Chapter 11: Unwanted Reunion

The next day, someone finally replied to my tutoring ad.

I took the subway, climbed the steps, rang the bell—and there was Ryan, lounging on the couch.

My mind went blank. Ryan flashed a crooked smile. “What are the odds, Ava? We keep bumping into each other.”

I forced a laugh. “Uh, maybe I have the wrong house.”

“Nope. I told my aunt to hire you.”

He closed a notebook full of equations, stood up, and motioned upstairs. “My cousin’s the one you’ll be tutoring.”

I sucked in a breath. “Ryan’s cousin still needs a tutor?”

He shrugged. “She’s a humanities kid, not into numbers.”

He paused, then added, “And I don’t tutor just anyone. It’s a pain.”

I clutched my tote and hustled upstairs.

Ryan’s cousin was a riot—rolling her eyes, chewing gum, cracking jokes about her ‘genius’ cousin. She picked up everything fast. “Honestly, you could teach yourself,” I told her. “My rates aren’t cheap.”

She grinned, “Doesn’t matter. Not my cash.”

I was about to ask more when Ryan knocked, carrying a plate of watermelon, his gaze flicking between us. “How’s it going?”

His cousin straightened up, suddenly all innocent. “Great.”

Ryan slid the plate toward me, lips twitching. “Guess you’re stuck with us every week.”

He pulled out his phone, eyes on mine. “I’ll Venmo you the fee.”

I nodded, silent. The watermelon was cold and sweet, but it tasted like a dare.