CHAPTER 3
TOSHA
The frosty air conditioner welcomed my warm skin as I walked into the computer lab. I hadn\’t been here in a few weeks since I\’d been so busy with my other tutoring gigs. I missed this peaceful sanctuary.
\”Well, well, I never thought I\’d ever see your face around these parts again.\” Then, I heard the sound of a familiar voice. It was Xan, formally known as Alexander Campbell.
After a lousy spill ruined my old laptop my first year of university, I met Xan during one of my trips to the computer lab. I\’d use the computer lab religiously to get my studies done. Then, I embarrassingly put a virus on a desktop by illegally watching a television series. Xan wasn\’t surprised; he knew that half of the time spent here was for my own personal gain. To my luck, he was well educated in computer tech and was able to successfully remove the virus. I never thought clearing off a virus from a computer would start my childish crush on him.
I smiled once his presence came into my line of vision. This man was a walking dream. He stood behind the rounded reference desk wearing a fitted black long-sleeve top and light-washed jeans hung low around his waist. His muscles were subtle under his clothing, but there was no doubt he was in good shape.
\”You know me, I can\’t stay away from the lab for long,\” I spoke, digging my hands into my pockets, nervously peering into his mellow eyes.
\”The lab? Dang, I was hoping I was the reason why you kept coming back,\” He joked. The end of his cornrows rested softly on his shoulders while he turned to face me. A warm smile rested upon his face as his eyes met mine.
The soft ceiling light glimmered on Xan\’s mahogany skin. He had me in a mental chokehold with his neatly braided cornrows, a boyish smile, and a fit body.
\”I mean, seeing you is always a bonus,\” I said, my pitch cracking a little at the end. I cringed; Get it together, girl.
Before he could respond, a girl called out his name by the printer station. \”Hey, sir! I think the printer is out of ink.\” She bellowed.
Shifting his gaze to her, then back to me, he spoke. \”Duty calls.\”
\”Yeah, no worries,\” I reassured, watching him walk away while I shamelessly stared at his back muscles and got a perfect look at that tight a–
\”Drooling much?\” I jumped, ultimately getting caught by an angelic voice.
I turned around swiftly and was able to release the breath I hadn\’t realized I\’d sucked in.
Standing cheerfully next to me was Jasmine Wheeler. Jasmine was one of the students that I was currently tutoring. With other students failing many classes at a time, Jasmine was beyond her level regarding her academics. She wrote papers for other students, could read novels for days, and held up pretty good grades. Aside from her academic accomplishments, she was not accelerating in Calculus II. With mathematics being the main subject I tutored, I was the top recommendation around campus for assistance.
Jasmine was a short-framed girl with dirty blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and pouty lips. Today she wore a white flowy top with a burgundy pencil skirt, showcasing her smooth legs, and strappy sandals graced her feet.
Her goofy smirk caught my attention as her eyes held a playful intent.
I rolled my eyes at her comment. \”Can you blame me?\” I asked.
She shook her head. \”If Bash and I ever split, Xan is definitely my next top pick.\”
I laughed. \”Jokes on you because you and that boy will never separate,\” I assured her. \”And I\’ve already called dibs on Xan, you know.\”
