Chapter 3: Unfinished Business

The next tutoring session was supposed to be routine.

Adrian had structured the lesson plan, prepared additional worksheets, and even adjusted his expectations. He would not let Liam Hunter’s frustrating attitude get under his skin again.

But, of course, Liam had other plans.

---

Their usual spot in the campus library was taken. Adrian arrived early, as always, only to find the small study cubicle already occupied by a group of students. He tried negotiating with them (which, in his case, meant pointedly reminding them that they never used this space before), but it didn’t work.

Liam showed up ten minutes late to find Adrian standing stiffly near the bookshelves, arms crossed.

“Yo, professor.” Liam tossed his duffel bag onto a nearby chair. “Why do you look like someone just stole your lunch money?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Our table is taken.”

Liam peeked over, then shrugged. “So? We’ll find another spot.”

Adrian exhaled through his nose. He hated changes in routine.

After some wandering, they found a semi-private lounge near the student café. It wasn’t ideal—too many distractions, too much noise—but Adrian didn’t have a choice.

Liam, of course, looked perfectly at ease sprawled out on the couch across from him.

Adrian pulled out his laptop and opened the lesson plan. “Let’s start with—”

“Hold up,” Liam interrupted. “Let’s get something straight first.”

Adrian narrowed his eyes. “What now?”

Liam leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. There was no teasing in his expression this time.

“I suck at this stuff, yeah?” he said. “And you’re obviously the smartest guy in the room. But if we’re gonna do this, you gotta stop looking at me like I’m a lost cause.”

Adrian blinked. That was… unexpectedly direct.

“I don’t—”

“You do,” Liam said, holding his gaze. “I can see it. Every time I get something wrong, you get this look—like I’m wasting your time.”

Adrian swallowed. He wasn’t used to being called out.

Liam sighed, leaning back. “Look, I know I joke around a lot, but I’m not trying to fail. I just need you to actually teach me, not lecture me.”

Adrian felt a flicker of guilt. He hadn’t realized he was being so obvious.

After a pause, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll try.”

Liam smirked. “Good. Now, hit me with the math.”

Adrian refocused. “Alright. Let’s start with hypothesis testing.”

---

Fifteen minutes in, Liam was already regretting this.

Math was like trying to read a foreign language upside down. Adrian’s explanations were clear—too clear, actually. He made it sound easy, which only made Liam feel worse when he didn’t immediately get it.

His knee bounced under the table. He hated feeling dumb.

“You’re staring at the page like it insulted your mother,” Adrian noted dryly.

Liam snorted, rubbing his face. “It might as well have.”

Adrian hesitated, then—to Liam’s surprise—pushed his notebook aside. “Alright. Let’s approach this differently.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “You’re switching tactics? Didn’t think you knew how.”

Adrian shot him a look. “Believe it or not, I can be flexible.”

Liam smirked. “Mhm. Sure, Professor Sinclair.”

Adrian ignored him and picked up a pen. “Let’s say you’re at a basketball game. You’re about to take a free throw. The probability of making the shot is—”

Liam’s brain clicked.

“Oh. Oh, I see where you’re going with this.”

Adrian nodded. “Good. Now let’s break it down…”

For the next thirty minutes, they worked through problems using basketball analogies. Liam actually started to understand.

Adrian noticed.

And for the first time, Liam caught the faintest hint of approval in his eyes.

---

Just as Adrian was about to move on to the next topic, someone interrupted.

“Liam?”

A girl’s voice.

Liam stiffened before looking up. “Oh. Hey, Claire.”

Adrian turned slightly, watching as a girl with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes approached their table. She was dressed in casual jeans and a sweater, but there was something polished about her—a quiet confidence that made it clear she was used to attention.

Not just attention—admiration.

Adrian had seen her type before.

She looked at him with a faintly curious expression. “Didn’t expect to see you here,” Claire said, her gaze flickering between Liam and Adrian.

Liam scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, uh… study session.”

Claire’s eyes settled on Adrian. “You must be the tutor.”

Adrian nodded. “Adrian Sinclair.”

Claire smiled—but it didn’t reach her eyes.

She knew exactly who he was.

Adrian recognized the look—he wasn’t worth acknowledging until now. Until she realized he was sitting with Liam.

“Nice to meet you,” she said politely before turning back to Liam. “You coming to the party this weekend?”

Liam hesitated. “Uh… I don’t know yet.”

Adrian noticed something then—the shift in Liam’s posture.

A slight tightening of his jaw, a flicker of something unreadable in his expression.

Claire tilted her head, pouting slightly. “Oh, come on. Everyone’s expecting you.”

Adrian had zero interest in this conversation. He started packing up his notes, but he couldn’t help noticing that Liam looked… uncomfortable.

Not his usual lazy, joking self.

It made Adrian pause.

Claire placed a hand on Liam’s arm, lowering her voice. “You don’t have to stay here, you know. I doubt tutoring is your thing.”

Adrian froze.

Liam tensed, his jaw tightening.

For some reason, that comment irritated Adrian more than it should have.

Liam exhaled through his nose, then looked Claire directly in the eyes. “Yeah, well. Turns out I kinda need this, so…” He gestured toward Adrian. “We’re in the middle of something.”

Claire blinked, clearly surprised by his response.

Her expression shifted.

For a second, she looked like she wanted to argue. Then, just as quickly, her lips curved into a practiced, easy smile.

“Alright,” she said lightly, stepping back. “See you around, Liam.”

She walked away, her posture perfect, movements graceful.

But Adrian saw the way her fingers clenched briefly before she disappeared around the corner.

---

As soon as she was gone, Adrian arched an eyebrow. “Ex?”

Liam huffed a laugh. “Something like that.”

Adrian hesitated. Something felt… off.

He considered dropping it, but instead, he closed his laptop and leaned back. “She seemed surprised to see you studying.”

Liam snorted. “That’s ‘cause Claire doesn’t think I do anything that isn’t basketball, parties, or—” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “Never mind.”

Adrian watched him. “So what’s the story there?”

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. For once, he wasn’t smirking.

“Claire and I… we dated last year.” He tapped his fingers against the table. “She’s one of those people who always has to be at the center of everything. Looks perfect, acts perfect, is perfect, at least on paper.”

Adrian nodded slowly. “And you’re not the ‘perfect boyfriend’ type.”

Liam chuckled, but it lacked humor. “Yeah. I don’t do the whole fake-smile, pretend-we’re-flawless thing. She hated that.”

Adrian tilted his head. “Then why did you date her?”

Liam looked away. “It was easy. She liked me. I didn’t have to think too hard.” He paused, then added, “Until I realized I was just… another trophy.”

Adrian absorbed that. That explained a lot.

Liam had the kind of presence people gravitated toward. Not just because of his looks, but because he had an effortless charm that made him seem untouchable. Someone like Claire—polished, controlled, image-conscious—would have seen him as an asset.

Adrian’s voice was quieter when he asked, “Did she break up with you?”

Liam shook his head. “No, I ended it. She didn’t take it well.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Meaning?”

Liam leaned back, arms crossed. “Meaning she still thinks she can change my mind.”

Adrian could see it now—the way Claire had approached, the calculated casualness, the way she tested his response.

She wasn’t just checking in. She was measuring his reaction.

“You don’t like her,” Adrian observed.

Liam sighed. “Probably. But I don't hate her either.”

Adrian studied him. That answer sounded a little too personal.

But instead of pressing further, he simply nodded. “Well, for what it’s worth, tutoring is your thing—if you actually pay attention.”

Liam smirked, clearly grateful for the subject change. “High praise, professor. You almost sound like you believe in me.”

Adrian rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.