"For example?" he asked, seeming genuinely interested rather than merely making polite conversation.
That was more enticing than a surprise peek at his pecs. Well, almost.
"I have younger students trace spelling words in corn meal with a finger."
"Why not have all students do it that way? Sounds a helluva lot more fun than gripping a pencil until your fingers go numb."
"I agree."
He flashed a killer smile her way, sun reflecting off his aviator shades, darn near blinding her with the vibrancy. "Where were you when I was drilling spelling words? Wait." He thumped his head. "You weren't born yet."
"Are we beating that dead horse today?"
"With your vintage music fixation and my tapioca pudding, maybe we're not so far apart in age after all.
Something dangerous fluttered to life in her empty stomach. "Took you long enough to figure that one out."
"Too late, I'm guessing."
Was he regretting that? Hinting for something now? And sheesh, but she hated how even thinking it flipped her hungry stomach around. Not gonna go that route again. "Seems so."
"At least I can take comfort in knowing I'm not a COG."
"COG?"
"Creepy Old Guy."
Not by a long shot. She chewed the lip gloss off her suddenly aching lips. "Thanks for the ride and for showing up so soon, but where's Chris?"
"I was at your mother's when you called so I offered to come instead rather than waste time trying to track down your brother."
"Oh." That threw her for a second. Her stomach was in serious peril. "Uh, why? Anything wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
So why had he been there? She waited. And waited. "Thanks for coming out."
"Good thing, too. Probably didn't hurt for those students to see a man in your life."
"This is not your problem."
"I'm a male. I can't ignore it."
"I'm careful. I'm never alone with a student. Teachers are given training on just this subject for our protection and the students'. That's a part of why I always tutor on school property."
"All right. But I'm still picking you up until we find out what went on with Owens."
How silly to argue. She'd had the same concerns today. Her mother was confined to the house. Her brother was in and out of town visiting his girlfriend during college winter break.
And she couldn't hide from the truth. She wanted to be around Carson if for no other reason than to figure out a way to forget him as completely as she'd forgotten that night last week. "Since I don't have tires, I gratefully accept. For now."
"Thank you. And you'll be careful around that kid you're tutoring?"
Of course she would, but wondered at Carson's continued insistence. "You don't trust anyone, do you?"
"This isn't about me."
"I think it just became about you." She hitched a knee up to turn and face him even as he kept his eyes forward on the road. "You say you want to apologize, and sure you're helping. But I'm still confused. Can we only relate if things are about me? When does it become about you, too? Otherwise this is a one-sided, um, friendship—" yeah, friendship was a good word "—that's not fair to either of us."