Page 16 of Devil's Bargain

She rolls her eyes and leans in. “Have you fucked him?”

My mouth falls open. “What? No!”

She narrows her eyes before leaning back in her seat. “Fine, I believe you.”

“Good!” My treacherous eyes drift back to Rick.

He’s rubbing the back of his neck and smiling at something Jamie says.

“But you want to.”

I look back at Nina. “You won’t let this drop, will you?”

She shakes her head and winks. “Literally never!” Then her eyes widen as a thought occurs to her. “If Emily finds out about this, she’ll claw your eyes out! Isn’t it like girl code or something to not get with each other’s exes?”

Amused, I push her away. “You’re getting ahead of yourself again. I don’t even know him. Besides, he’s a rich footballer from the other side of the tracks. I’m dirt beneath his shoe.”

Nina’s jaw hardens. “He would be lucky if he got with you. You’re not dirt under anyone’s shoe!”

I ruffle her black bob. “You’re cute when you’re protective.”

She laughs and bats me off just as Scott enters the room. He drops his bag on the table and straightens his tie.

My mood instantly sours.

He looks up and sweeps his eyes over his class. “Today, I want you to work on mathematical problems in pairs.” He holds up a sheet of paper in the air. “Ten tasks. You will need to discuss with your partner and write down how you reached your conclusions. These questions aren’t straightforward. They’re designed to make you think.”

He picks up a stack of papers, licks his finger, and selects the sheet on top. He holds it out. “Madeleine, you’re with Charlie. April, you’re with Rick.”

I freeze. What the actual hell?

Nina sniggers next to me. “Well, isn’t that a funny coincidence?” She leans in and whispers to my boobs, “Go work your magic, ladies!”

I laugh, pushing her face away. “You’re fucking nuts!”

“Oh, I can think of some nuts.” She winks at me as I stand up.

“I’m not listening to you!” I reach for my bag, then walk up to Scott and hold my hand out for the sheet.

His blue eyes hone in on my breasts. “Interesting choice, Miss Reed.”

I snatch the sheet with a little too much force, causing the edge to tear. “Thank you, Mr. Scott,” I hiss, through clenched teeth, ignoring the amused glint in his eyes as I make my way over to Rick and sit down in Jamie’s seat. “No sandwiches today?”

He chuckles. “I’m a footballer. I always carry food on me.”

I tuck my hair behind my ear and drop my gaze to the paper on the desk. “You drew the short straw. I’m failing math this year.”

He puts his elbows on the desk and grins. “Luckily for you, I’m very good at math.”

“Nothing wrong with your ego, I see.”

He sucks his lips between his teeth to suppress a laugh. “I’m terrible at some things. Math just doesn’t happen to be one of them.”

This time it’s my turn to laugh. “Oh, this I ought to hear. Do tell, what are you bad at?”

He looks sheepish as he rubs the stubble on his jaw. “Can I get back to you on that one?”

My eyes linger on his face a little too long. “You have until tomorrow. I expect it to be good.”

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