Chapter 3 The First Lesson

• The main library was empty at seven o'clock on Tuesday night.
• I picked the back table in the quiet corner, far away from the front doors. I placed my heavy notebooks on the table and set two simple rules in my head.
• Keep things business only.
• And do not let Nathan's easy smile trick me.
• At seven sharp, the heavy wooden doors swung open.
• Nathan walked in.
• He was not wearing his big team jacket tonight. He had on a dark grey hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing his broad, strong arms. He carried a single black notebook and a gold pen.
• When he spotted me in the corner, he walked over and pulled out the chair right beside mine.
• The chair groaned under his weight.
• He sat down, bringing the cool smell of night air and fresh soap with him.
• "You are right on time," I said, opening my thick science book.
• "I don't like being late," Nathan said, leaning his chin on his hand. His dark eyes watched my face closely. "So, how do we start, teacher?"
• "First, we set rules," I said, looking straight at him. "Rule one: no phone during our hours. Rule two: you do your homework yourself. I will explain the hard parts, but I will not write your papers for you. Rule three: this is work. We focus on the books."
• Nathan stared at me for a moment.
• Then a slow, genuine smile spread across his face.
• "Strict," Nathan murmured, leaning back. "I like it. Nobody talks to me like that."
• "Well, I am not your fan," I said, pushing the open book toward him. "Turn to page fifty. We need to cover three chapters tonight."
• For two hours, we worked.
• I expected Nathan to be lazy or slow, like the other sports guys who begged for easy answers.
• But he was not.
• When he did not understand something, his dark eyebrows pulled together, and he listened carefully to every word I said.
• He was smart. He had simply missed too many classes because of road games.
• "Okay," I said, closing my notebook at nine o'clock. "You did well tonight. If you read chapter four before Thursday, you will pass the small test."
• Nathan leaned back, stretching his big arms over his head. His shirt pulled tight against his chest.
• "Not bad, shorty. My brain hurts, but I learned something."
• "Good," I said, packing my pens into my bag. "I am going home."
• "Wait."
• Nathan reached out and gently took my arm, stopping me from standing.
• "Our deal has two sides, remember? You helped my brain tonight. Now it is my turn to help your social standing."
• I blinked.
• "What do you mean?"
• "Look at yourself," Nathan said softly, his dark eyes scanning my big, faded grey sweater and plain canvas shoes. "You look like you want to hide inside your clothes. If we are going to walk into the athletic hall together on Friday, people need to see you, not your tent sweater."
• My face felt hot.
• I pulled my arm back.
• "There is nothing wrong with my clothes. They are comfortable."
• "I am not saying they are wrong," Nathan said, standing from his chair. He towered over me, broad and calm. "I am saying we need to make Liam's eyes drop out of his head when he sees you. Come on."
• "Where?" I asked nervously.
• "To the mall," Nathan said, pulling his car keys from his pocket. "My treat. It's part of the deal."
• Twenty minutes later, we were standing inside a bright clothing shop downtown.
• I felt completely out of place among the glass displays and fancy dresses, but Nathan walked in like he owned the place.
• He moved down the racks, his big fingers quickly flipping through the hangers.
• He picked a fitted blue dress that matched my eyes, a dark soft sweater that actually fit my shoulders, and a sleek black jacket.
• "Try this on," Nathan said, handing the clothes to me.
• "Nathan, this is too expensive—"
• "Go," he said, giving me a gentle push toward the dressing room. "I have plenty of money from my summer team pay. Just try it."
• I went inside the small room and changed into the blue dress.
• It fit perfectly.
• It was simple, but it showed my waist and came down just above my knees. I pulled my long brown hair out of its messy bun, letting it fall over my shoulders.
• I stepped out of the dressing room slowly, my heart beating fast.
• "Is this... okay?"
• Nathan was leaning against the mirror wall.
• When he looked up and saw me, he completely stopped.
• The lazy smile left his face.
• His dark eyes widened as they moved from my hair to the blue dress and then down to my bare legs.
• For five long seconds, the confident hockey captain could not say a single word.
• A strange, warm feeling bloomed inside my chest.
• "Nathan?" I asked softly, shifting my feet.
• Nathan swallowed hard, clearing his throat.
• He pushed himself off the wall and walked slowly toward me, stopping right in front of me.
• "Okay," Nathan said, his voice lower and rougher than before.
• He reached out, his big thumb gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers were warm against my skin, sending a tiny shiver down my back.
• "That bench-warmer Liam is a complete idiot."
• My breath caught.
• "Do you... like it?"
• "I love it," Nathan said, his dark eyes looking straight into mine, fierce and steady. "And on Friday night, everyone else will too."