Free Love and Learn (Voretti Family Book 2) by Ava Blackstone Page B

at Calli. Someone intelligent and kind and—
    She cut off the thought, but it was too late. A distinct image had already formed in her mind.
    Ty.

CHAPTER 7

    A S THE TAXI pulled up in front of Annabelle’s building, she made the mistake of glancing at her phone. Nine-thirty PM, and she was home, walking up the same, pathetic stairs to the same, pathetic doorstep, where—
    She stopped short.
    Right there, in front of the same door she walked through every morning and evening, was Ty.
    He was dark and disheveled and obviously pissed off, and every muscle in her body strained toward him.  
    All at once, she was wide awake. Wired. Like her entire body was aware that something important was about to happen.  
    Ridiculous . This was just her body’s natural response to being in close proximity to a hot guy.  
    Except, being near the prince hadn’t done this to her. The prince hadn’t had stubble. Or biceps that could—
    “This is for you.”
    “Huh?” She’d been so busy checking out his muscles, she hadn’t noticed the bouquet. Gerbera daisies. The mixture of magenta and white was as cheerful as a summer morning even in the dim porch light.
    She had it clasped to her chest before she realized what she was doing.
    What the heck was going on? She’d been sure he’d disappear as soon as he read her note.  
    She cleared her throat and tried to remember how to make words come out of her mouth. “You remembered my favorite flowers.”  
    “How could I forget? You were so afraid I’d get the wrong kind, you wouldn’t let me buy your corsage.”
    Digging her keys out of her purse and opening the door provided a convenient excuse to avert her face. The sad fact was, she’d been afraid he’d stand her up if he was responsible for anything more than showing up at her house. It had seemed too good to be true that the popular jock every girl wanted had accepted her invitation to prom. Sure enough, it had been.
    She shook the memory off. A bouquet proved nothing. Ty had probably picked them up at the grocery store while he was stocking up on beer.
    “Thank you, but it’s been a long day. I need to get some sleep.” She walked through the door without making eye contact.
    Big mistake. She didn’t notice Ty following her until he was inside the apartment.
    He closed the door, and her already small living room shrunk to the size of a damselfly egg.
    She sighed. “What are you doing here?”
    “We have plans, remember? Your tutoring session?”
    “No.”
    “Just no?” He sounded more curious than pissed off. “You’re not gonna bother telling me you have a headache or you already made plans with a friend, or you need to organize your sock drawer?”
    “It’s inappropriate for the two of us to be together. I can’t go out with a student, even if it’s not a real—”
    “Already taken care of. I switched out of your section this morning.”
    She folded her arms across her chest. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. I don’t want to go out with you.” It felt surprisingly good to say it. To take a stand.
    “Because you don’t think I can help you? Or because you’re afraid to try?”
    Because you already broke my heart once, and if I let you in, you’ll do it again . “What does it matter? Either way, there’s nothing in it for you.”
    “See, sweetheart, that’s where you’re wrong.” He moved in like a leopard stalking his prey, not even taking his gaze from her for long enough to blink. “I’ve been a shit friend. I realize that now. But I want to make it up to you.”  
    Her whole body shivered, like he’d whispered the words against her bare skin.
    She took a step back. She needed to get away, but there wasn’t enough space in her apartment to keep her safe from Ty. There wasn’t enough space in the universe.
    His eyes burned into her. “I need you in my life.”
    She came up against the counter dividing the kitchen from the living room. And then Ty was right in front of her, his big body