Page 22 of Incurably Cupid

“Am I?AmI being judgy? You’re supposed to teach your students theStatistics of Loveand nurture their passion forlearning, not take advantage of them. You're at least supposed to make the money their parents paid for their education count!”

Mordecai grinned that devastatingly handsome grin of his. “I’m making it count, alright.”

Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

“Mordecai,” I said softly.

“Yes?”

“Get lost.”

“I’m coming to the U with you to help.”

“I don’t want your help.”

He looked confused. “Are you genuinely mad at me right now?”

“I am. Look, I know it’s not fair for me to judge, but I can’t help being protective of the students. You’re in a position of power over them. Stars knows what you’re doing is legal, and I know other teachers do it too, but I still think it’s an abuse of our power as educators.”

Mordecai folded his arms over his chest defensively. “You know no one feels like being a teacher is powerful.”

“And yet it is,” I said, searching for my wallet. “We help shape minds and lives. That’s powerful.” I pulled out my ID and credit card and tucked them into my jeans pocket before turning to face him again. Pink ethereal light filtered through the lace eyelet curtains of my living room window. “How difficult could it be to sleep with adults your own age instead?"

“People my own age don’t like me.” He sounded perturbed by this fact.

I sighed. “You’re what, three, four hundred?”

He snorted. “Eight.”

I grinned. “Well, there’s your problem; you need to ask the geriatrics out.”

“I am not old,” he growled, sniffing and looking away from me.

I approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You have a lot to offer, Mordecai. Stop letting your past define you. Just because she left you doesn’t mean there isn’t someone great out there for you.”

His face crumpled, though he still wouldn’t make eye contact. “She was my soulmate, Indie. You only get one of those.”

I stepped back, giving him some space. “That’s untrue. You teach Statistics. You know very few supernaturals only have one. One soulmate is largely a myth. Most supernaturals who have soulmates usually have at least three or four possibilities throughout their lifetimes.”

He looked down, barely holding back tears.

I scowled up at the ceiling, cursing under my breath, then sighed and held out my arms. I was nearly knocked over when he suddenly closed the distance between us. We wobbled for a moment before stabilizing. My rule of hugs applied here: always let the other person let go first. I wasn’t a hugger, but if I was going to do it, it had to be done right. According to hug science, if you’re not a natural hugger, the other person has to break the embrace first.

We stood there for a long time. And for once, I didn’t mind.

Chapter 8

Mesmer

“Love lifts.”

Cupid Inc. New Recruit Training Manual

It had been a week in the ether with Indie, and only today had I finally mustered enough energy to accompany her to Cupid U, to the class she melodramatically referred to as theFires of Mordor.

I understood the reference, but I failed to see the connection. It was merely a class of cupids attending one of their first core courses at Cupid University. It was worth mentioning that this class was exclusively for freshmen—another fact Indie frequently grumbled about.

We rode the elevator together. Mordecai slouched against the back wall while Lance maneuvered me inside. Indie patted Mordecai’s shoulder but refrained from commenting.

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