This Is My Brain on Boys by Sarah Strohmeyer Page A

“We stayed in a grass hut at the same place, a . . .” She searched for the right word.
    â€œVilla,” Tess prompted.
    â€œ. . . that was over water with fish and sharks underneath. And the diving and . . .”
    â€œ. . . snorkeling?” Tess suggested.
    â€œYes. It was another world. Ever since then, all I want is to run a hotel in the Maldives with its endless white beaches and crystal-blue water. It would be like working in paradise.”
    â€œI hear that,” Tess said. “You’ve been around the world. You, too, Kris, right?”
    Kris remembered Mack bragging that it cost his parents $30,000 for a week at a Maldives resort before plane fare, which tacked on another $10,000 since his mother refused to fly that distance in anything but first class.
    â€œI want to be a doctor,” Mindy said.
    Tess jumped in with mock dismissal. “As if that’s anything to shoot for.” She and Fiona laughed, but Mindy looked confused.
    â€œIt’s a compliment,” Kris said.
    When she still didn’t respond, he tried again in Mandarin, adding something about how being a doctor was far more noble.
    â€œOh!” She covered her smile. “Thank you. Yes. I’ve always wanted to help people.”
    Tess gestured to the two boys. “And this is Sam and Jack.”
    They bobbed their heads curtly. Sam pulled up the zipper of his blue Windbreaker and said, “It’s noon, we should go.”
    â€œRiiight.” Tess glanced at Mr. Foy, who was talking to Jack. “We’re supposed to have lunch with the headmaster in his private quarters. Are you coming, Kris?”
    He was about to answer when Mindy said, “What about Harvard?”
    â€œHarvard’s on Friday, remember?” Tess said.
    â€œBut I have to go to Harvard today.”
    Fiona put a reassuring hand on her arm. “It can wait,” she said in Mandarin. “He’ll still be there.”
    â€œI hope so.” Mindy pouted. “There’s no point to this trip if we can’t see each other.”
    That was odd, Kris thought. Just when it crossed his mind that, perhaps, he should let someone know what the girls said, Mr. Foy clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m afraid I can’t accompany you to the lab this afternoon. Go see Dr. Brooks. She has your assignments.”
    Tess whipped around, red hair flying. “ You’re going to the lab?”
    â€œI guess so.” He felt a thin film of sweat on his upper lip, a Pavlovian response to her last lashing. “And I better be going.” He checked a wristwatch that wasn’t there.
    â€œYeah. You’re almost two freckles past a hair,” she quipped. “Wait. I need to talk to you. Alone.”
    Again? “I got the message already,” he said as Foy led the students across the squishy lawn.
    â€œThis is a new and improved message,” she said. “Look, I’m sorry for being hard on you back at the airport. I was just being protective of Addie after what you and your girlfriend did to her last spring.”
    He ran a hand through his wet hair. The rain had mostly stopped, but it was still drizzling. “It’s okay.”
    â€œNo, it’s not. I get too involved in other people’s business. Ed’s always telling me to butt out.”
    Honestly, he was wet and cold and he just wanted to get someplace dry, even if was in Dr. Brooks’s office being read the riot act. “We can talk later.” He thumbed behind him. “I have an appointment with Dr. Brooks. And if I don’t make it . . .”
    â€œAddie’s not very good at reading people,” Tess interrupted, as if he wasn’t speaking. “She takes things at face value.”
    â€œYup. I got that.” He tried stepping backward.
    But Tess grabbed the sleeve of his sweatshirt and pulled him toward her. “I think she really likes you and wants you two to hang out . . . which is