Chapter 11: Terms

By morning I knew what I was going to do.

I laid it out for Dr. Lowry and Rafe at the lab table over cold coffee.

"I'm going to Blackridge on Saturday," I said.

"No," Rafe said at once.

"Not for my mother. Not for the draw."

I put my phone down on the table.

"I'm going as the emergency case. With the transcript, and the panel, and every person in that town square watching."

Dr. Lowry took off her glasses and nodded slowly.

"You'll need a witness for the panel," she said. "I'll drive down."

"And I'll drive you," Rafe said.

"I can take a bus."

"Ivy."

"Fine," I said. "You can drive."

Something eased in his shoulders.

That was how I ended up at the Northmere lake overlook that night, in the cab of his truck, with the engine off and the heater ticking.

He had parked facing the water.

The moon was out.

Neither of us had said why we had come.

"You're quiet," he said.

"I'm thinking."

"About Saturday?"

"About you."

His hands tightened on the wheel.

"I'm your field instructor," he said, low. "I should say that."

"You don't grade me. Dr. Lowry told me. You're a visiting hire."

"Ivy."

"Say it again, and I'll get out and walk."

He turned his head, and I saw in the moonlight that he was already breathing hard.

I unbuckled my seat belt.

"One thing at a time," I said. "And you don't ask. Your hands do the asking."

His mouth was on mine before I finished the sentence.

It was not gentle.

He kissed me hungrily, with one hand sliding into my braid and the other flat against my back.

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