Earn Your Extra Credit (Steamy Teacher Romances #2)

by Meghan Quinn

“Fireball is a devious bastard. Grabs your attention, makes you feel all warm inside, and then BAM!” I smack the table. “Trouble. That’s what it is . . . just trouble.” “Fireball is like the bad boy you should stay away from.” I nod. “If Fireball had a mode of transportation, it would be a motorcycle, and you know Fireball wouldn’t wear a helmet.” “Or a condom,” Cora adds. “Fireball is too good for a condom. For any protection.” “Fireball says FUCK condoms and then shoots its load on your back.” I gesture with my hand. “And it’s a cinnamony load.”

“That’s why Fireball is the bad boy of liquor. It doesn’t care about your feelings; it just keeps you coming back for more.”

Can we cue up a slow clap for the rum concoction? Because, well done on the mindfuckery. Well fucking done. Boss-level mindfuckery.

“Yes, but your body language screams you’d rather be anywhere else but near me.”

On the contrary, I’d prefer you sit on my lap, wrap your arms around me, and hold me close, but we both know that’s not what you want.

Greer pats his back and starts walking toward the bus. “Just you wait. By the end of this trip, they will see each other naked.”

“I can do a jig for you. Sing a song about how blessed I am to have you walk into my room. Or would you rather I throw you up against the wall and passionately defile you?” I raise a brow at her and her eyes narrow. “You don’t have to be a dick, Brock.” I spit out my toothpaste, rinse my mouth, and then ask her, “What else do you want from me, Stella?” You’ve taken my heart.

You’ve taken my soul. There’s nothing else left for me to give.

“You realize that makes no sense, right?” I ask. “Romeo wasn’t someone who went from girl to girl. He was passionate and loyal to one, so the nickname really isn’t applicable.”

I kissed you because I meant it. Because I’ve been

wanting to kiss you for years. Because I’m fucking infatuated with you. It meant something. That kiss meant so much. “Anyway, I’m not the guy everyone thinks I am.”

I pull my pants back up and take a seat. “Is this what happens when you don’t have sex in over a year? Your dick gets new skin?” “I mean . . . snakes shed skin, and our dicks are sort of like snakes, so . . . maybe?” Gunner says.

“Mom, did you know Dad is engaged?” I ask, cutting right to the point as I sit by the ocean,

Mom sighs on the other end of the phone. “I do.”

We’ve talked on the phone, Mom, and he didn’t even tell me he was dating seriously, and now I find out he’s engaged.”

“Did you know it was Ashley Broome? The girl who used to bully me in high school?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I honestly don’t think I can breathe right now.” Mom’s voice sobers as she says, “I know this is a lot to take in, sweetie, but he asked for my blessing.”

“Talk to him, Stella. You might just learn something more about your father that you never knew before.”

“Why are you so angry?” Because I desperately want you.

Because no matter what I do, I can’t get you off my mind. Because I’d love nothing more than to strip that top off you and feast on your tits.

Because I just fucked up worse than I ever have before.

His rejection . . . confuses me.

But my dad sure has sent enough texts to occupy my mind.

He wants to talk to me. He wants to have a sit-down, just me and him.

“As friends.” He removes my hand from his chest and leaves, sending my mind back into an unstoppable tailspin. I want to chase after him. I want to tell him I want so much more than just friends. But I know there’s no use. He’s closed off. What’s done is done and it’s probably best that way. And yet, part of me feels so sad. You’re clearly supposed to be together, but you can’t figure it out.

“I know,” I answer quietly. We know we have chemistry in spades, but that’s something easy to achieve with someone as sexual as Stella. “But it’s not that easy. We’re friends.” I could see her as my best friend that I share my whole world with. If she wants that.

“You might care about me as a friend, but not in the deep way I’ve hoped you would. I told you I liked you out on the boat, and you asked for time. I’m giving it to you, but during that time, you can’t use me as an escape. You can’t use me to help cure your woes, because you need to realize it’s breaking me. One look, one touch, one promise of a night with you at a time.”

He wanted to be wanted for him, not because he was in the hospital. “I—I didn’t know we made you feel like that,” I say. “You seemed as though you were doing fine.” “Just because someone looks okay on the outside, doesn’t mean they’re not struggling on the inside.”

My throat tightens as I realize just how selfish I am. And not just with my dad, but with Romeo too. I’ve set up my life to revolve around me and not others. I’ve only considered my feelings, what I need,

my aspirations, without a second thought to others, and where has it gotten me?

Alone. Hurting the ones I...

“One of the things I’ve learned over the last couple of years is this—allowing yourself to live in the past will never allow you to move forward. It’s not productive to dwell in the days that have gone by, but rather learn from them. It’ll take time, but there’s always room for forgiveness.” Looking me in the eyes, he says, “It’s time to move forward, Stella.”

blink a few times, trying to gain my bearings from the whiplash of that kiss. “What, uh . . . what was that for?” I ask. “I missed kissing you,” she says casually, while I’m anything but casual right now. I’m heated, steamed up,

Was not expecting that at all, and for some reason, anger starts to boil up my spine. She wants me to take the job? The job I haven’t even been offered yet? Just like that, see ya, bye, it was nice knowing you?

I’ve run. Avoided. Exploded. Been an asshole. Even though I told her she was worth the wait. If you stop running, you’ll realize you’ve already found your place.