Page 117

“You tell me. You’re the math guy.”

He drops his gaze and sets his palm next to mine. “You changed your mind.”

I shift my hand until the length of his thumb presses against my little finger. Never in my life could I have imagined how intimate this could feel. “Youchanged my mind.”

Spencer lifts his eyes again. His irises are practically black now, both pupils disappearing into depths I could swim in. “I don’t want to change you, Tess,” he says. “Who you are is what makes you so special.”

“But change is part of who I am, though, isn’t it?” I exhale a gust of relief. “I always thought my inconsistency was some kind of giant liability. That no one could count on me. But maybe everyone else realizes I shift direction for good reasons. Maybe that’s what people count on.”

Spencer’s eyes soften. “Or maybe … just maybe … you should do what works for you, without worrying what anybody else thinks.”

“Right.” My nose begins to sting. Our hands are still frozen, just barely touching. It’s such a simple sweetness, I don’t want to break the spell. “Are we still talking about the fact that I kind of want to date you when this whole camp thing is over?”

He arches a brow. “You know, I don’t remember you saying those exact words.”

“I’m saying those exact words.”

“Hmm.” He tips his chin. “Is that really what you want?”

I tilt my head. “Dating you? Or waiting until after camp?”

“Both.”

“Yes.”

“Good.” His black eyes dance. “Then I think it’s time to set up some ground rules.”