to get tutored also. So how are you going to help me, if you also need help? And why aren’t you freaking out?” Ava asked.
“Suzanne’s plan, remember?” Max answered.
She shook her head. “No, I don’t. I wasn’t actually listening when she set that whole thing up. Care to refresh my memory?”
“Shocking. Do you think maybe you can pay attention this time?” Max asked.
“Can you tell me what she had in mind, and how this is supposed to help me? Without the commentary perhaps?”
“Okay, okay, calm down. Suzanne thought it would be a good idea for us to work together because she was getting frustrated trying to help you on her own. Honestly, I can see why.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Without. The. Commentary. … Can we get on with the plan part please?” she asked again.
“The plan was, if we worked together, I could help you with your problems since I’m in Advanced Statistics, and you’re still struggling with basic concepts. Suzanne thought having someone else explain it to you in a different way might help.”
“Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You take … Advanced Statistics? On purpose? Ew, why?”
Max threw his head back briefly before returning his gaze to Ava. “Now who’s throwing in commentary? Did anyone ever tell you you’re impossible to talk to? Cute, but impossible.”
Ava raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Sorry. Just go on. Please.”
“So the plan was, I would tutor you under Suzanne’s supervision, and Susanne would tutor me. Well, it seems we’ve lost the Suzanne part of the picture, but I can still tutor you if you’re interested. Of course, that doesn’t help me out, but I’m sure I can find another grad student to tutor me on the side.”
Was he serious? Ava stood with her hands on her hips, not knowing what to think. The kiss was still fresh on her mind, as was the thought of failing. Her phone began to buzz yet again. She looked down.
Hi. Still not sure if I have the right number, but if this is you, Ava, and you need a break from studying, I’ve got a table for two reserved at 7:00 at Habaneros. I heard you like Mexican food. – Thomas
“So do we have a deal or not?” Max asked, suddenly all business. Ava’s skin was still tingling despite her protests. How could he just turn passion on and off so easily?
“What exactly happened before … with that kiss?” Ava asked, not quite ready to make a deal yet.
“Look, I apologize, that shouldn’t have happened. It was completely my fault. I know we got off on the wrong foot, and I can assure you that we will just study from now on. I know how important this exam is to you.”
Ava didn’t know if she should feel disappointed or relieved, but she did know she was out a tutor and out of time. It was time to get her priorities in order. She stuck out her hand. “Deal. But for studying, that’s all. Got it?”
“Got it,” Max replied, accepting her handshake.
Chapter 10
Ava walked through the door of Habaneros not really sure what she was doing there. After her interesting tutoring session and subsequent business only arrangement with Max, she supposed she needed to unwind for a bit. But with Thomas? He was a client … Cynthia’s client. Of course, Cynthia never specifically said she couldn’t date a client. Not that this was a date. Was it? So what if it was. She could keep business and pleasure separate. Maybe Thomas really was only looking to have some questions about the exhibit answered. Did people actually have business meetings at Habaneros? She supposed she was capable of keeping this strictly business until the end of the exhibit. There was always time for pleasure after, and the exhibit would be over two weeks from now. Except she’d be going home then. Oh, who was she kidding? She deserved a little fun, right?
Ava hated when her brain played this type of back and forth with her. How was she supposed to make a rational decision with so many thoughts going through her head? She wished Holly had answered the phone when she tried to call her after returning to her apartment, although she had a feeling her advice would have been along the lines of go out with Thomas for dinner, then have Max for dessert. That was definitely not happening.
The fact of the matter was that Carly probably would have been the better choice for unwinding tonight. They could have gone to The Spot, had a couple of beers, and watched a band. Carly would have flirted with some guy, and Ava would have played wingman, or wingwoman in her case. Then at some point, she would have headed home. Alone. Of course then she’d be stuck eating a burger or chicken fingers for dinner instead of the fine cuisine she was about to have … at Habaneros.
She looked about the dimly lit restaurant. Habaneros had an intimate feel to it and was comprised mostly of couples sitting closely together. Mariachi-style music played softly in the background, drowning out any conversations taking place, as if to assure any discussions occurring would remain private.
Ava had only been to Habaneros once before. It wasn’t exactly a restaurant that a college student could afford to frequent. The only other time she had been there was when her Dad brought her to campus for her college interview back when she was in high school; they’d stuck out like a sore thumb. Ava’s dad wore his usual flannel shirt and jeans, while Ava donned the new Wolfenson College sweatshirt she had picked up just moments before in the campus bookstore. It was a Tuesday night, so the maître d’, who’d attempted to tell them they had no open tables, really couldn’t pull it off since the restaurant was pretty much empty. Still, he led them to a table in the far corner of the restaurant out of sight from well … no one, since there wasn’t anyone there. Once Ava and her dad were seated, she could tell by the look on her dad’s face he was having sticker shock after opening the menu. Ava asked if he wanted to go somewhere else, but she knew her dad’s pride wouldn’t allow that. Instead, Ava made sure to find the least expensive thing to order so their dinner wouldn’t cost too much. The next time they came to the campus—the day they dropped Ava off at school—they grabbed a burger at The Spot.
As Ava looked around for Thomas, she wondered if he would be p
aying for this meal. She certainly hoped so, seeing as though her job at the gallery was a non-paying internship.
“Ava, I’m glad you made it,” the familiar voice said.
Feeling a light touch on her shoulder, Ava turned around. Thomas stood almost a full foot taller than her. For the second time that day, she felt tingles race across her skin when he gently brushed her arm. He helped her remove her coat, revealing the dark green dress she wore.
“You look lovely,” he stated.
“Thank you,” she replied. “So do you.” Ava stopped herself. Did she just tell a man he looked lovely? Well, he kind of did. In a handsome, sultry kind of way. Thomas Malloy had a certain style about him. Besides the sandy blond hair and dark eyes, he was rugged, put together, and artsy. He was wearing a herringbone sport coat over a dress shirt, with no tie, and casual pants; an outfit that normally looked nerdy to Ava. However, in this case, it worked. Maybe it was because he was older and had a more experienced look about him. Not fatherly old, but sophisticated old … mature. More importantly, not immature like Max is, or at least was. The jury was still out on that one. Ava shook her head to get the thought of Max completely out of her head. She was here with Thomas.
“Our table is right over here.” Thomas led Ava to a table close to the front window of the restaurant. “I requested a table by the front. That way, I could see you come in since I didn’t actually know if you’d be here or not. I see I had the right cell number after all.”
“Oh,” Ava replied, feeling embarrassed. “I’m sorry I didn’t respond to any of your texts. I did receive all of them. I just didn’t get a chance to reply. It was kind of a strange afternoon with my tutor.”
“Strange? How so?” Thomas asked.
Ava shook her head. She’d rather not relive the memories … especially not with Thomas. “Intense and busy, and then ... confusing. Just a weird mix-up. It’s all under control now,” Ava explained, taking the seat that Thomas pulled out for her.
He gently eased Ava’s chair in and took a seat across from her. He seemed to be about to say something, but a woman dressed in traditional Mexican attire stopped at the table with two large margaritas and a basket of tortilla chips.
“Thank you.” Thomas nodded at her, and she promptly left. “I figured you’d be ready for a drink.”
“But you didn’t even know if I’d be coming,” Ava replied.
“Well, if you didn’t show, then I’d need that extra drink to drown my sorrows,” Thomas answered, smiling.
Chapter 11
“Oh, no, thanks,” Ava announced when the waitress returned to ask if she’d like to see the dessert menu. “I couldn’t eat another bite.” She finished her margarita in a final gulp. “Everything was delicious, Thomas. Thank you. I think I’m going to use the ladies room.” Ava stood up, and the entire room swayed. She had only gotten up ten minutes ago to answer a text from Tessa just as the third margarita arrived and had felt nothing more than a usual buzz. “Or maybe I should sit for a few minutes. I think that last margarita was one too many.”
“Should I bring the check, sir?” the waitress asked.
“Yes, and a couple of coffees, please,” Thomas replied.
“Certainly.”
Thomas laughed. “Are you okay, Ava?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll be fine. I didn’t realize those drinks were so strong. You know, at The Spot I can usually drink more than three drinks. Of course, they probably don’t use as much booze in each drink, which would explain why they don’t charge as much.” Ava leaned across the table as far as she could and whispered loudly, “Have you seen the prices here?”
She leaned back into her own seat as the waitress brought coffee and the check over to the table.
“Thank you,” Thomas acknowledged to the waitress.
“Yes,” Ava agreed. “Thank you ... so very much.”
The waitress gave Ava an odd look before walking away.
Ava took a sip of her coffee as Thomas took out his wallet. “Wow, Thomas, this is great coffee. You should try it. Oh, is it time to pay? Should I pay for mine? Because we didn’t really discuss that before I got here.”
“No, Ava, it’s on me,” Thomas smiled, “but I think maybe it’s time to get you home.”
“Aw, you’re just the sweetest man ever. But I think I should wait for the room to stop moving before I drive home. Is the room moving for you, Thomas?”
“No, and you’re not driving anywhere. I will drive you home, and we’ll come get your car tomorrow.”
Ava watched as Thomas threw a few hundred-dollar bills on the table.
“Wow, that’s a lot of green,” she remarked quite loudly.
“Come on, you can lean on my arm.”
Ava fumbled for her keys when they arrived at her apartment. For her entire life she’d had roommates. Growing up, she’d always had to share a room with Holly, then as a freshman she was put into a triple room. She kept the same two roommates her sophomore year, and moved into a house her junior year where she wound up having even more roommates. By the time she was a senior, she was ready to live on her own. Therefore, when she saw the advertisement for the one bed studio apartment available, she grabbed it. Now that she found herself alone with Thomas on the threshold of her apartment, despite the effects of the alcohol, she kind of wished she had roommates again.
“Well, thank you, Thomas,” Ava said, trying hard not to slur her words. “I appreciate you helping me make it home safely.”
Ava desperately tried to guide her key toward the keyhole in the door, but was unable to make contact.
“Please, let me.” Thomas took the keys out of Ava’s wavering hand, swiftly unlocking and opening the door.
“Thank you … again,” Ava replied. “I think I’m good now. I appreciate—” Ava put her hand to her mouth and ran toward the bathroom as the bile made its way up her throat. She reached the toilet just in time, heaving several times before she was convinced it was safe to stand back up. She splashed water on her face, rinsed her mouth out with mouthwash, and prayed that Thomas Malloy had left her apartment. She cautiously peeked out the bathroom door to find her praying hadn’t worked.
“What are you doing?” Ava asked Thomas, who stood in her tiny kitchen filling a pot with water.
“I’m making you tea. I know you Americans prefer coffee, but we already tried that and look what happened. Now we’re going to do things my way.”
“I really think I’m okay. I just need some sleep. Thanks again. Sorry for the weird ending to the evening, and don’t worry about my car. I’m sure Carly can give me a lift to—” Ava clutched her stomach and sat down on the couch, feeling another wave of sickness about to strike.
“No, I’m not leaving,” Thomas stated, pouring hot water into a mug. “Here, small sips.” He sat down next to Ava and rubbed her back in a soothing circular motion.
“Thank you,” Ava said, feeling the nausea starting to subside.
“You should probably change out of that dress,” Thomas remarked.
Ava looked over at him. He wasn’t seriously hitting on her, was he? How dare he take advantage of her in this state? She glared at him and wondered how quickly she could run to the kitchen to grab a knife.
“No! No, I didn’t mean …” Thomas said. “You can put away the daggers that are jutting out of your eyes. You just have some …” He pointed to Ava’s chest where there was left over dribble from her getting sick earlier.
“Oh!” Ava exclaimed, mortified. She grabbed the sweatshirt and leggings she had been wearing earlier and ran back into the bathroom to change, making sure to brush her teeth before reappearing. She wouldn’t have blamed Thomas for leaving after the way she had treated him.
She entered the room again feeling refreshed and somewhat sober. Picking up her tea, she joined Thomas on the couch. “Thanks again for the tea. It really is helping.”
“I’m glad,” he replied, smiling. He suddenly stood up. “Right, well, if you’re feeling better...”
“Thomas, I’m really embarrassed. I hardly ever get drunk like that. I mean, that’s honestly never happened to me before, and … well, you’re an important client and all. I would never jeopardize that relationship or—”
“Not to worry, Ava. Cynthia doesn’t need to know about any of this. Everything is just fine where that is concerned. I actually had a lovely evening getting to know you. This happens to the best of us.”
Ava smiled. “Thank you, Thomas. You’ve been so sweet to me all evening. A perfect gentleman. You’re really too good to be true.” She stood up to give him a hug, but instead gave in to the urge to kiss him. She was right. He did have sensual, soft lips.
Chapter 12
“You kissed?” Carly shrieked as they worked on finishing their portfolios for Ms. Senaca’s class. Carly had managed to reserve one of the smaller studios for herself and Ava to work on their projects. Ava’s pieces were mostly done; she was really only there to add finishing touches and keep Carly company.
“Yes,” Ava responded calmly, smudging the charcoal along her sketch lines. Although Ava did not consider the sketch of Max one of her best, she couldn’t seem to put it down.
Carly stopped working on her project and looked over at Ava. “You kissed both of them?”
“Yes, that’s what I told you. I kissed both of them,” Ava repeated. She continued to work, not meeting Carly’s stare. It really wasn’t that big of a deal.
“On the same day … within a few hours of each other,” Carly clarified.
“Well, technically, it was past midnight for Thomas, so it wasn’t the same day,” Ava noted.
“Ava Haines! What has gotten into you? Now what are you going to do?”
“What do you mean? There’s nothing to do. Max and I have already agreed that it won’t happen again, at least not while he’s going to tutor me, and—”
