Easy by Tammara Webber Page A

before. Last week, I’d bookmarked a pair of boots
online that my private lesson pay and my allowance wouldn’t quite cover. I
paused the movie and clicked my inbox.
    Jackpot. But not Mom. Landon.
     
    Jacqueline,
    I’m glad you felt confident about the quiz. Whenever you get a draft of your paper
together, I’d be happy to look it over before you turn it in. I’ve attached the
worksheet for tomorrow’s session, which I just finished making. If you have any
questions, let me know.
    LM
     
    I reread the
email, pouting. There was nothing remotely flirtatious in it. It could have
come from a professor. He didn’t account for why it had taken him all weekend
to answer me, when he usually answered within a couple of hours, if not sooner.
He didn’t tease me about anything, or ask any non-econ related question. I felt
as though I’d imagined every shred of familiarity we’d developed over the past
couple of weeks.
     
    Landon,
    Thank you. I’ll send the draft by Saturday morning. I hope you had an enjoyable weekend.
    JW
     
    Jacqueline,
    Getting it to me by Saturday is fine. I’ll try to get it back to you quickly so you can
get it in to Dr. H before the break. My weekend was good. Especially Friday.
How was yours?
    LM
     
    Landon,
    Good. A bit lonely (my roommate was out of town all weekend, and she just got home
and is bursting to tell me all about it), but productive. Thanks again for all
your help.
    JW

 
    Chapter 9
     
     
    Once again, Lucas was approached by
a girl at the end of class. What the hell? Did every girl in our class feel a
need to converse with him? But then a guy walked up next to her, his arm
wrapping around her shoulder. Alarmed, I realized what my visceral reaction
implied: jealousy. Over a guy I barely knew, with whom I’d exchanged more
saliva than sentences.
    As I passed the
last aisle, Lucas gave me a tight smile with a slight lift of his chin and
shifted his attention back to the couple in front of him. Conflicted, I was
equal parts relieved and disappointed.
    I asked Erin’s advice over lunch.
    “He’s holding his
cards damned close.” Sipping her typical Jamba Juice lunch, she mulled over
possible causes for his reserve. “It’s almost like… he’s resisting being
attracted to you. Don’t get me wrong, lots of guys get standoffish—but usually
not until they’ve closed the deal.” She gave me a close look. “Are you sure nothing more happened Friday night?”
    I heaved a sigh
and clunked my forehead with the heel of my hand. “Oh yeah , I totally
forgot that part where we had wild sex all night Friday.”
    She rolled her eyes, and then her brows rose. “Hey. What if he has a girlfriend?”
    I frowned. I hadn’t considered that. “I guess that’s possible.”
    My mind went to
one thing I couldn’t say: What if what happened the night we met made me appear
as pathetic and foolish as I felt, and he couldn’t get past it? Those
terrifying minutes haunted me still, and running into Buck a few days ago only
amplified the threat. It wouldn’t be the last time I’d see him. He was in the
same frat as Kennedy. He was friends with Chaz and Erin, and my entire former
circle of friends. He was almost unavoidable.
    “A girlfriend would definitely put a kink in our plans,” Erin mused.
    Out of the blue, I
wondered if Landon Maxfield had a girlfriend. He hadn’t mentioned one, but why
would he? There was no reason for him to insert Hey, btw, I have a
girlfriend into one of our email exchanges. I could find some way to ask.
He seemed so candid that I was sure he’d answer.
    “J?” Erin’s voice broke into my thoughts.
    “Huh? Sorry.”
    She arched a brow,
slurping up the last of her smoothie. “What are you thinking about? I know that
calculating look, and as your official wing-woman, I need in on whatever you’re
plotting.”
    I picked at the
sandwich in my hand, pulling the tomatoes out and stacking them in the corner
of my tray. I couldn’t tell her about Buck. But I