Page 75 of Challenge Me

“I can’t do it.”

“You can if you do it like this. See, you’ve already got all the other parts figured out. If you messed this one up, it’s easy to go back one step because it’s so organized.”

When I held the pen out to her, she grudgingly took it from me and finished out the problem. Without being told, she moved on to the next. It was a slow process since she had to write so many things out, but when she reached the end of the equation, I smiled.

“Perfect.”

“It’s right?”

I nodded. “Exactly right.”

The corners of her lips pulled up, but she put her fists together and leaned her nose against them to conceal the lower part of her face. Her eyes were contemplative as she studied the last three problems.

“You should have some pancakes,” I suggested. “They’re to die for.”

“Dad’s are better.”

“You don’t know that until you try them.”

She grunted, then ignored me while she broke down the next equation. I felt proud as I returned to the kitchen and set out four plates.

The door opened, and to my surprise, Amir and Avery were both smiling as they talked. He looked over at me, his expression wavering a bit. I slid a plate across the island, and he started toward me, but he stopped suddenly when he noticed Mal on the couch.

“Don’t interrupt,” I said. “She’s got it down.”

“How?”

I lifted one shoulder. “I turned it into words and colors—two things she understands. Her next lesson might piss her off again, but—”

“Swear!” Mal called.

“Add it to my tab!” I shouted back.

Amir broke into a laugh. I sucked in a breath when he pulled me against him and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “Thank you.”

“It’s only math.”

He pulled back. “You have no idea how much more than that it is.”

“Has she always had trouble?”

“She has dyscalculia,” he explained quietly. “It makes math just about impossible.”

“Sounds like you’re a bad teacher.” With a wink, I poured syrup on my pancakes. “Somebody has to count the dead during Ragnarök. Might as well be her.”

“Hopefully there’s job security there.”

“Eh, not for the gods.” After taking a bite, I groaned. “I heard you make good pancakes.”

“I guess. They’re just pancakes.”

I pointed my fork at him. “Mine are better.”

“Oh yeah? Who says?”

“Me, but I’m happy to put it to the test.”

“How?”