It's the kind of touch that Alex hasn't had a whole lot of in her life. She had it with Hellie. She was getting there with Mercy. She'd had it in Darrow with Darlington before they blew it all apart. She closes her eyes and sinks into him for a moment.

"He was angry," she says. "He didn't mean it. He's not the kind of boy who means things like that. Even about girls like me."