She flipped through her packet, already circling things with a pink highlighter. “Fine. I’ll do tracking with you. Sounds less boring thanPsychological Impacts of Extended Darkness.”
“That one’s actually useful. The dark time hits hard up here.”
She made a face. “Sounds depressing.”
“It can be.” I kept my voice light. “But some things can only happen in the dark.”
Ivy looked up slowly. “That’s kinky.”
“Not what I meant.”
She shrugged. “Still counts.”
She tapped her packet with the highlighter. “Tracking. Final answer.”
Lunch was long tables, pretty good food, and two hundred students trying to figure out where they belonged.
Ivy and I found seats near the window. I was reviewing the afternoon schedule when she spread her packet between us.
"Okay, tracking at two with some guy named Ash—"
"He's good."
She looked up. "You know him?"
Careful."I've heard of him. Reputation."
"What kind?"
"The 'knows what he's doing' kind." I shoved food in my mouth to avoid elaborating.
She looked suspicious but moved on. "Fine. Tracking at two. Then tomorrow is arctic first aid with Mr. Boone—"
"Good morning, ladies."
I didn't need to turn around. The mate bond had already announced him — that hum under my skin I was learning to ignore.
"Cowboy." I kept my eyes on my tray. "Shouldn't you be eating with your friends?"
"I am." He dropped onto the bench across from me, smile too cheerful for noon. "Mind if I join you?"
"You already sat down."
"I like to ask anyway. Politeness."
Ivy was watching us like we were her favorite show.
"We were going over schedules," she said. "Figuring out afternoon sessions."
"Yeah?" James pulled out his packet. Pristine. Not a mark on it. "I haven't decided yet. What are you doing?"
"Tracking at two," Ivy said. "With Ash."
"Tracking." He nodded. "That sounds useful."
"It is useful," I said. "For people who need it."
"I need it. Montana boy, remember? Wide open spaces. Not much tracking required when you can see fifty miles in every direction." He smiled at me. "Seems like a good skill to learn."
