Samm shook his head. “No.” But before he could say another word, Calix was kissing him, her lips pressed against his, soft and supple, her body warm against him and her arm wrapped behind his head, pulling them closer together. Samm froze in surprise, his brain melting under the sensation of her lips, but he regained control and gently pushed her away. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m not very good at this.”

“I could teach you.”

“I mean, I’m not very good at communicating,” said Samm. “I don’t always understand . . . It’s not important. What I mean to say is I’m sorry if I . . . led you to believe something I shouldn’t have.”

Calix’s face was a mix of surprise and confusion. “I’m sorry,” she said. “You seemed . . . interested.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I think I’m in love. . . .” He paused. “I don’t think she even knows.”

Calix laughed, a hollow sound that seemed more sad than amused. She wiped a tear from her eye and laughed again. “Well. I look like a big stupid idiot now, don’t I?”

“I’m the idiot,” said Samm. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That’s very kind of you to say,” said Calix. She took a deep breath and shook her head, wiping another tear. “If you could do me a favor and not tell anyone I, uh, threw myself at you like a moron, that would be very kind as well.”

“Of course,” said Samm. He felt suddenly embarrassed to be looking at her, and cast around for something else to occupy his eyes. He chose the floor, and stared at it awkwardly. “You’re much more forward than she is.”

“Apparently so,” said Calix. Samm watched out of the corner of his eye as she walked back to the horses. “You crossed the entire continent together, and yet neither of you ever made a move?” She huffed another short, hollow laugh. “No wonder you don’t have any children.”

“That’s not the reason,” Samm began, but Calix cut him off with another nervous laugh.

“I know, I know, it was just a stupid joke. I’m sorry, I’m really making an ass of myself today, aren’t I? Good old Calix.”

“You’re very attractive,” said Samm.

Calix groaned. “That’s not what I want you to say right now.”

Samm felt terrible, first because she felt terrible, and more so because he didn’t know how to talk to her. Damn link, he thought. I know how to talk to Partial girls, but humans are so . . . He rolled his eyes. They’re like a whole different species. He felt horrible for giving Calix signals he wasn’t aware he was giving, and now he couldn’t even console her.

“I wish I knew what to say,” he said. “I’m really, like I said, a terrible communicator. I’m not good at talking—”