“Well, it sounded great to me,” Mr. Gorgeous says. “So, you finally got my messages?”
I blink at him. “Um, I guess so. I got a message from someone named Tad Tocco—”
“That’s me,” Tad says. The smile gets even bigger. So does he, as he stands up and holds out his right hand. He’s taller than me. And possibly even outweighs me. He’s a big, muscular guy. “Your remedial math professor.” His hand swallows mine. “I was going to introduce myself after the show the other night, but you seemed to disappear right after your song.”
I say something. I have no idea what. His hand is callused. From playing so much killer Frisbee, no doubt.
“Anyway, I have to say,” he says, letting go of my hand, finally, and sinking back into his chair, just as my knees give out and I sort of fall back into the one on the other side of his desk, “you have a way better excuse for blowing off my class than most of my students. I mean, I’ve never had anyone miss the first week of school because they were busy catching a murderer.”
My jaw drops. “You’re my…you’re my…” I’ve forgotten how to formulate words.
“I’m your remedial math professor,” Tad says cheerfully. “I wanted to get in touch with you about scheduling some makeup sessions. You know, for the classes you’ve missed? I don’t want you falling behind. So I figured we could meet. At your convenience, of course. How’s after work? There’s a bar near that place you work—Fischer Hall? The Stoned Crow. A bunch of us plays darts down there, so it would be convenient for me if we could meet there, seeing as how we’re both over twenty-one.” Then he winks at me. He winks at me. “I find algebra goes down a lot easier with popcorn and beer. That okay with you?”
I can only stare at him. He’s just so…hot.
Way hotter than Barista Boy.
Suddenly I think I’m going to like college.
A lot.
“That sounds great to me,” I say.