Page 47 of Ordinary Secrets

“My parents were wealthy,” I say as a way to imply that they’re gone without actually saying it. “They left me everything they had.”

“What did they do for a living?” she asks without a hint of surprise.

Did she already know that they died? How?I haven’t said anything to suggest that my parents are dead until now.

“They were researchers.” Technically, that’s true. My parents were researchers... for ZIRDA. They were the ones who spent years in a lab, working to uncover if it was possible to create a usable product from Healers’ tears that kept its healing abilities.

Now that we know it’s possible, who’s to say we can’t discover the source of an Ordinary’s immunity, reproduce it, and create a pill, or a liquid, or anything that will give ZIRDA agents immunity over the Royals?

I swallow hard before asking, “How did you know my parents are gone?”

She looks away from me as she plays with the end of her long braid. “Um, I read about it when I Googled you. Your Wiki page mentions it briefly.”

“I see,” I say to the sidewalk. It’s been years since I looked myself up. I didn’t realize my Wikipedia page included that information.

A moment passes before Arella breaks the silence. “Do you wish I didn’t know?”

“Nah, it’s fine. I just don’t like to talk about it.”

“We can talk about something else,” she says cheerfully, and I appreciate her attempt at bringing the mood back up. “What areyourplans this weekend?”

I don’t miss a beat. “Thinking up ways to win you over.”

The mood officially changes the second Arella bursts into laughter. A hint of pink forms on her cheeks. “Is that so?”

“Yeah, and if you tell me how to do that, it’ll make my job a lot easier.”

It takes a few heartbeats before she says, “Maybe I’m not something you can win, Trey.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Are you saying that you’re not an option at all? Or that I gotta work toearnyou, not win you?”

She pauses to think. “Um, maybe I’m just not in the right place right now to start something new.”

“Bullshit. Not buyin’ that. I think that if a person, especially a woman,reallywants something, she’ll make it happen. So, that means you don’t want me enough, and I’m gonna change that. You just gotta tell me how.”

“Shouldn’t that be something you figure out on your own?”

I theatrically slump my shoulders. “But I’m impatient. It’d be much easier if you just tell me. If you don’t, I’ll have to resort to my own dumb ideas.”

“Which are?”

“Doing lots of cheesy romantic things until you’re swept off your feet and want me more than you want to bake. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try plan B.”

“Which is?”

I grin. “Pulling my pants down.”

Arella laughs again, covering her mouth with a palm in the most adorable way. “Does that usually work for you?”

“Hasn’t failed me yet. Typically, that’s plan A, but I figured you’re not the type to fall for that.”

She’s still laughing, and I love the sound of it. Her laugh means I’m making progress. “Do you have a plan C?”

“Nah. I’m hoping I won’t need one.”

Her laughter fades as she rolls her eyes. “I still don’t understand why you’re trying so hard to date me. If you want something easy, you should look through that long line of women ready to throw themselves at you.”

“You’re different, Arella. I don’t know why, but you’ve captured my attention.” That’s a lie. I do know why. Arella is the most unique person I’ve ever met. She’s literally one of three people in the entire world that I know of who are immune to Zordi powers.

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