“Uh-huh.” Hai looked doubtful.
“If Julie says nothing happened, then nothing happened,” Gabby came to my rescue.
“Fine, keep your secrets,” Hai sighed.
“Do you have a crush on anyone?” I asked Hai.
“Maybe,” she grinned.
“And who might that be?” I continued.
“I’m not telling.”
“That’s not fair,” Taylor replied. “You can’t ask prying questions and not give any information about yourself.”
“Sure I can. I never said I was going to divulge my own secrets,” Hai grinned.
“I don’t really want to be mated to anyone,” Taylor sighed.
“You don’t find anyone attractive?” Gabby asked.
“I didn’t say that,” Taylor laughed. “I broke off an engagement before I got abducted. I’m not exactly looking to fall in love any time soon.”
“What if you luminesce to someone?” Sarah piped up.
I hadn’t thought of that, and by the deep pondering looks on the others’ faces, neither had they. Today was the first full day I’d had where I wasn’t in survival mode. The idea that I might luminesce to someone in less than a month’s time brought on a whole new wave of anxiety. What if it was someone I didn’t like? What if they didn’t like me? What if it wasn’t Orsu? Did I like Orsu that much already, that I was contemplating luminescing to him?
“Ugh, I don’t even want to think about that,” Taylor groaned.
“I wouldn’t mind luminescing to someone,” Fatima added. “It would be nice to be connected to someone like that. Someone who would have a biological urge to treat you well.” For the first time since I’d met Fatima, she looked wistful. I hoped she would find the love she was looking for.
“What was it like?” Talia asked Gabby with wide eyes and an eager expression.
“Ummm, well.” Gabby swallowed hard. “It felt nice. Warm. Tingly.”
“It made you horny, didn’t it?” Hai interjected.
“Hai, do you have any tact?” Fatima scolded.
“No,” Hai chuckled.
“What do horns have to do with luminescence?” Sarah asked with a confused look on her face.
“Oh, my sweet summer child.” Kayla patted Sarah on the shoulder.
“What? Am I missing something?”
“Horny, as in aroused, turned on, feeling sexy and so on and so forth,” Hai supplied.
“Oh…” Sarah looked down and started fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
“Would you want to luminesce to anyone?” Talia asked.
Sarah shook her head. “I want to choose for myself. I don’t want luminescence to choose for me.”
“Maybe it doesn’t work like that,” Gabby added. “Maybe you fall in love and then luminescencefollows.”
“I hope so,” Sarah sighed.
