Если я останусь

           Yougotthestingerandthevenomout,soyouwereleftwithonlyalittleitch.

           Adambrokeintoanembarrassedsmile.Heleanedinandwhisperedintomyear:"IthinkI’malittlewiggedoutthatI’vebeenmoreintimatewithyourdadthanIhavewithyou."

           Ilaughedatthat.Butitwassortoftrue.Inthefewweekswe’dbeentogether,wehadn’tdonemuchmorethankiss.Itwasn’tthatIwasaprude.Iwasavirgin,butIcertainlywasn’tdevotedtostayingthatway.AndAdamcertainlywasn’tavirgin.Itwasmorethatourkissinghadsufferedfromthesamepainfulpolitenessasourconversations.

           "Maybeweshouldremedythat,"Imurmured.

           Adamraisedhiseyebrowsasifaskingmeaquestion.Iblushedinresponse.Allthroughdinner,wegrinnedateachotheraswelistenedtoTeddy,whowaschatteringaboutthedinosaurboneshe’dapparentlydugupinthebackgardenthatafternoon.Dadhadmadehisfamoussaltroast,whichwasmyfavoritedish,butIhadnoappetite.Ipushedthefoodaroundmyplate,hopingnoonewouldnotice.Allthewhile,thislittlebuzzwasbuildinginsideme.IthoughtofthetuningforkIusedtoadjustmycello.HittingitsetsoffvibrationsinthenoteofA—vibrationsthatkeepgrowing,andgrowing,untiltheharmonicpitchfillsuptheroom.That’swhatAdam’sgrinwasdoingtomeduringdinner.

           Afterthemeal,AdamtookaquickpeekatTeddy’sfossilfinds,andthenwewentupstairstomyroomandclosedthedoor.Kimisnotallowedtobealoneinherhousewithboys—notthattheopportunityevercameup.