Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (5 page)

breath. “I’ll let you copy my math homework.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Until . . .until your grade is up. And when we come back from break, I can help you study, if you stil

want me to.”

“Thank you.” He smiled, and he didn’t have to fake his gratitude, even though the relief came with

that peculiar undercurrent of shame again. He knew that she felt guilty, that she felt as though she

owed him something. He knew he was taking advantage of those feelings.

But he didn’t even think to reject her offer. Because in the back of his head, he was already counting

up the hours this would save him, the money he could earn with that time. He was already moving past

Kate and her portscreen and her gentle laugh and the lingering pain from his first fight.

Already, he was thinking of the next goal, the next dream, the next obstacle. Carswell grinned, just

to the point where it started to hurt, and rubbed a thumb over his tie tack.

For good luck.