it these last few weeks,” she added, looking up into my eyes. In the darkness, hers seemed like two stars glimmering in the emptiness of space. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I was hoping I’d learn to appreciate it.” Grinning, I moved away from the door and led the way into the kitchen. “Unfortunately, after emptying mountains of sugar into my tea, the only thing I’ve come to appreciate is sugar itself. Not that good for my teeth, but it sure helps mask that battery acid taste.”
“Battery acid? You really are hopeless.”
“That’s me.” Smiling, I placed one hand over my heart and performed a mock bow. “At your service.”
“If not tea…” She trailed off, looking around the kitchen as if hoping something else would jump out from the cupboards. “Right, you’re not a fan of coffee either. I’d offer you a cup of ploshk but—”
“Ploshk.”
“Ploshk, right.” She smiled, tiny dimples forming on the corners of her mouth, and then tucked back a stray lock of hair. “Unfortunately for you, I don’t have any in the house.”
“A grave mistake, but one that I’m willing to overlook,” I said, and there was something about my tone that I couldn’t quite figure out. This was all innocent teasing...but only on the surface. Underneath it all, something powerful stirred, almost as if our words were charged with a high-voltage current.
“A walk in the garden? Mine isn’t as impressive as the royal gardens but—”
“The garden sounds perfect,” I said without a moment’s hesitation. I didn’t care about tea, coffee, or even ploshk. The only thing I cared about was Maya. And if a visit to the garden would allow me a few more minutes of her, then that's what I wanted to do.
I looked into her eyes for a moment, risking losing myself in her gaze, and I had to make a conscious effort to look away from her.
I could feel that rush again, as if I was slipping headlong into a pool of adrenaline. Somehow, though, my heart wasn’t beating hard, nor was I nervous or anxious. Instead, I felt lighter than I had ever felt before. Maybe that was because of Maya. She no longer seemed to be fighting against the current; instead, it was as if she had accepted it was easier to go with the flow of things. I agreed with that sentiment.
“This way.” As she walked past me, her scent coiled itself around my thoughts in an intoxicating manner. She smelled of violets and lemongrass, and it was a scent I wouldn’t have minded waking up to every morning.
I followed her movements as she made her way to the door, drinking in every detail. From the way the hem of her dress grazed her ankles, to the way her hair tumbled down her back, she was a study in perfection.
It was definitely easier to go with the flow of things, but I suddenly found myself wanting more. I didn’t want to merely stay afloat and let the current carry me. Instead, I wanted to paddle downstream as hard as I could.
“It looks beautiful,” I said as we stepped into the chill of a spring night. Waist-high stone walls hugged the garden’s edges, their embrace only broken by a small wooden gate; a little stony path cut through neatly trimmed grass, leading straight toward the gate, and night-blooming summer flowers lined the way, their bright colors only muted by the night.
It was incredibly small, and there wasn’t as much variety here as in the royal conservatory, but Maya’s garden had character. Even though I had never been here before, it was clear she had spent long hours here—pulling weeds, digging out old roots, and carefully planting each bulb under the fresh soil.
“It’s not much, but it’s mine.” She leaned against the stone wall, allowing the breeze to gently whip her hair back. “Well, not exactly mine, as the entire property belongs to the school, but you know what I mean.”
“No, this garden is yours,” I said, joining her side. Smiling, I let my gaze wander to the corners of the yard, where raised beds held a blanket of colored flowers. “This garden is you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“It fits you.” I turned to face her and, as I did it, my fingers brushed against hers. The moment I felt her skin against mine, it was as if the night’s chill had vanished from my body. Inside my veins, my blood went from simmering to boiling. “I can tell you’ve put a lot