Page 41 of Reluctant Chemistry

Luka shot her a sideways glance. “No thanks needed. You did the work—I just marked it accordingly.”

“Even so, I appreciate what you’ve done for me, with the online stuff, I mean.” She kept her focus forward. “Take a right at the next intersection.”

As they traveled away from Sandwater Bay, CeCe remained silent, as did he. They’d never been at a loss for words with each other in the past, but now, he struggled to know what to say.

“Boundary Road’s coming up. Turn left at the signpost, then first left into Station Road.”

The sky had darkened by the time they reached the orchard belt, an area known for its avocados and kiwifruit. And as Luka drove down the straight stretch of road, he wondered if she still wanted him. Thought of him in that way.

“This is me, just up here on the right.”

Luka pulled alongside the mailbox and stopped. To the left, a sign proclaiming ‘Dobsons’ Orchard’ dominated the side of a small roadside fruit stall, and on a knoll above them, a villa peeked through the trees.

Finally, CeCe glanced his way. “You can drive up. No one’s home.”

When he reached a sweeping circular driveway, Luka shifted into first. As the house came into view, it reminded him of his grandfather’s place in the Rata River Valley—an old villa, well-loved and lived in—where his parents had first met when his mother was only ten years old. After years of little maintenance, the house now sat idle, and Luka couldn’t bring himself to visit it.

In contrast, from what he could see—with rambling roses, immaculate garden beds and a velvet green lawn—CeCe’s family home had been faithfully maintained. He pulled to a stop in front of the main door and looked about. Along the veranda, a wisteria coiled upward around the posts, covering the spouting in leaves of green, and pots of summer flowers spilled down the steps.

CeCe shifted in her seat to face him. Her hand lifted to the butterfly necklace again, busy fingers running along the length of its chain. “Thanks for the ride.”

“No problem. I’ll see you at school on Monday.”

CeCe stepped from the SUV and shut the door with a light hand, then she bounded up the veranda steps and through the front door.

Luka sat for a deciding moment. He rubbed the stubble on his jaw, knowing he shouldn’t follow her. And yet…

He found her crouched beside the breakfast bar, petting the Burmese cat at her feet.

She straightened. “Looks like we have company, Pixie.” CeCe opened the fridge and pulled out a casserole dish, placed it in the microwave, and set the timer. As if unaware of his presence, she gathered plates and silverware and glasses, then returned to the fridge for a bottle of wine and a bag of salad greens.

“Are you doing okay?” Luka eventually asked.

She stopped to look at him,her expression troubled.“Do you know what some of the guys at school are calling me?”

He waited, watching as she tore open the bag and emptied half into a bowl.

“Teacher’s little slut.”

Luka winced at her words. “That’s harassment. Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugged. “According to Levi, the whole school knows about us. This time last year, I was house captain, a peer mentor to a group of juniors, and ready to take on the world. So, yeah, my fall from grace has been spectacular, but I’m slowly dusting myself off.”

“Doesn’t it hurt you, what they’re saying?”

CeCe reached into the fridge for a cucumber, bell pepper, and dressing and continued to build the salad. “Sure. But it’s just sticks-and-stones stuff, isn’t it?” Her tone softened, and she flirted with a smile. “Maybe one day, when those guys fall in love, they’ll understand the hypothesis of chemical reaction in relation to the human species, where pheromones can’t be ignored or denied.”

In love?Luka narrowed his eyes and stared. Realizing she was making a joke, he chuckled. “You do know there’s significant scientific debate about whether human pheromones even exist?”

CeCe removed the casserole from the microwave and placed it on a wooden board on the counter. “Is that so?” Spatula in hand, she indicated to the dish. “Cannelloni?”

It had been a long time since lunch, and Luka resisted the urge to inhale. What was he doing here, sitting in her kitchen, flirting and enjoying her company while she offered to feed him? “I should go.”

“You don’t have to worry,” she murmured. “No one will know you’re here.”

“Maybe, but we shouldn’t make this any harder than it already is.”

Ignoring his objections, CeCe dished a large serving of cannelloni onto each plate and pushed one across the island. “Help yourself to salad. Would you like a wine?”

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