Don’t Be Modest

CHAPTER 002: Don’t Be Modest

Her question made my heart stop.

I was standing between the kitchen and the hallway.

Not close enough to make it obvious I’d been listening.

But not far enough to pretend I’d just walked in.

She came out of nowhere.

“Hi ma’am. I um... came for water,” I said nervously, holding up the glass of half-filled water, mostly spilled due to the few seconds of chaos.

I was chaos.

She must have noticed my paled-out expression, and she chuckled, waving me off.

“Relax, I was joking, and please don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel old.”

“Call me Bria.” She added, and I forced a smile, wishing our interaction would end.

How could she suggest I call her by her name when my parents called her ma’am half their lives?

It was so inappropriate even for me.

Hud said his mom was down-to-earth, and I’ve confirmed it, but this level she was in was a new high.

“Ok, Ma—Bria." I corrected myself quickly, and she patted me lightly.

“Come on, join us for dinner.”

"Err... I was about to leave.” I tried to make up an excuse, but she was already tugging me along, her arm linked with mine.

“Don’t be like that. You’re Hannah’s kid and always welcome into our home, so why hurry off since you're here already?"

I pressed my lips together. She was right.

Since childhood, they’d always gotten me similar gifts and holiday presents as Hud.

Only with the gender difference.

At times I wonder what spell my parents cast on them to make them love us so much.

“See, Tee. Gwen just reacted on my I* post. She totally wants us back.”

Hud bumped into us midway to the dining table.

Bria released me lightly, her lips pursed in disapproval that her facial expression had Hud lowering his head.

We all knew that look.

“The object of my son’s obsession. Gwen.” She started.

"Oh, how it makes me so happy to see you hopelessly and crazily in love. You turned out better than your dad," Bria added, sarcasm reeking in her tone.

Hud's jaw clenched as we exchanged glances.

And as his ever-dedicated chaperone, I signaled for him to drop it.

Don't talk about Gwen. Give your family a break.

Give me.

But Hud, in all his glorious stubbornness, opened his sexy mouth and said,

“I’ll get her back. She’s just confused and overwhelmed about the semester with her scholarship and all."

Christ.

This boy.

It seemed like someone slapped Bria in the face as she folded her arms across her chest.

Now I wanted to disappear.

“Scholarship? You mean the same program Tiana is also on?”

Great. Now I’m getting dragged into all this shit.

Thank you, Hud.

“But Tiana doesn’t go sleeping around and stringing the one she claims she loves along. She’s a decent kid.”

“Think about that as you eat dinner.” Bria finished, walking past him to take her seat.

Hud's facial expression gave off someone that just got knocked out and has barely regained consciousness as he settled beside me.

A dull ache settled in my chest.

As usual, I absorbed all his hurt like I was his emotional sponge.

I reached for his hand from under the table and gave him a gentle squeeze, and he looked up with those beautiful brown eyes of his, his expression softening.

“It’s okay.” I whispered, and he nodded.

“Hey, honey.” Derek’s thick masculine voice cut through the air as he pulled out a chair from beside Bria, leaning to plant a peck on her cheek.

She adjusted in her seat, spreading her lips into what I might mistake for a smile.

As if she were contemplating punching him in the face or smiling through dinner.

“Hi, Dad." Hud greeted, earning a curt nod from Derek, who barely acknowledged him.

“Hi, Mr. Monroe." I greeted him, and he stopped, his eyes falling on me like he just noticed me there.

For a moment, I went still, my grip on the fork tightening, turning my knuckles white as it felt like the older version of Hud was staring back at me.

But with darker hair, gray streaks running through the strands, and a chiseled jawline forming a V-shaped face.

Along with those topaz eyes that stared on with the intensity of a gangster.

Not that I’ve met one.

I just couldn't ignore how much my heart hammered against my rib cage as he felt like he could reach me from across the table and consume me with some dark energy.

I shuddered at the thought.

But he was beautiful. Maybe more than Hud.

"Tiana, right?” he asked.

I nodded, kneading my knuckles.

“Yes.” I managed to speak.

“How are your parents? Heard they moved.”

“Last year," I revealed.

“Hmm.” He only replied, cutting into a steak and fixing it in his mouth.

I looked around and realized both Bria and Hud were focused on their plates.

Well, was that all he had to say?

“Tee goes over to visit on weekends. It’s really far," Hud added.

Yeah, because he drove me down most of the time.

“And our Tiana here always tops the class every semester. She’s our star student.” Bria praised, and Derek lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine, and I suddenly forgot how to use my fork.

This wasn’t the first time meeting him, but I’d never seen him up close because each time I came here, it was either he was on business trips or he was out at his golf clubs.

He was a sport enthusiast, according to Hud, who clearly didn’t take after him in that regard.

“So you’re in our program?”

“Yes, sir, and I want to thank you for the opportunity."

"I’m doing my very best to stay on the program," I added.

God, that was more than I intended to say, and he only nodded.

“Good.”

Then he turned to Hud.

“The Dean called me. You failed three classes, and it’s only the beginning of the semester.”

Hud looked up as if he’d been stabbed.

“That’s a lie. I just flunked music class and one of my majors."

“A major,” Derek repeated, his voice carrying venom, and Hud stopped eating.

He seemed like he was suppressing the urge to throw up his dinner with how his fists balled on the table.

Bria titled her chin up, ready to step in.

“He’s doing his best, honey. We shouldn’t be too hard on him," she defended.

Derek turned to me,

“How many classes have you failed in the last two semesters?"

I bit down on my lip as all eyes fell on me, including Hud's puppy ones.

Why me? Why always me?

“I had a bit of trouble understanding the class—“

“Don’t be modest," Derek warned.

"None, sir," I said, shutting my eyes briefly as it felt like I just fired a cannon and couldn't bear to watch it detonate.

I didn't want Hud to get scolded. And he would, thanks to me.

Gwen, you caused this.

Derek pushed back his plate.

“Since you don’t want to study—“

"I want to," Hud cut in, his tone desperate, and Derek's eyes narrowed on him.

“Which is why Tiana has agreed to be Hudson’s tutor while she works here.” Bria interrupted, her eyes on me.

Me? Tutor and work here?

Bria reached for my hand, her eyes pleading.

“Right, Tiana?”

What?!