I shrugged. Her jaw hung open. "You... you didn't bring it?" She backed away a few feet. "I mean, did you change your mind about bringing it here?" "What made you think I've made up my mind?" "Last night! You agreed—" "Did I?" She sputtered. I wanted to smile but figured that wasn't a smart thing to do, so I sucked my bottom lip in my mouth. "Listen," she started. "I don't know what else you want, but I'm giving you a deal here. A really good deal. And if you need me to repeat it again until your brain can absorb it, I will." "Why are you covering your mouth?" "I haven't brushed my teeth!" she yelled. "Okay? You happy now?" She looked like she was going to stomp her foot. "I can't talk to you like this. I need my powers. I'm going home to brush my teeth. Stay here. Don't steal anything. I'll be back in five minutes." She locked the front door and proceeded to the back of the shop. There was an impression of clean floors, tools, a couple of cars suspended in the ceiling, the smell of motor oil, solvent—good, strong smells of a working garage—as I followed her outside. "I like your hair," I said. And meant it. She threw me a withering look. "Don't make fun of it. It's my antenna for my brain. Keeps me reasonable, you know? That's why I haven't murdered you yet. Get it? Why are you following me?" She sure talked a lot, but I really liked the sound of her voice. "Need coffee." She laughed. It was so unexpected I stumbled. I wished she'd do it again. "Don't we all?" There was sympathy in her voice. "Go back to the shop and I'll bring you some." She stopped at the back door of her house, pulled out her key. "Kara," I said softly. She froze. Slowly turned around to face me, her hand still on the doorknob. Maybe that made her feel safe. Having an anchor. There was something between us. I knew she felt it. "Invite me inside," I said. I saw her throat working. "You do this to me a lot." Her voice was raspy. "Do what?" "Nothing. I'm not going to be alone in my house with you. Do you normally sneak behind your girlfriend's back to go to another girl's house?" "I don't have a girlfriend." "Liar." "Not this time." She looked at me for a moment, her eyes direct and searching. She must have liked what she saw because, without a word, she went inside and left the door open for me. I took my time. By the time I came inside, I saw her closing a door of what I assumed was the bathroom. I saw her parka on the couch where she carelessly threw it and her shoes by the door, so I removed mine before going in. There was a pink note that said SHOES OFF! posted on the wall. And another one by the light switch that said LIGHTS OFF BEFORE YOU LEAVE! CHECK STOVE! I figured her mom probably posted them there. It was obvious by the knickknacks around the house that she didn't live alone, but where was her family? The tiny house looked bigger on the inside. It was one of the older houses in the neighborhood and it was clear they renovated it at one point in time. Broke down the walls so it was open concept now, added windows to let in more sunlight. It reminded me of the many houses I lived in when I was little. Fifteen minutes had passed when she came out of the bathroom. She stood outside the door, arms crossed in front of her. Her hair was up in a neat ponytail now. She had put on gloss on her lips and did something subtle with her eyes that made them look bigger. She had changed into tight jeans and a sweater the color of sunshine. My hands itched to touch. "How do you take your coffee?" she asked stiffly. "Black." "I ran out of the good stuff. I only have instant." "That's fine." She marched to the kitchen and put on the kettle to boil. I got up from the couch, followed her there. There was another pink note. This one said NO SPOON IN MICROWAVE! I chuckled. "What's so funny?" she asked, pouring hot water in a cup. I gestured toward the note. "I'm the only female in this house, outnumbered by men. I have to put reminders on everything or else they forget." I wondered where her mom was but didn't comment. She cleared her throat. "Answer this for me. Who was that girl in the..." She blushed. "In the bathroom with you?" So back to that. I looked down so she wouldn't see my smile. When I looked up, she was placing the mug of coffee on the counter beside me, then moved as far away from me as the tiny kitchen allowed. "I never had a girlfriend before." "You want me to believe that?" She already did or else I wouldn't be inside her house. "You've never gone out with any girl more than a couple of weeks?" "If I did, it never meant anything." "What was the longest time you dated a girl?" This time I let her see my smile. "Why do you want to know?" "Just... an experiment. You're an experiment," she stammered. "An experiment?" Slowly I stepped toward her. Her eyes were wide, watching my every move. The pulse on her neck was pounding. "You want me to be your experiment?" She swallowed. "What do you have in mind for me?" I whispered. I placed my hand on the soft skin of her neck, gently stroked the side of it with my thumb. "I might say yes if you tell me." She closed her eyes, her body going limp. I wrapped an arm around her waist to support her. "How about I make you a deal?" I continued. She smelled of peaches. Ripe, sweet peaches. "You said your brother doesn't have insurance. See, you shouldn't have told me that. Now I got an ace." Her eyes flew open. She slammed her hands on my chest and pushed me away. "Get off me!" I stepped back. "You're too honest for your own good." She scoffed. "Oh, believe me when I say that I'm not!" "Maybe not always," I allowed. "But almost." "What do you want?" she spat it out. Her stance was confrontational, her voice dripped with venom.