Page 23 of Vicious Games

“I’m not a nun. Yet,” I retort, pinching my thigh as a reprimand for having cursed.

And I was doing so well today.

I didn’t say one curse word all day, but then again, I didn’t speak much either.

Of course, it had to be Lucky to pull that shit out of me.

Damn it!

There I go again!

“So, the rumors are true.” He chuckles, looking far too amused for my liking. “Man, I really thought they were all bullshit. Color me surprised.”

This time, I finally turn to face him, my frown twitching into a smirk.

“The only colors I see are purple and blue,” I say sweetly. “I definitely think those colors suit you.”

And in a flash, his grin vanishes.

Good.

“Let’s just get this over with,” he grumbles, grabbing my notes. “I’ve got shit to do.”

“Oh yeah?” I challenge, leaning back in my seat and crossing my arms over my chest. “Like what?”

“Maybe you’re not the only orphan I like to give a hard time. Or do you think you’re special?”

Fucker.

God, I hate this asshole.

And yeah, I said asshole.

That’s what he is. Stupid jerk.

“Just teach me,” I snap. “So we can both move on with our lives.”

“Gladly.”

He sets a timer on his phone—because God forbid if he spends one second longer than necessary with me—and starts walking me through today’s homework assignment.

My guard is up as Lucky begins to ask me to walk through the first step, his voice calm, his tone uncharacteristically encouraging. When I hesitate in answering, he doesn’t sigh or roll his eyes. He just breaks it down.

“Look, don’t focus on the whole equation at once,” he says, tapping his pencil against the paper. “Start with the derivative of the outer function first, then work your way in. Chain rule is just a pattern. Once you spot it, it’s easier.”

He walks me through another example, teaching me mnemonics and showing me how to simplify before diving in.

And to my absolute shock, some of it clicks for the first time ever. Not all of it, of course, but enough for me not to feel so inadequate at calculus.

What do you know?

Maybe this jackass does have something useful to offer society after all.

By the time his phone rings, I’m so deep into my notes that I barely notice its sound.

“That’s it for today,” he announces with a clipped tone, pushing back from the table.

“Yeah. Thanks,” I say reluctantly because, annoyingly enough, he did hold up his end of the deal.

---