He grins at me. “Agatha—”
“I didnottell you my name.…”
“Ginger told me,” he says, looking caught out but not a bit ashamed. “I was hoping we’d get a chance to talk today.”
I try to cut this off before it becomes a scene: “Look, Ginger toldmethat you think I have some sort of special energy. But I know that’s all bullshit. So maybe you could not try that line on me, okay? Just spare me.”
Braden’s eyes are bright. “It isn’t a line. You are special.”
I snort, but continue taking a bite of cupcake. “Literally everyone in your club is some sort of nerd-bro supreme. I just met two guys who havebeen to space.Actual space. Do you think I’ve somehow missed the fact that most of the men here are people like you and Josh? And that most of the women, few as we are, are like Ginger and me? I’m not fooled. I know what’s ‘special’ about us.”
“Your friend Ginger is incredibly special,” he says. “I’m surprised you don’t see that.”
“No, I do see it. That’s not—”
“Do you know she can see auras?”
“It’s more like she feels them,” I mutter.
“She read my palm. It was extraordinary. She said my lifeline is completely unbroken.”
“No, I know.” I don’t know how I ended up arguing that Ginger isn’t special. That wasn’t my point.
“And she’s the most organically activated person I’ve ever met.”
“I know!” It comes out too loud. “Ginger’s like nobody else. She’s my best friend.”
Braden is smiling at me again. “You’re right,” he says, “this is sort of a boys’ club. But we’re trying to change that.”
“I don’t actually care. I don’t even know why we’re arguing about this.”
He steps closer to me. We’re about the same height. That bothers some boys, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.
“Because you don’t believe I see something rare in you,”he says. “You think that I’m interested in you because you’re beautiful. And you’re right—I am, you are. But beauty is cheap, Agatha. Cheap and bountiful. In my position, beauty is a faucet that never stops running.…”
His eyes are locked on mine. I finish eating the cupcake, because it seems like the best way to show I’m not bothered, but my mouth has gone dry.
“There’s something aboutyou,” he says.
I wipe my hands on a cloth napkin.
“Can I give you a tour of the grounds?”
I sigh. “All right, fine. Show me the grounds. Because I’m so special.”
“Exactly right,” he says, offering me his arm.
19
PENELOPE
I wake up in an empty hotel room. It’s already noon, and someone’s knocking on the door.
“Housekeeping!” A small woman has keyed in.
“Just a minute!” I say. “Can I have a few minutes?”
“Ten minutes!” she calls, and closes the door.
