Free The Dating Tutor by Melissa Frost

would glower at an empty doorway. As much as she wanted to believe Alec had feelings for her, there was still that possibility that he was being overprotective in a brotherly sort of way. She stared at him, trying to decipher what his anger meant. It wasn’t until her cell phone chirped that she looked away. Lifting it from the tabletop, she read the message from Jake that flashed onto the screen.
    Sorry to spring prom on you like that. It worked just as I intended, though. I’m fairly certain that boy is in love with you.
    She smiled down at the words, her heart skipping a beat. Jake thought Alec loved her.
    “He just left the room,” Alec complained with a growl. “What could he possibly have to say to you?”
    She looked up with an innocent expression. “How do you know it was from Jake?”
    “By that stupid, lovesick expression on your face.”
    She feigned guilt. Though seeing as the lovesick look had been over him, she didn’t really think he had room to complain. “He was just telling me that he missed me already,” she lied.
    “Bleck.” Lowering his head and fork over his helping of school macaroni and cheese, Alec grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.
    Ellie smirked but then forced her expression to grow serious. “You’ll help me prepare for prom, won’t you?” When he looked up, she blinked her eyelashes innocuously at him.
    “Help you with what?”
    She gave a shrug, not really knowing what she could need help with. She was more clueless about prom than she was with dating. She would no doubt be a wreck at prom, but it wasn’t the dance she was concerned with. It was spending time with Alec. “Oh…I don’t know. Whatever it is people do at proms. No doubt there’ll be more dancing, and we both know I never mastered that.” Shooting him a pleading look, she sweetly asked, “You’ll practice more dancing with me, right?”
    Her eyes lowered to the ticket in her hand. “Prom is two weeks away. I didn’t even think I was going. Now I’m going with the potential prom king. I really need your help, Alec. Please?”
    He let out a sigh and dropped his head to his hands. “Fine,” he said after a moment. “Fine. Okay.”
    Beaming, she reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. “Thank you. You are totally awesome.”
    He grinned and lifted his head to look at her. “I sure am. I do believe you love me,” he teased.
    “I do.”
    His comment had been light and mocking, as had her reply, but the words hung between them like an accusation. It was only funny until they’d both had a moment to think on it. Now it was uncomfortable.
    “Yeah, well…” He spoke slowly, uncertainly. “Don’t forget it.”
    She doubted that would happen any time soon, because she was completely consumed with her feelings for him.
    * * * *
    Two nights later, Ellie lay in bed with her cell phone pressed to her ear. “I agree that Ian Somerhalder is extremely good-looking. I would have to fight you for him if it ever came down to the two of us.”
    Jake burst into laughter. “I would rather fight you for Ian than fight Alec for you. He is one scary dude.”
    “He’s different off the ice,” she said in her best friend’s defense.
    “I kept waiting for him to get up out of his seat and pummel me today at lunch.”
    “He’s just posturing. I swear. He’s not nearly as violent off the ice as you think. He’s more…annoying.” She supplied the last word with a laugh.
    “Annoying, huh? Then why are you so gaga over him?”
    She smirked. “Because he’s less annoying than you.”
    He made a wounded sound that quickly turned to a laugh. “I would be offended if I didn’t know that to be true.” He paused before adding, “Keep that up and I’m not taking you to prom.”
    Ellie grinned at the playful tone of his voice. “Well, I wouldn’t want that. I’m honored to be your date.” She frowned for a moment, her thoughts turning serious. She didn’t want to get too mushy on him,