Page 57 of Here in My Heart
“You told her to fake her paperwork?” Sylvie’s mouth gaped, and her eyes widened with horror.
“No. I told her not to do that.”
“But you suggested it, and she went skipping off. You don’t think that tells you something?”
Ade stuttered. This whole situation was getting away from her.
“Ade, can you really not read the room?” Sylvie’s movement stalled. “It’s infuriating sometimes.”
Ade sank into her coat with shame. She hadn’t meant to give Madison bad advice. “I panicked. But I did tell hernotto do it.”
“Do you know nothing about teenagers and young adults? Give them an out, and they will absolutely take it.” Sylvie pressed her hands to her forehead. “We might need to do something about this before it gets out of hand.”
“I think you’re overreacting.” Ade was fixed to the spot, her body unwilling to move until she’d figured a way out of this.
“Oh, you do? The professor with fourteen years teaching experience versus your—how many?” Sylvie shook her head. “That’s right. You don’t actually have any teaching experience, because you avoid the classroom and like to spend your time with more simple creatures.”
“Marine life is anything but simple. They’re some of the most complex and clever creations in the world,” Ade whispered. She suspected that Sylvie’s tirade was meant to hurt, but a numbness overcame her body like a shell, designed to protect her from the insults and injuries Sylvie’s words intended. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
Backlit by a storefront, Ade couldn’t make out Sylvie’s expression.
“No. I’m sorry.” Sylvie’s tone had softened, to almost a whisper. “You’re right. You did tell her not to do it, and it’s not your fault if anything untoward happens. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like I could snap at any moment.”
“I didn’t mean to make you angry,” Ade said.
“I know. It’s not you. I mean, it is you. But it’s not anger, not really.” Sylvie looked into Ade’s eyes.
“What?” Ade scanned her face for the meaning.
Sylvie smiled. “I’m very confused about how I feel about you.”
“In a bad way?” Ade asked, silently begging Sylvie not to say yes.
“In a really good way.”
Ade pieced together all the information she possibly could, trying to figure out how it had led them to this moment, but she still failed to grip Sylvie’s meaning. “I’m going to need a bit more information.”
“I like you,” Sylvie whispered. “More than I should, all things considered. And I think you like me too.”
She bit her lip in a way that made Ade want to kiss her on the exact spot. “Just to confirm your hypothesis: I do like you.” Ade grinned. “More than I should, all things considered.”
Sylvie blew out a puff of air, which they could both see in the cold. “I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve been mulling it over since Paris.” She studied the sidewalk. “I wondered if you could help me work it all out.”
“Well, I’m pretty good at asking questions and getting to an answer.”
“I know.” Sylvie giggled.
“So what would you like to do?” Ade stepped into Sylvie’s space, her lips hovering inches away.
Sylvie shivered. “Maybe kiss you?”
“Yeah. That could be arranged.” Ade ignored the terror building inside. Was this happening? The thing she’d toyed with inside the guide rails of her fantasies. “Now?”
“Yes. Now?—”
“Sylvie!” A male voice broke the trance they’d weaved.
“Paul.” Sylvie took two steps backward, almost losing her footing. “How lovely to see you.”
