She laughed. “I bet you’d be interested in this movie we’re watching this weekend. I can’t remember the title but Lisa picked it out. It’s a 1950s science-fiction movie. Lisa was almost a film major, so she likes to plan out little film festivals for us—I mean for me and Mel. We get together on Sunday nights and watch movies.” Steph paused, then said, “You should come over. I bet I have an extra Madchen CD I could give you, and you could borrow my favorite Adrienne Rich.”

It was a perfectly safe invitation—Lisa would be there, as well as Mel—but to me it felt, if not dangerous, then significant. “Are you sure? I don’t want to crash your party.”

“It’s not a party; it’s just a movie. It would be great to have you.” She grinned. “And I know Mel would love to see you.”

I was never going to say no, but I hesitated as if I had to think about it. If Steph were a boy, would my hesitation make her try harder? But she wasn’t a boy, and she didn’t look as if she doubted my decision. She simply looked at me, and I said, “Okay. Sure, I’d love to come.”

“Cool. Give me your number and I’ll text you my address.” She pulled out her phone and handed it me to type in my number. “We usually start around seven and make pizza with Mel.”

“Should I bring anything?”

“No, it’s really low-key.” She wrote a quick text message and a moment later I heard my own phone chime.

I pulled out my phone to read her message. It was just her address, no name. “Got it.” When I looked up, she was looking at me with an odd expression on her face. “What?”

“You have a leaf in your hair.”

“Where?” I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to dislodge it.

“Other side.” Steph reached out with her left hand, her fingers sweeping through my hair behind my right ear, and even though she barely touched me, it felt as though she had stroked my skin from head to toe in one smooth motion. When she stepped back, she was holding a dry fragment of an oak leaf, and her face had a tentative expression on it, as if she wasn’t sure if she should have done that. She carefully set the leaf on the worktable, and I wanted to pick it up and preserve it between the pages of a book, like evidence. Exhibit number one: The first time Steph touched me was because of this.

Chapter 15