“What does the presence of these four micronutrients tell us about the specimen’s biochemistry?” I flashed the chlorophyll formation onto the screen, each molecule drawn by hand and labeled for iron, zinc, and copper.

“That you have a nice ass.” A low voice from the back of the room.

I spun as half the class laughed and the other half looked anywhere but at me. Minton Baxter, it had to be him. He grinned and pretended to be typing notes on his laptop.

My heartbeat thudded in my ears, and I knew I had to take charge of the situation or else it would take charge of me. “Minton, may I see you outside for a moment?”

A chorus of “oooohs” broke out across the room as he stood and sauntered through the desks.

“Take out a piece of paper, all of you. When I get back, I expect each of you to have perfectly drawn examples of Lamprocapnos spectabilis.”

I followed Minton into the hall and closed the door on the students’ groans. Blue lockers lined the empty hallway, and the gray tile floor gleamed under the fluorescents. Minton leaned against the wall next to the classroom door, his hands in his pockets and a cocky grin on his face.

“What is going on with you?” I crossed my arms. “When you started the semester, you were engaged and doing well. Now, you cut class and create constant disruptions. Your grades have tanked. What am I missing here?”

He shrugged. “I was just telling the truth.”

“I think you know that your behavior is inappropriate, but you keep doing it anyway.” I needed to get inside his head, figure out the problem, and come up with a solution. There had to be a reason why he’d gone from top marks to class clown. “What’s the deal?”

“Nothing.” He dropped his gaze and picked at the messy knot of his tie.

“Is it your parents?”

His fingers froze. “No.”

“What is it that you’re not telling me?” I softened my voice. “I want to help you, Mint, if you’ll let me.”

He met my eyes again, and I couldn’t mistake the pain that flashed across his face. Then it was gone. “I can think of a few ways you can help.” He licked his lips as his gaze roved up and down my body.

I knew what he was doing—hiding behind inappropriate behavior to deflect from the real problem. But I wasn’t going to get through to him like this. “Get back to your desk. I expect you to turn in your drawing first thing tomorrow.”

He huffed and returned to the classroom, closing the door too hard behind him. I chewed on my thumbnail as the slam reverberated down the hall. I wanted to contact his parents, but that was obviously the sore spot. Maybe his uncle who worked with Link knew something? But it wasn’t like I could just call him up and start quizzing him on his nephew.

I fished in my pocket for my cell phone, but hesitated before texting Link. I’d just seen him the previous weekend at the Lindstrom party. He’d taken me back to his apartment. When I’d told him I wasn’t ready to sleep together, he’d accepted it, though I could sense the tension underneath. We’d been dating for months, and he’d been more than patient, but I still didn’t know if it was time for the next step. I wasn’t a virgin, but it had been a long time. Did I even know what to do anymore?

The bell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. If I wanted to help Mint, then I needed to get back to the city and have a chat with his uncle. I pulled up Link’s number and texted.

Are you up for another visit this weekend? Maybe we can get together with some of your work friends.

My classroom door opened, and the students streamed into the hallway, their backpacks slung over one shoulder as they chatted and laughed. The phone vibrated.

Link: I’d love to see you. But since when do you care about my work friends?

I might as well tell the truth.

Since Minton Baxter started acting out in class. I’m hoping his uncle might know what’s going on with him.

Once the last student left my room, I went back in and closed the door behind me. It was my free period before lunch.

Link: A recon mission. And here I was hoping you just wanted to see me.

I frowned and sank into the chair behind my desk.

I do want to see you, but I’m multi-tasking.

The three dots jumped at the bottom of the text box. Disappeared. Then jumped again.

Link: All right. I’ll see if I can set up drinks Friday night. Sound good?

Relief washed through me. He wasn’t mad.

Thank you. Yes.

Link: I’m looking forward to seeing you.

Me too.

I stowed my cell phone and listened to the noisy students mill around in the hallway until the bell rang. The school quieted, though I could distinctly here Dr. Potts next door giving a lecture extolling the beauty and simplicity of the quadratic formula for finding any solution. I wished it would solve the problems that meandered around in my head. Whether to take my relationship with Link further, what to do about Mint, and the biggest problem of all—why I found my thoughts straying back to Sebastian Lindstrom whenever I had a free moment.

I shifted in my chair, my memories of him making me uncomfortable and warm at the same time. Closing my eyes, I pictured him, the sharp line of his jaw, the imposing weight of his voice. The way he’d held me as we danced, as if I were a lifeline. Link hadn’t cared for the way Sebastian looked at me or the dance we shared. He kept his jealousy in check, making jokes about how odd the CEO of Lindstrom was, the rumors that swirled around his love life. Link posited that Sebastian was gay, which explained why he was never seen with women. But that dance told me different. Sebastian was a lot of things, but gay wasn’t one of them.

A sharp rap at my door made me jump. The wood swung inward on a squeaky hinge, and Gregory waltzed in, his eyes on the stack of mail in his arms.

“Jeez, Gregory. A little more warning next time.” I stowed my thoughts of Sebastian and gave the assistant headmaster a hard look.

“Oh, lighten up.” He perched on the edge of my desk. “After all, I knocked.” He smiled, his boyish good looks overtaking my irritation.

“Did you have a good weekend?” I took a stack of letters from him and tossed them on my desk.

“Excellent. Went into the city on a blind date. Came out of it sore but satisfied.” He winked.

“Did he have potential at least?”

“For long term?” He scratched his clean shaven jaw. “Not even close. I’d have to be a power bottom to keep up with him. I’m more of a ‘lay on my stomach and let him have at it’ sort of bottom. One night only, my dear. And stop trying to distract me. You spent the weekend with Link, right? Some company function? Did you get down and dirty? Give me all the icky hetero details.”

I glanced to the door. “Keep it down. Just because you’re living la vida loca doesn’t mean I want everyone to know about my sex life.”

Gregory had been out since high school and had no qualms being himself even in the stuffy atmosphere of Trenton Prep. He’d been a good friend to me since the day I’d arrived, fresh-faced and ready to shape the youth of tomorrow.

“I’ll keep it down, but give me the details and leave nothing out.” He pointed a thin finger at me. “Nothing.”

I plucked at the high collar of my forest green dress top. “No, we didn’t…” I fidgeted. “You know.”

“You denied that handsome man again?” He straightened his already perfect bowtie. “If he were batting for my team, I’d already have taken him on a tour of everything this toned body has to offer.”

“That’s you. I’m a little more cautious.”

“He’s perfect for you. Tall, handsome, rich family, big hands, good hair, and I can tell you right now that he’s got it where it counts.”

Crimson flamed through my cheeks. “You mean—”

“A package, yeah. He’s got a big one.”

“You can’t tell that by looking.”

“You can’t.” He grinned. “I certainly can.” He waved a hand at me. “If that was the end of your weekend tale, I am very disappointed in you.”

I chewed my thumbnail while I debated whether I should tell him about Sebastian.

“Ah ha!” He pointed at my thumb. “I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

“Whenever you go Bucky Beaver on your thumbnail, something’s bothering you. Out with it.”

“That’s not true.” I dropped my hand to my lap where it joined its sister in a death grip.

“It is.” He dropped the rest of the mail he’d been holding on the corner of my desk and crossed his arms over his navy blue sweater vest. “Spill.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

He glowered as much as the Botox allowed. “My last boyfriend was a liar, and you know what happened to him.”

“I was there, remember? I’m the one who helped you hide sardines under his driver’s seat and Saran wrap his car.”

“Keep that in mind. Now tell me your tale before Headmaster Grinsley notices I’ve been gone too long and orders me back to be her little bitch.”

“It’s nothing.” When his frown deepened, I hurried along, “Well, there was this guy.”

“Yes.” He fist pumped. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Go on.”

“He’s the CEO of the forestry company where Link works.”

Gregory rubbed his palms together. “Money, money, money. Continue.”

“We danced. He was, I don’t know…” How could I describe the murky feeling? “There was something about him.”

“Good looking?”

“Yes, in a dark sort of way. But there was more. Like he has secrets bubbling beneath his surface.”

“I love a man with a past.” He sighed. “How old?”

“I don’t know. Probably early thirties.”

“Mmm. He sounds tasty. Are you thinking of ditching Link for this guy?”

“Whoa.” I held my hands up. “Your imagination is running wild. It was one dance with Link’s boss. No. Link and I are—”

“Not doing the deed.” He crinkled up one side of his mouth in disapproval. “That says a lot.”

“No it doesn’t. And I intend to take that step soon, but not until I know I’m ready.”

“When will you know?”

I leaned forward and began flipping through my mail. “I just will.”

“Sure. Sounds legit.”

“Your sarcasm is noted.” I pulled a letter from the stack. “Interesting.” Rainforest Fund was stamped at the top, and my name and address were written in a bold hand.

“I’ve got to finish my deliveries.” Gregory scooped up the rest of the mail as I slid my finger down the flap. “I’ll see you after school for some much needed liquid refreshment and Mexican food. La Conchita’s at six.”

“All right. See you there.” I slid out a letter, the paper heavy in my hands.

The door clicked closed as I unfolded the paper. I read each word, my eyes growing wider as I went. When I finished reading, I sat back and stared at the cream paper and matching envelope. My dream expedition had just landed in my lap. An offer to work as a staff biologist on a mission to the Amazon rainforest that would focus on a particular area of the canopy. It even included airfare, thanks to some extra funding from big pharma.

With shaking hands, I re-read the letter. Dr. Weisman had recommended me so highly that the expedition’s lead scientist had “no choice” but to hire me right away. I squeed so loud that Dr. Potts paused in his lecture next door before resuming his monotone.

This was it. My chance. The one I’d been waiting for. And there was nothing that could stand in my way.