you talking about?”
“Next question.” His tone made it clear I’d get nowhere by asking again, so I moved on… for the moment.
“Okay, how were you able to walk through the trees like you did when you saved me from the coyotes? I’ve never seen anything like it. And don’t tell me you’ve been doing it since you were a toddler. I want a real answer. How?”
He brushed his fingers over tiny cracks in the rock, delaying his answer, no doubt editing his response in his mind. “All of us can do it,” he said finally. “We start learning at a very young age to climb and maneuver through the trees. It’s a matter of practice and also, I think, a hereditary natural ability.”
He stopped and gave me a half-smile before continuing. “It’s an efficient way to travel, and it helps us to remain undetected. Most of us never go where we’ll encounter other people, but sometimes they come here where we live. It’s easy for us to hear you coming and conceal ourselves among the branches and leaves. Not that your kind would even think of looking up to find us.” His expression was a tiny bit superior.
“Are you really telling me there are young children climbing around up in those monster trees like you did? That’s unbelievable. I didn’t know people could do things like that outside of Cirque Du Soleil.”
“Well, they can’t. Your people anyway.”
Then something occurred to me. “So your people are not just reclusive, they’re really… different.”
I expected more hedging from him, but what I got was the most revealing thing he’d told me about himself yet.
“I think we could safely say we would be classified as another… race… one that has not been considered by your Census Bureau.”
He said the words slowly, studying me as he spoke. My heart darted around inside my chest, though I tried to project outward calm. I was finally getting somewhere, and it was miles away from where I’d expected to go.
I pushed my luck one more time. “What about the girls you dated?”
His eyebrows drew together in a slight frown. “I believe I’ve already earned my sweet tea now.”
“What are they like?” I persisted.
Lad exhaled. “Different.”
“From me?”
“From all females of your kind.”
“How?” I tried to imagine these amazing tree-walking girls who’d spent time with Lad but supposedly never wanted to kiss him, who were not at all like me.
“Well, they look somewhat different. They are tall and slender like you are. They’re strong, athletic.” He paused then reached over to stroke my hair as he continued. “But they all have very curly hair.”
“All of them? I hate them already.” I flipped my own stick straight hair in disgust.
“No—I love your hair. Before I met you when I was little, I’d never seen anyone like you. Afterward, I thought all girls should look like you.”
Oh my. Icing. “What else?”
“Hmm… well, they’re intelligent, practical, very controlled.”
“You’re right. Nothing like me.”
I laughed at his unintentional insult, but Lad shook his head, frowning for real now. “I’m doing a poor job of explaining it. You’re not like them, but that’s what makes you so special. They’re all alike. Predictable.” He took my hands inside his, looked down at them, then back up at my face. His gaze pleaded with me. “But you… you’re warm and surprising. After I discovered you, the girls where I live held no interest for me. It’s been a source of tremendous frustration for my parents, but I can’t help it. It’s actually been driving me sort of crazy.”
Oh God… icing on the cake, icing… oh hang it all. I was going to do it—take Emmy’s and Nox’s advice and take a chance. This time, I was going to kiss him .
I leaned toward Lad, lifting my face to him. He couldn’t have had any doubt about what I wanted. He responded immediately, leaning in to meet me. I deliberately kept my eyes open as he brought his face close to mine.
“Next question.” His tone made it clear I’d get nowhere by asking again, so I moved on… for the moment.
“Okay, how were you able to walk through the trees like you did when you saved me from the coyotes? I’ve never seen anything like it. And don’t tell me you’ve been doing it since you were a toddler. I want a real answer. How?”
He brushed his fingers over tiny cracks in the rock, delaying his answer, no doubt editing his response in his mind. “All of us can do it,” he said finally. “We start learning at a very young age to climb and maneuver through the trees. It’s a matter of practice and also, I think, a hereditary natural ability.”
He stopped and gave me a half-smile before continuing. “It’s an efficient way to travel, and it helps us to remain undetected. Most of us never go where we’ll encounter other people, but sometimes they come here where we live. It’s easy for us to hear you coming and conceal ourselves among the branches and leaves. Not that your kind would even think of looking up to find us.” His expression was a tiny bit superior.
“Are you really telling me there are young children climbing around up in those monster trees like you did? That’s unbelievable. I didn’t know people could do things like that outside of Cirque Du Soleil.”
“Well, they can’t. Your people anyway.”
Then something occurred to me. “So your people are not just reclusive, they’re really… different.”
I expected more hedging from him, but what I got was the most revealing thing he’d told me about himself yet.
“I think we could safely say we would be classified as another… race… one that has not been considered by your Census Bureau.”
He said the words slowly, studying me as he spoke. My heart darted around inside my chest, though I tried to project outward calm. I was finally getting somewhere, and it was miles away from where I’d expected to go.
I pushed my luck one more time. “What about the girls you dated?”
His eyebrows drew together in a slight frown. “I believe I’ve already earned my sweet tea now.”
“What are they like?” I persisted.
Lad exhaled. “Different.”
“From me?”
“From all females of your kind.”
“How?” I tried to imagine these amazing tree-walking girls who’d spent time with Lad but supposedly never wanted to kiss him, who were not at all like me.
“Well, they look somewhat different. They are tall and slender like you are. They’re strong, athletic.” He paused then reached over to stroke my hair as he continued. “But they all have very curly hair.”
“All of them? I hate them already.” I flipped my own stick straight hair in disgust.
“No—I love your hair. Before I met you when I was little, I’d never seen anyone like you. Afterward, I thought all girls should look like you.”
Oh my. Icing. “What else?”
“Hmm… well, they’re intelligent, practical, very controlled.”
“You’re right. Nothing like me.”
I laughed at his unintentional insult, but Lad shook his head, frowning for real now. “I’m doing a poor job of explaining it. You’re not like them, but that’s what makes you so special. They’re all alike. Predictable.” He took my hands inside his, looked down at them, then back up at my face. His gaze pleaded with me. “But you… you’re warm and surprising. After I discovered you, the girls where I live held no interest for me. It’s been a source of tremendous frustration for my parents, but I can’t help it. It’s actually been driving me sort of crazy.”
Oh God… icing on the cake, icing… oh hang it all. I was going to do it—take Emmy’s and Nox’s advice and take a chance. This time, I was going to kiss him .
I leaned toward Lad, lifting my face to him. He couldn’t have had any doubt about what I wanted. He responded immediately, leaning in to meet me. I deliberately kept my eyes open as he brought his face close to mine.
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