1269_UgliesFreeBook

240 Scott Westerfeld
Tally’s fingers went to the gloves tucked into her belt.
“Shay, I’m sure David didn’t mean to—”
“I’m sure he did. People always think long and hard
about gifts in the Smoke.”
Tally bit her lip. It was true. She pulled the gloves from
her belt. “You should take them.”
“I. Don’t. Want. Them.”
Tally sat back, stunned. First Croy, now this.
“No, I guess you don’t.” She dropped the gloves. “But Shay,
shouldn’t you talk to David before you go nuts about this?”
Shay chewed at a fingernail, shaking her head. “He
doesn’t talk to me that much anymore. Not since you
showed up. Not about anything important. He’s got stuff on
his mind, he says.”
“Oh.” Tally gritted her teeth. “I never . . . I mean, I like
David, but . . .”
“It’s not your fault, okay? I know that.” Shay reached
out and gave Tally’s heart-shaped pendant a little flick. “And
besides, maybe your mysterious someone will show up,
and it won’t matter anyway.”
Tally nodded. True enough, once the Specials got here,
Shay’s romantic life would be the least of anyone’s worries.
“Have you even mentioned that to David? It seems like
it might be an issue.”
“No. I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“It just never came up.”