Page 44 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

“Aries,” he says carefully, “thank you for wanting to protect my little genius. I’m sure you’re aware now that I have no intention of harming him. If anything, I want to take care of him. The same way you want to take care of… Raymond, was it?”

I nod.

“We are far too similar, Aries. Athletes. Daddies. Men who love Rodney.”

“That’s three things. That doesn’t make us twins or anything.”

“No, it doesn’t. But I’d be willing to say they’re the three most important things in our lives.”

With that final blow, he leaves me standing in a nearly empty parking lot as I watch him climb in the car and drive away while I contemplate what the fuck just happened.

CHAPTER16

Rodney

My brain is all fuzzy. Like soft pillows and sunshine.

No. Not sunshine.

Pillows.

Yes! Pillows!

I’d love a soft pillow right now. Need the smush.

So good.

Car go vroom. Big man drive.

Home now.

Cold.

Need more sleep.

Up, up, up.

Big man lifts me.

Door opens.

Ma is there. She talks.

The big man laughs.

Ma laughs.

We go up again.

Bedroom.

“Little genius,” I hear.

My head rolls.

Bright blue eyes. “So pretty.”

He smiles.

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