Page 351 of End Game

“Pressure.”

“Anything sharp?”

“No.”

“Burning? Tingling? Electric?”

She glances at him. “Electric is really one of the words?”

“Yes.”

“Good to know.”

He has her move her fingers.

Open and close her hand.

Then he changes something slightly.

“Different?”

“Tighter.”

“Better or worse?”

She considers. “Not bad. But I liked it better before.”

He changes it back immediately.

Then looks at the rest of us. “She wins.”

Jeremiah nods.

“You can understand anatomy and know exactly how you think the rope should feel,” Drake continues. “You still don't live in her nervous system.” His eyes stop on me. “The bottom's report always outranks your visual opinion.”

I almost smile.

When he's finished, he removes everything and checks her arm again before he lets her leave the mat.

Cami rubs her wrist.

Alexis looks at her. “Well?”

Cami thinks. “Less dramatic than I expected. But I liked the pressure.”

My body responds to that sentence in a way which is inappropriate for an educational environment.

Drake begins gathering rope. “That is enough for today.”

Carter looks startled.

“You've been here more than two hours.”

He looks at his watch. “Oh.”

Drake points at the four of us. “Your homework is not tying up your girlfriends.”

Carter raises both hands, palms forward. “I wasn't going to.”