First kiss

Recap

When Karlton pointed to one of the screens or demonstrated how a lever worked, our palms would brush against one another as we worked together. The most common manifestations of the experience were a tightness in my chest or a shiver down my backbone, which would spread throughout my entire body with the exception of my head and neck and would last for several hours. Even if the sensation of his hand stroking my hand had faded, the memory of his stroking my hand would remain in my thoughts for several days afterwards. I wore gloves to avoid having to wash my fingertips once more for the rest of my days.

My feelings for him had been completely irrational, and I couldn't trust them.