‘I’m Brad,’ he said. ‘Need a hand with those?’

‘I’ll manage,’ Charlie said, going red because his bulge was right in her eye line.

But he grabbed a book anyway and read the title aloud. ‘Elementary principles of Aeronautical Engineering.’ Brad studied more titles before making an observation. ‘These are college level, but you don’t look much over sixteen.’

‘I’m almost sixteen,’ Charlie said awkwardly, feeling like her tongue had swollen. ‘My teacher at White Boulder got me permission to do some online college-level courses. I’m basically a total science geek.’

Brad shrugged and looked thoughtful. ‘Why apologise for being smart?’

Charlie noticed how he got a six pack when he bent over. I bet he could throw me in the air with one of those big arms. I spend half an hour looking in the mirror worrying that my butt is a weird shape, but this confident ass steps up to a stranger in his CKs.

Is he hitting on me? I’m nearly sixteen, so I’m not a kid any more. But why would someone this good-looking want me?

Brad carried a dozen textbooks books down the hall to Charlie’s room. ‘Sixteen A, right? We’re neighbours!’

Brad made another trip, before Charlie dumped the last books on the bare mattress.

‘I know where to come if I need a math tutor,’ Brad said as he waggled a Get Set For College math primer.

Charlie smiled. ‘I helped a couple of girls at White Boulder.’

‘You’re sweating,’ Brad observed. ‘Would you like a cold Coke?’

Charlie nodded. ‘Proper Coke? You don’t get that inside.’

Brad’s room was across the hall from Charlie’s. She stood in the doorway nosing as he opened a mini-fridge covered in rock band stickers. It was a typical boy’s room, strewn with dirty socks, barbells, a guitar amp and a picture on the wall showing Brad with two younger girls.

‘My twin sisters,’ Brad explained as he threw the Coke.

Charlie noticed trays of meat crammed in the bottom of Brad’s fridge. ‘Is that, like, protein for bodybuilding?’

Brad shook his head. ‘Comes off my uncle’s ranch in California. I work up there sometimes. He raises cattle. All organic. Mostly sells to restaurants in LA, or here on the strip.’

‘I love steak,’ Charlie said. ‘But we could never afford it back home, and the only meat you get inside has been through a grinder …’

‘Tell me ’bout that,’ Brad laughed as he opened his cupboard and miraculously retrieved a dented frying pan and a stand-alone induction ring.

‘The lady wants steak?’ Brad said, grabbing a tray of meat out of the fridge. ‘Two minutes per side, medium-rare?’

‘No!’ Charlie said, covering her face and laughing noisily. ‘You don’t have to.’

Brad plugged in his cooking ring, shoving coins and a wallet aside to make space on the corner of his desk.