“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” he said drily.
“You can talk to me about sex, you know,” Hadley said, leaning forward on her elbows.
“Oh, really?” Jared said with a groan, covering his face with his hands. Hadley reached over and pulled them away. “I’m very sure that’s not necessary.”
“Jared, I’m serious,” she told him. “I won’t get squicked out, I promise. I don’t like that you don’t have anyone to talk to about your relationships.”
“Trust me, if I was living at home, I wouldn’t be talking to anyone there.”
She harrumphed. “That’s another issue entirely.”
“I’m okay. I don’t need to talk to you about anything.”
“Are you having sex?”
“Yes,” Jared said, staring out of the dark window and the huge low moon hanging in the night sky. “Not right now, obviously. But it’s on the cards.”
“Okay. Are you being safe?”
“Yes.”
“That means more than just using condoms, you know—”
“Yes,” he said again, interrupting her. “I know.”
“And there are other ways for you enjoy each other apart from penetration.”
“Oh, God,” Jared groaned again, and Hadley laughed.
“Sorry,” she said. “I feel like I have a responsibility to you though, Jared. I know you don’t have anyone else to talk to.”
“Thank you,” he said and hoped he sounded grateful. Her concern was unnecessary but appreciated.
“Trust me. I know what it’s like to be eighteen and think the world begins and ends with having sex.” She got up, crossed to the fridge for a bottle of white wine, grabbed two glasses, and was pouring them as she sat back down.
Jared accepted the glass gratefully. Hadley always chose good wine. “I like sex, Hadley. I’m not going to apologize for that.”
“I’m not saying you should. But like I said. The world doesn’t revolve around fucking.” She shrugged, her expression nonchalant. “You’re growing up in this hypersexualized culture. There’s nothing wrong with waiting a while.”
“For what?”
She laughed again. “For… the right time. The right person. The right….”
Jared got where she was going with this. Waiting for the right person was fine, in theory, but there was nothing wrong with fucking a few guys until Mr. Right arrived. Waiting was what Christian girls with Republican fathers did, and he definitely wasn’t one of those.
Hadley slid off her stool and collected the dirty dishes. Jared rushed to help. He didn’t want her to think he was a total freeloader.
“I’ll try and be around more,” she said softly as Jared loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, and Hadley portioned the rest of the lasagna to be frozen.
“It’s okay,” he said. “Really. After living in a dorm room with seven other guys last year, this is bliss.”
“You’re a good kid, Jared. Work hard and get the fuck out of here. God knows, you don’t want to stay.”
With Hadley funding the tutoring mission, Jared called the number on the paper Ryder had given him and got through to Dylan Gorden, who had a smooth, deep voice and was more than willing to help out a friend of his friends. It turned out knowing who to name-drop was key in these parts.
After a bout of Facebook stalking, Jared discovered Dylan was hot. Not cute or nice looking, but all-out hot. He had light brown hair that was a little too long, worn styled back from his face. Smoky eyes. Charming smile with a dimple. Jared got all this from one profile picture, but it was definitely enough.
For a moment Jared was confused, then he realized Dylan must be Ryder’s twin, not just her brother. He wondered why no one had mentioned that. It was strange to think Dylan was at least six months younger than Jared but currently a college freshman. Still, Jared needed the help, so he set up a first meeting in a coffee shop between New Harbor and Seattle. The last thing he wanted was to be flirting with a hot guy and someone walking in on them. That someone being Adam.
Things there were still too complicated for Jared to put a label on. He wanted Adam, and he wasn’t sure how much his deal with Clare played into that wanting. There was little doubt in his mind if she decided to, Clare could make his life very, very difficult. She was manipulative to a degree he’d never seen before, and she had access to information on his private life and history. Starting over in Washington was supposed to be a change for something new. The last thing he wanted was his family’s dirty laundry being tossed all over the Academy.
Out of town meant not having to see anyone from school for a whole Saturday, which was appealing in itself. Since arriving in New Harbor, Jared had spent every day at school, plus nearly every weekend with those people. They were exhausting.
He took the truck out over the bridge and down to the north side of Seattle, then pulled into the parking lot of the first Starbucks he came to. It was the right one. Dylan had given him directions, but Jared couldn’t see that his tutor had arrived yet.
Jared ordered an Americano and set up his Mac in a corner with a pile of books from his classes, and went through the assignment list for the rest of the year. It wasn’t too bad; with a few good grades to pull up his bad ones, the college his father was pushing for wasn’t completely out of the equation.
That was, as long as he could pass chemistry and government.
When Dylan walked in and looked around, Jared raised his hand in greeting. Dylan grinned, pointed to the barista, and raised his eyebrow. Jared shook his head, pointed to his mug, and Dylan gave him a thumbs-up before heading over to order his drink.
Jared leaned back in his seat and blatantly cruised his new tutor.
He wore nice
