Three seconds

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Harper's POV

"This looks amazing, Mr. Carter," I said quietly.

"Thomas," he corrected, smiling. "We are family now."

Jace snorted.

I gripped my fork.

Don't cuss him. Harvard. Harvard.

"So," Thomas said, passing me the potatoes. "Maria tells me you are top of your class. Valedictorian track?"

"Hopefully," I said, grinning.

Jace's head lifted at that. His eyes met mine for one second.

Judging me?

He raised his brow and I could read that from his face.

I smirked, turning to Thomas.

"Lisa also tells me you scored exceptionally well on your last SATs."

I straightened slightly, loving this. My mum had never been the type to care or praise me for my good grades.

"1580," I said. "I'm aiming higher on the next attempt."

Then I winced.

Brag much?

Jace scoffed, ignoring me.

Marla's eyes lit up.

Thomas nodded approvingly and I caught the familiar look of pride on their faces.

"Jason, did you hear that? 1580! That's almost perfect!"

Across the table, Jace stabbed a piece of carrot.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not deaf."

"We are very glad you will be helping him," Marla said, glancing briefly at her son. "He is actually taking time off the team, so it's a good time to see if his grades can be saved."

"Oh," I mouthed, chewing my steak but wondering why.

Jace Carter was practically the face of his team and the youngest.

I had seen the school banners and local newspaper features.

Hockey was the one thing that made him more than just another arrogant rich kid.

I kept my face neutral and gave Marla a warm smile instead.

"I will do my absolute best. I'm very committed to making sure he hits a strong score."

I looked towards Jace to see if he was upset and sure enough, he was.

Man, that made me so happy.

"But I'm not sure what areas he is weak in…" I stressed, pulling out the small notepad I had slipped into my pocket before dinner.

Old habit.

Thomas leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

"We are particularly concerned about his sciences and mathematics."

That's everything!

"You mean the four core subjects?" I asked to be sure.

"Yes. Maths, chemistry, biology and physics," Marla answered.

I had to physically stop my mouth from falling open.

That's not struggling. It's a complete wipeout.

Those were four of the most foundational subjects on the SATs and he was failing all of them.

"But you only have to tutor him in maths and biology. We have the rest handled," Thomas said.

I pressed my lips together and exhaled through my nose.

"That's perfectly fine. Those happen to be my strongest areas," I said brightly.

Marla beamed and Thomas looked relieved.

I didn't look directly at Jace but I could feel his eyes on me, burning quietly.

I raised my head and met his eyes, then quickly looked away.

The thought of messing with him using his parents seemed to have gone well, but I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.

But I didn't stop.

I even insisted on doing the dishes after lunch since Marla and Thomas had to return to the hospital.

Jace quietly headed back to his room.

I was rinsing the last plate when I heard footsteps on the stairs again.

Jace was back to his no-shirt mode and headed straight for the wine rack on the counter.

He pulled out a dark bottle, turned it over to check the label and turned back towards the hallway.

"Are you allowed to drink?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

I guess I lost my mind for a moment.

He stopped and slowly turned his head towards me with an expression like I had just spoken to him in a foreign language.

"Excuse me?"

"You are underage, Jason. Put it back or I will tell your parents," I replied, unable to stop.

He didn't say anything at first.

Just set the bottle down slowly on the counter and walked towards me.

He didn't stop until there was barely any space left between us.

He came close enough that I had to tilt my head back to look at him and smell the faint traces of his cologne.

I swallowed, letting the plate in my hand slip back into the sink.

I must have gotten carried away with the role I was playing earlier and forgotten to mind my own business.

"I'm… just concerned your parents might…" I tried to defend my meddling but that earned more trouble.

"Cut the perfect girl act, freak," Jace threw at me coldly.

"You think I don't know what you are trying to do?"

"What are you talking about?" I managed, looking up at him as he stood in front of me.

I wished at that moment that I wasn't so short.

He moved his face past mine and leaned closer.

I stifled a breath, startled.

His hand came up, brushing past my shoulder, his fingers grazing lightly against my hair as he tucked a loose strand behind my ear.

My heart slammed against my chest like it was trying to escape.

What is he…

His lips hovered right beside my ear.

"You are just some desperate little reject trying to earn her place," he mumbled.

The insult landed heavily, settling in my head.

That's how he thought of me.

He pulled back, enough for me to see his face, and smirked.

My hands trembled and I pressed them flat against the counter behind me so he wouldn't see.

Well, he had made himself clear.

"Fine." I muttered.

"Do whatever you want."

He picked up the bottle, satisfied, and walked away without looking back.

I stood in the kitchen for a long moment after he was gone, staring at nothing.

I was furious at him and even more furious at myself.

"Go to hell, Jace Carter," I whispered.

Then I finished up and headed back to my room to prepare the schedule for our lessons together, hoping it doesn't end as a disaster.

Weekends were a perfectly good time to tutor him. Maths on Sundays, biology on Saturdays.

I took a few minutes to draft the whole lesson plan out and put in my earpiece to avoid any disturbance.

Then I started to study.

I didn't realize how much time had passed until my alarm for dinner rang and I saw it was already seven.

Marla and Thomas had already mentioned that they wouldn't be back home that night and that we should have dinner by ourselves.

I pondered for a while, deciding I could make some noodles, and headed to Jace's room to ask if he would have that as well.

I knocked once and pushed the door open.

The sight hit me before my brain could process it.

One second.

A girl was in the room, and they are both naked.

Two seconds.

Her laugh cut off sharply as they both turned towards the door.

Three seconds.

"Ah!"

I slammed the door so hard the frame rattled and stumbled backward into the hallway, my back hitting the opposite wall.

My hand flew to my mouth and my heart was definitely somewhere between my throat.

I scrambled back to my room, locked the door and pressed myself against it like that would somehow undo what I had just walked into.

I can't believe I saw Jason straddling a girl in his bed!