She blinked in surprise. “Oh, no, I just meant you could borrow it. You know, read and return. You’re right that I wouldn’t want to part with it. But I will loan it out.”

Ajay turned the book on its side. “It’s not as thick as some of them.”

“Yeah, each book has gotten a little bigger.”

He tilted his head. “Can I ask you a favor?”

“Sure.” Her heart was already beating faster.

“Could you maybe read it to me?”

Joy bloomed in her chest. The bell rang before she could answer. As Mr. Manning started to speak, she mouthed, “Yes.”

Class passed in a blur. Last night, all she had been able to think about was her lunch with Ajay. What she’d said. What he’d said. How he’d looked when he asked questions or listened. The taste of the food, and the fact that he’d cooked it.

And now it seemed like he wanted to spend even more time with her. To do that, she would be happy to read him anything, up to and including one of those old telephone books like her grandma had. But this? When she had made the decision to loan Ajay the book, the most she had hoped for was being able to discuss it with him later.

When the bell rang, Bridget realized she hadn’t heard a thing Mr. Manning had said. She was just lucky he hadn’t asked her anything.

As they got up, Derrick called from the back of the room. “Hey, Bridget. Wait up. I want to ask you something.”

She and Ajay exchanged a glance. Then he said something she didn’t quite catch and made for the door.

Had he said he was going to wait for her? Or maybe that he wasn’t? Whatever he’d said, he was already disappearing into the roar and bustle of the hall. Today was Halloween, and there was a certain energy in the air. A few of the girls were even wearing costumes, walking the fine line between sexy and too sexy for school.

Bridget was so wrapped up in thinking about Ajay that Derrick’s voice made her start.

He loomed over her, thin and slightly stooped, like a parenthesis. The height was new and still awkward. “Hey, Bridget. I just wanted to say I love those books, too. Swords and Shadows. They’re epic.”