Ethan Tremblay 1:25 AM
Gonna head home, not feeling great.
Too many shots, probably.
Alexei Kovalenko 1:27 AM
???
Where have you been?
I can go with you
No. Absolutely not. If Alexei evenseesme right now, he will know something is up.
Ethan Tremblay 1:28 AM
Nah, stick with Carter.
Already in my Uber
Make sure he has a good birthday.
Alexei Kovalenko 1:29 AM
I think he left
Maybe he found a birthday hookup
Oh,shit. That can't be good.
Ethan Tremblay 1:30 AM
Still, you gotta make sure Finn gets back okay.
Do that for me, will you?
Alexei Kovalenko 1:32 AM
Will do.
Is cute, that kid. Like puppy.
With a concrete job ahead, Alexei seems more willing to let the conversation drop. Soon, the Uber pulls up to the highrise I call home. I leave a generous tip, unable to remember most of the ride.
At home, I jump in a shower, as hot as I can get it. I may not lovemy condo as a whole, but at least it has a nice bathroom. I sit on the floor of the enormous shower, the water beating down on me, and for the first time allow myself to really remember it.
His blue-gray eyes.
The blonde curls falling in his face.
His soft lips as they met mine.
I lean my head back against the wall and think, for just a minute, about how itcouldhave gone. How his mouth could have opened against mine, his hands could have grabbed for me, holding me closer instead of shoving me away.
With that memory, I come back to Earth. It was never going to go that way.
What did I think would happen? That his closeted, old captain would kiss him and he'd, what? Kiss me back? Agree we should hook up?
