“It’s gorgeous,” I say, my throat tight. “Where did you get this? I know Lalana’s family special orders garlands from a Thai florist for special occasions.”

“I made it,” he says, his voice gravelly. “Khun Yai owned a flower shop back in Thailand, and we’ve always had potted jasmine plants at our house. I grew up threading jasmine buds onto needles as long as my forearm.”

My heart stutters. “Oh, Bandit. You didn’t have to—”

“No,” he says. “I wanted to.”

Suddenly, I can’t look at him. I run my fingers over the tight flower buds. “I’m sorry. I put you in an uncomfortable position. I shouldn’t have blurted out my feelings like that. It’s too much pressure.”

He slips a finger under my chin, tilting up my face. “I’m not going to lie. It was a lot being informed you were my soul mate, witnessing my older self come apart. For a while, I just wanted to hide from the world, present and future. Pretend none of it existed. Do you know what happened instead?”

“What?” I whisper. My mouth is dry, and I’m dangerously light-headed. I hope to the stars I don’t faint before I hear his answer.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He moves his fingers to my lips, touching them softly. “I would hear echoes of your laugh at the most random times, or I’d see your face in my mind, looking at me and not blinking. Those flashes made me want to give you everything. I don’t know where these feelings are coming from. I don’t know if they’re mine or his or—” He breaks off, panting.

“I want to do this right,” he begins again. “I don’t know what the future holds. I can’t make any guarantees. But I want to get to know you better. My older self is a pretty smart guy, after all. Most would say a bona fide genius.” His lips twitch as he offers me his arm. “So what do you say, Alice? Wanna go on a date with me?” He winks. “Half the junior class would kill for this opportunity.”

I burst out laughing. I can’t help it. He’s so ridiculous, so arrogant. So Bandit.

I tuck my hand through his arm, holding tightly onto my puang malai, and we glide into the night. I don’t know what will happen in the next days, months, or years. But I’m hopeful. Even optimistic.

The future can’t come soon enough…

Just as long as I don’t have to kill anyone.

Did you love this Entangled Teen book?

Check out more of our titles here!

Don’t miss another book by Pintip Dunn.

Sign up for the Entangled Teen newsletter here!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS