“And think of me?” His eyes held her captive, and she knew there was only one answer.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

She started to turn, but before she could step away, Tamani grabbed her hand.

Without breaking eye contact, he raised her hand to his face and brushed his lips over her knuckles. For just a second, his eyes were unguarded. A spark went through Laurel at what she saw there: raw, unbridled desire. Before she could look any closer, he smiled, and the flash was gone.

Laurel walked toward her bike, her breath shallow as she tried to stop the warm flush that was spreading through her body from the place Tamani’s lips had touched. She kept glancing back at him as she rode toward the highway. Every time she turned, his eyes were still locked on her. Even when she pedaled onto the bike path along the road, she could feel them following her long after she could see them.

Chapter 15

IT WAS FOUR O’CLOCK WHEN LAUREL PARKED HER bike in the garage, way later than any study session could really justify. She braced herself and pushed open the front door.

Her father was napping on the couch, his snores a quiet, familiar rhythm. No threat of trouble from that source. She listened for her mother and heard bottles clinking in the kitchen. “Mom?” she called as she came around the corner.

“There you are. You and David must have gotten that last page done quickly. I only called half an hour ago.”

“Uh, yeah. It was easier than I thought,” she said quickly.

“Did you have a good time? He’s a nice boy.”

Laurel nodded, her mind nowhere near David—about forty-two miles away from David, to be precise.

“Are you two…?”

“What?” Laurel tried to focus on what her mom was saying.

“Well, you spend an awful lot of time over at his house; I thought maybe the two of you were…becoming an item.”

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Maybe.”

“It’s just—I know David’s mom sometimes works long hours, so you and David spend a lot of time alone. It’s easy for things to get out of control when you’re in an empty house together.”

“I’ll be careful, Mom,” she said wryly.

“I know you will, but I’m the mom, and I have to say it anyway,” she said with a smile. “Remember,” she added, “just because you haven’t started your period doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get pregnant.”

“Mom!”

“I’m just saying.”

Laurel thought of Tamani’s words earlier that day. Pollination is for reproduction—sex is just for fun. She wondered what her mom would say if Laurel told her she couldn’t get pregnant—would never start her period. That sex for her was just sex, with no strings attached. If there was anything Laurel could say to truly rattle her mother, that would be it. She was still trying to wrap her mind around it.

“Mom,” Laurel said haltingly, “I wanted to talk to you about the land. It’s been in your family for so long. And we lived there for my whole life.” She ducked her head when she thought of her real origins—her secret home. “As long as I can remember, anyway.” Unexpected tears pricked at her eyes when she looked back up at her mom. “It’s the most magical place in the world. I wish you wouldn’t sell it.”

Her mom looked at her for a long time. “Mr. Barnes is offering us a lot of money, Laurel. All the things you’ve wanted lately that we couldn’t afford would be in our budget again.”

“But what if you didn’t sell? Would we be okay?”

Her mom sighed and thought about that for a moment. “Your dad is doing good business, but there’s no guarantee that will continue.” She leaned forward over the counter on her elbows. “We would have this tight budget for a long time, Laurel. I don’t like living this frugally. You’re not the only one who has to give things up.”

Laurel was quiet for a while. It seemed too monumental a task for a fifteen-year-old girl. But then, she added mentally, I am no ordinary girl. Buoyed up by that thought, she said, “Could you at least think about it? For like, a week?” Laurel added when her mom pursed her lips.

“We’re supposed to sign papers on Wednesday.”

“A week? Please? Just tell Mr. Barnes you need a week. And if you really think about it for a week, I won’t bother you about it ever again.”

Her mom studied her with skepticism.

“Please?”

Her face softened. “I guess Mr. Barnes probably wouldn’t rescind his offer if I needed one more week.”

Laurel bounded around the bar and hugged her mom. “Thanks,” she whispered.

“It means a lot.”

“So he really didn’t tell you much.” David sat on a stool at the bar in his kitchen.

His mom was on a date, so he and Laurel had the house to themselves tonight.

David was eating microwaved leftovers and Laurel was doodling on a notebook, trying to distract herself from the smell.

“He told me enough,” Laurel said defensively. “It was like he wanted to tell me more, but he wasn’t allowed. I could tell it annoyed him.”

“He sounds kind of weird.”

“He’s definitely different—and not just in his looks.” She paused in the middle of a spiral and looked up, remembering. “He’s so intense. Everything he feels—good or bad—seems enhanced. And contagious.” She started scribbling again.