Smells horny\

“But you understand, right?” she asked. “That I’m straight? That we can never work?”
Ryn shrugged.
“Tell me you understand.”
“I do not.”
Her friend’s anger flared. “You need a chart or something? It’s a Venn diagram of ‘women’ and ‘people I date’ that’s two circles, never touching.”
“Let me tell you what I understand,” Ryn said. “I won’t call you any words—straight, gay—I don’t care for them.” She edged forward. “I know this.” She tapped her nose. “I smell how your body changes when I’m close. It changes even now. I didn’t recognize why, because your smell is different—special. But you have desires, and they’re stronger when I come close.”
“Ryn, I don’t— And how would you— You can’t smell desire, that’s crazy.”
“I can. Don’t lie to me and don’t tell me what I can’t do.” She was close enough now to touch her friend, and the girl had gone rigid like prey. “I can smell the sun in your hair, the rain on your skin. And when I step very close, like this, and when we stare at each other like we are now, your scent changes. I like that change.” Now she was near enough their breath spilled together. “It changes now.”
Naomi exhaled sharply, lips parting. She shook her head, but so minutely it barely registered. Then she shook it harder, stepping forcefully back. “I’m not gay. Okay? I like boys. I’m going to fall for a guy, I’m going to marry him in the same church as my mom and dad. Denise is going to be my maid of honor and you—you were going to be a bridesmaid. That’s how it goes.” Her eyes glassed with tears.


Chapter 19, Page 306