I noticed a change in his expression when I casually mentioned how easy-going Ryan was. It was a clear jab at him, and he knew it.
He stepped over his own boundary to assert control over me. I could see right through his act. This wasn't about my grades; he was irritated by the ease of the connection I had with someone else, disguising his strange possessiveness as concern for my future. It was an uncalled-for move, one that hurt more than his usual aloofness.
My heart raced defiantly in my chest as I approached the pod where I had been earlier. Nic had drawn a line in the sand, and his reasoning—his allegiance to my father—was painfully evident. He wasn't truly worried about my grades; he was worried about the easy connection I had developed with someone who wasn't him.
His demand to cut off my sessions with Ryan felt like the final, patronizing straw. I had tolerated my father's expectations, but I wasn't about to let Nicholas Walter dictate my friendships.
When I arrived, Ryan was already waiting quietly in his seat.
"Everything okay? You look like you just had a standoff with a law professor," he remarked, pulling out a chair for me.
I recounted the situation, leaving out the more personal, heated aspects of Nic's interrogation. "Nic saw us studying. He thinks you're a 'distraction' and ordered me to find a 'qualified tutor.'"
Ryan looked genuinely concerned, not upset. "Wow. That's... a lot. Does he always micromanage James like this?"
"Not usually. Just me," I sighed. "It's because of my dad." I shook my head as I settled into my chair. "He's convinced I'm a child who needs a babysitter and asked Nic to keep an eye on me."
"Wow," Ryan echoed, his eyes wide. "That's... pretty intense."
Ryan then tried to lighten the mood. "You know, that other night at the club, he said he was your brother. He really acts like it."
I couldn't find the words to respond. "Brother"? Is that how he sees me? Maybe I should embrace that for my sanity.
Ryan cut into my thoughts. "So, what's your plan now?"
I glanced at my textbook, then back at Ryan, feeling a rebellious grin creep across my face. "I've found a qualified tutor, naturally."
Ryan blinked. "You did? Who?"
"You," I replied firmly. "You're the most qualified person I know for this. But we need to switch our sessions to the main library instead of the annex; I can't stand running into him again."
A flicker of excitement crossed his face. "Perfect. That works."
"And I hope he won't say anything about it."
"He's my best friend's brother," I assured Ryan, trying to downplay Nic's behavior. "Don't stress about him."
We quickly mapped out plans for our next session before walking out of the library.
As we left, I couldn't shake Nic's words from my mind: You can't blindly trust people. Was it sincere concern, or was he trying to establish his claim, even though he clearly didn't want me?
The effortless bond I shared with Ryan felt refreshing and right, a stark contrast to the tense, complicated dynamic I had with Nic. Yet, deep down, I knew that the cool, convoluted law student still held most of my attention, despite all the red flags he was throwing up.