The Dating Tutor: Alec's Story Read online

  Every time he thought she was about to talk, she’d shake her head and begin her pacing again. Back and forth. Back and forth. He was beginning to think she was going to wear a hole in the carpet. “You’re making me sick,” he informed her on what must have been her three dozenth trek across the room. “Can’t you just tell me already?”

  On her next pass, she came to a halt in front of him. “Jake Phillips asked me out.”

  The words didn’t compute at first. Alec simply stared at her. He’d been cooking up the worst possible scenarios, and she was freaking out because of Jake Phillips? An image of the preppy boy popped into his head. The thought of anyone being intimidated by Jake Phillips was a riot.

  In that instant, he recalled Ellie saying her problem was a girl problem. It sure as hell was, because he couldn’t think of any sane reason someone would be nervous where Jake was concerned. Bursting into laughter, he threw back his head of dark hair. All of his concerns seemed to float away on that laugh. She was worried over a date. A date!

  “Shut up! It’s not funny!”

  “Oh, Ellie,” he drawled with amusement. “It’s hilarious.” Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her down onto the bed with him.

  She gave a yelp of surprise as she collapsed half on top of him. “Alec!” Her voice was so full of indignation that it only resulted in making him laugh harder. Squirming out of his grasp, she tossed about until she managed to get to her side. Lying next to him on the bed, she stared at him with big, pleading green eyes. “I’m serious. I need your help.”

  “My help?” He couldn’t even begin to imagine how he could help with such a situation. Shouldn’t it be simple, really? Boy asks girl out. Girl says yes. Boy gets to second base in the backseat of his car.

  Alec frowned at this. He did not want to think about Jake Phillips getting to second base with his best friend. “What could you possibly need my help with?”

  A blush spread across Ellie’s cheeks, and she dipped her head down so she could study her fingernails. When she’d finally built up enough courage to get to her point, she said, “I need you to teach me to be a girl.”

  He arched a brow at the ridiculousness of this comment. “What do I know about being a girl?”

  “More than me!” Sitting up, she curled her legs under herself and stared pleadingly at him. “You date. A lot. You know what girls are supposed to act like. You can coach me on how to be sexy.”

  “Coach you on how to be sexy?” he repeated in disbelief. “Isn’t that a job for a fellow girl, not a dude?”

  She smacked his arm, shooting him a reproachful look. “I don’t have any girl friends I’m close enough to. As the best friend, it’s your job to help me. Come on!”

  “What can I do, El?” His voice sounded as puzzled as he felt. “I’m kind of at a loss here as to what you’re expecting of me.”

  “I don’t know what I expect either,” she said with a little sigh. “Show me when to giggle and how to flirt and how to behave like a lady.”

  The thought of her behaving like a member of the bitch battalion made his stomach roll with discomfort. He didn’t like the image that projected in his mind. The crowd Jake belonged to, the popular crowd, they would more than likely chew her up and spit her out. They’d hurt her. Worse, if they decided to accept her into their little clique, he’d lose the wholesome girl next door to vapid tramps bent on popularity. “Ellie, honestly, I like you the way you are. Clumsy. Awkward. Cute.” He tapped a finger to her nose. “If Jake doesn’t, then he isn’t worth your time.”

  His words were greeted with a pout. Damn. She looked so defenseless and desperate. If she truly had her heart set on this date with Jake Phillips, he wouldn’t send her in blind. Heaving a sigh, he conceded. “Fine. If it means that much to you, I’ll do it.”

  “Yay!” She dove at him with a squeezing hug. “You’re the best friend a girl could have!”

  His response was a snort. “First lesson.” Reaching up, he flicked the collar of her shirt where a red blotch stained the soft lavender color. “Spaghetti stains aren’t exactly a turn on.”

  “Aw, crap! When did that happen?” Sucking a finger into her mouth, she then rubbed at the splotch. Her attempt at salvaging the shirt only resulted in smearing the sauce and rubbing it in deeper.

  “Ladies don’t say ‘Aw, crap’ either. At least not if they want a second date, they don’t.” Laughing, he fell back on the bed. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as he’d originally thought. Maybe the two of them could have fun with this little challenge. “Boy do I have my work cut out for me.”

  Chapter Two

  Alec pulled his arms back, feeling the muscles in his shoulders tighten and bunch with anticipation. His eyes zeroed in on the hockey puck at his feet, and he released a vicious slap shot. His eyes were trained on the goalie in front of him as if he could make his opponent miss with sheer willpower alone. He felt the familiar bend in his stick that accompanied the more powerful shot. He followed through with the swing, watching as the puck sliced through the air toward the net.

  And then it was in. It bounced off the netting behind the goalie to come to a sliding stop on the far side of the goal line. “Yes!” He pumped a victorious fist in the air.

  “You trying for a position on the shootout line now?” The goalie’s mask lifted and Matt grinned out at Alec as he slid the puck back along the ice for his friend to take another shot.

  Alec snorted and shook his head. “Hardly.”

  “Coulda fooled me. That was a beautiful shot. Couldn’t have placed that in any more perfectly.”

  “How often do you see someone use a slap shot in a shootout?” Alec challenged. “Besides, I was aiming for your five hole.”

  “Oh.” Matt glanced behind him at the netting. Turning back to Alec, he said, “If so, that was a shitty shot.”

  Alec pretended to glare, though there was a smile on his lips as he lined up his next shot. “It was some shitty goaltending, too. Your little sister could have blocked that shot.”

  “I play defense for a reason, man. I’d like to see you do better.”

  Laughing, Alec waved for Matt to hand over the goalie mask. “No problem. Gimme that thing. We’ll see who stops more. Best of ten.”

  Matt tossed him the mask. “Water break first.” Skating over to the bench, he picked up a water bottle and squirted a stream of the iced liquid down his throat. “So you hear back from Boston yet?”

  Alec flinched at the question. He’d applied to Boston College, one of the top hockey colleges in the nation but had yet to hear back on whether he’d been accepted or not. It was an agonizing wait, one he was trying his hardest not to linger on. “Not yet.” He snatched up his own water bottle and took a long swig. “Only been four weeks, though. Doesn’t mean anything.” Knowing his friend was also gunning for a hockey college, Alec arched a brow. “How about you? You make any decisions yet?”

  Matt shrugged. “I still haven’t made an official verdict. I was thinking of going to Michigan, but Boston ain’t bad either.” He grinned wickedly. “Though I know why Boston holds such appeal to you, and it ain’t because of hockey.”

  “You do?” Alec arched a brow at that, his expression perplexed.

  “Didn’t that cute neighbor of yours get her acceptance letter for the law program at Boston College?”

  Alec frowned at that. “Well…yeah…she did.” He hadn’t ever really thought about it. He’d been drawn to Boston because it was a renowned hockey college, but he wouldn’t lie that it would be nice to stay in personal touch with Ellie. “Boston’s a good school,” he said in his defense.

  “And the girl next door looks good in her undies,” Matt teased.

  Alec reared back at the accusation. “It’s not like that. We’re not like that. We’re just friends.”

  Laughing, Matt skated back out to the middle of the ice. “Whatever. I’m just saying that the two of you spend an awful lot of time together.”

  Alec flipped the goalie mask up into the cr
ook of his arm. “You’re looking too much into nothing. I assure you. Let’s just play some hockey.” He plopped the mask down over his face. It would muffle any further conversation. He hoped Matt would take the hint and drop the entire subject. He disliked the way his friend felt the need to overanalyze his friendship with Ellie. He wasn’t the first guy in history to have a female friend. Nor would he be the last.

  Luckily, his diversion seemed to work, because Matt began impatiently tapping at the puck with his stick. “Well come on, superstar goalie. Let’s see what you got.”

  Alec made his way over to the goal and placed himself in front of the net. He was happy to lose himself in the simple pleasure of sport. Worries about college and unlikely girlfriends and uncertain futures could wait.

  * * * *

  “English has to be the worst subject on the planet,” Alec said with a frustrated sigh as he dropped his schoolbook to Ellie’s desk. He spun around to sit backwards in the chair, signaling that he was finished with the inconvenience of studying.

  Ellie grinned over at him from her spot on the bed where she sat flipping through her history book. “You said that about algebra yesterday.”

  This was true, but he refused to acknowledge the accusation. “I just don’t understand why we would ever need to conjugate verbs in the real world.”

  Giggling, she pounded her chest much like a gorilla. “Me Alec. Super jock. Me no need English.”

  Lifting a rubber band from the desktop, he sent it flying in her direction. “Sometimes I wonder why I hang out with you.”

  She squealed as the rubber band bounced off the side of her head. “Because you need me to help you pass English,” she provoked as she whipped a pillow at him.

  Alec easily caught it. “You throw like a girl.”

  Ellie opened her mouth to retort when her cell phone chimed, signaling a text message. She snatched it up and glanced down at the display. As soon as she did, her face paled. “It’s Jake.”

  “What does it say?”

  “Saturday,” she said as if in a trance. “He wants to go out Saturday.”

  “Cool,” he said with a bob of his head.

  “So Saturday it is.”

  Her head was bent over her phone, and she was tapping out a reply before her words sank in. The instant he realized what she was doing, he hollered his disapproval to get her to cease texting. “Like hell you’re going out with him Saturday! Put the phone down!”

  She dropped the phone to the bed with a startled expression, her green eyes going wide. “I’m not going out with him Saturday?”

  “Of course not. That’s only a few days away. Saying yes to his first suggestion makes you look desperate.” He personally was more inclined to blow off plans with an over-accommodating girl, as he knew they’d be willing to reschedule. He didn’t want to see Ellie treated this way. “Tell him you have plans Saturday.”

  “But I don’t have plans.”

  “You do now.” Making a rash decision, he said, “You have a date with me.”

  “A date with you?” she asked, voice full of incredulity.

  He barely managed to hold back his frown at her sputtering laugh. “Yes. A date with me.” Not wanting her to get the wrong idea, he added, “We’re doing a practice run-through of your date with Jake. I’m going to pick apart every mistake you make.”

  “Lucky me.”

  He glared at the sarcasm in her voice, but she was too busy with her phone to notice.

  Once she was done typing out a reply to Jake, she turned the phone in his direction. “Is this good?”

  He read the text aloud to himself, judging it as if it was something he’d received from a prospective date. “Sorry. Can’t do Saturday. I have plans with Alec. Is next weekend good for you?” He bobbed his head in approval. “Good. Now add a smiley face at the end.”

  She arched a brow. “Why? I’m not smiling.”

  He rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Because it’s girly. Guys love that crap.”

  Rolling her eyes in return, Ellie tapped the emoticon for a smiley face. “There? Happy?”

  He waved this off. It was already out of his mind and he was on to new things. “Okay. I’ve got a real date tomorrow night, so I’d better help prepare you for our fake one tonight. Heaven only knows what you’ll do without a little bit of prep work. I’d like to avoid things starting off as a train wreck.” He motioned toward the closet. “What are you going to wear for me?”

  She burst into laughter at this. “Wear for you?”

  He nodded, not at all thrilled with her amusement. Dating was no joke. “Yes. Show me what you’ll wear.”

  She huffed as if he was requesting something ridiculous, but she slid off the bed and started for her dresser. Halfway there, her phone chirped. Eagerly tugging it out of her pocket, she read the message aloud. “How about next Saturday night?”

  She raised her brows at him, and he gave a nod of consent. Ellie quickly typed out her reply, then let out a nervous breath. “I never realized so much…scheming was involved in a simple date.”

  They hadn’t even touched the tip of the iceberg on scheming. This was nothing. This was child’s play. “You have no idea.”

  She arched a brow at him but didn’t comment. Her attention quickly returned to her phone when it chirped again. She glanced down at the display. “He wants to take me to DeNuzio’s.” Her face screwed up into an expression of disgust. “Isn’t that a seafood place?”

  He nodded in confirmation. He was unable to hide his surprise at the establishment choice, but she was too busy with her phone to notice. DeNuzio’s was a classy, expensive restaurant. People their age usually couldn’t afford to eat there.

  He was drawn out of his thoughts when she began firmly stating her reply.

  “No thank you. Hate seafood.”

  He jumped out of his seat and slapped the phone out of her hand before she could hit send.

  “Are you insane?” she cried, looking up at him with shocked green eyes.

  “Are you?” He picked up her phone and shot her a look of disbelief. “When a guy offers to take you to a classy, not to mention very expensive, restaurant, you say yes.”

  “But I don’t like seafood.”

  “You do now.”

  She opened her mouth as if to protest, but he cut her off, speaking as he typed a reply out for her. “DeNuzio’s sounds lovely. I can’t wait. L-O-L.”

  “L-O-L?” Ellie asked, sounding horrified. “Why am I laughing?”

  “Because you’re beside yourself with giddiness.” Alec tossed her phone to the bed, his mind already working on the next angle of the date. “This unexpected location means you need to step up your wardrobe. Cute little booty shorts are not going to work in those surroundings.”

  “Cute bootie shorts? When have you ever seen me in booty shorts?”

  He shrugged, uncomfortable with the mental image of her in short shorts. “I don’t know what all your dating wardrobe includes.”

  “My every day wardrobe is pretty much it,” she said in a guilty tone. “I don’t have a dating wardrobe.”

  “Really?” he asked in shock. “Nothing?” He couldn’t believe she didn’t own anything sexier than her school attire. He’d thought every girl had a few outfits tucked away that only the luckiest of boys got to see. “So the fanciest thing you own is your church dress?”

  “What’s wrong with my church dress?” she asked petulantly.

  “Nothing,” he shot back. “My grandmother loves it.”

  “Then what’s the probl— Oh.” Her cheeks tinged a soft pink color. “I see.”

  He nodded, shooting her a pointed look. “Exactly.” Every girl deserved to own something that made her feel attractive. It was high time his friend spiced up her wardrobe a bit, and he was just the person to help her with that task. Clapping his hands together, he said, “Come on, El. We’re going shopping. It’s time to buy you something sexy.”

  Chapter Three

  Alec picked c
ritically over women’s lingerie while Ellie pawed through sundresses less than a dozen feet away. He left her to this task and concentrated on his own. He’d seen enough bras in his days to know what he was looking for. He’d come to appreciate each and every type and style, but there was a special bra he was searching for this afternoon.

  He finally found it. Flicking over the tags, he discovered one in what he guessed to be the appropriate size, then selected a color of his choosing. He snatched the bra up and crossed to the dress section of the department store.

  “Here you go,” he greeted Ellie, holding the hot pink bra out to her. “This is a part of your new dating attire.”

  “What is that?” she squeaked, her green eyes going wide.

  “This,” he said with what he knew was a cocky smirk, “is called a push-up bra. It’s your friend.”

  “I know it’s a bra,” she snapped. “Why are you holding it?”

  “Because you’re trying it on.” He held the lacy item up in front of her in an attempt to judge how close his guess had been. “What are you? A 26C?”

  “What are you, the boob expert?”

  Shelly Nicholson would sure claim as much, he thought with a pleased smirk. Then realizing this was not a piece of information she would probably wish to hear, he simply said, “I am. Now go try it on.” Shoving the bra into her hands, he nudged her toward the dressing room.

  “Why do I need a new bra?” she complained. “It’s not as if I intend to let Jake see it.” Despite her arguing, she stepped into a changing room.

  “You need to harness your inner sexy,” Alec informed her from the other side of the door as he waited. “Besides, a push-up bra will make your cleavage look more pronounced.”

  “Cleavage? I don’t own anything that shows cleavage.”

  Well that wouldn’t do. She couldn’t be dating in her school sweaters. Turning to the racks of dresses behind him, it took Alec all of thirty seconds to pick one out that he felt would be flattering on her. It was a simple black sundress with tiny pink flowers that stood out in layers. It was sleeveless with a scooped neckline in the front. The waist was cinched and tiny, the bottom flaring out for a classy, yet alluring look.