Alone in my apartment, my skin feels electric.
Iwantto go back out and ask him to take me home with him.
So, I strip down and get into bed instead, pulling up my comm and sending my own promised “home safe” text.
I hit the flickering panel on the wall, and when it’s out, I relax into my pillows and wait for the expected reply.
Kita
So… You’re home later than expected. How did it go?
I really like him.
I think I might be in trouble.
As I read her response, I can almost hear her sigh.
I love you. You are definitely in trouble, but I think you’d be in more trouble if you tried not to like him.
We went to dinner.
Good. He better feed you.
We talked about how I wound up here.
Do you think your parents would like him?
Mom would. Dad… he’d probably threaten to bite off tentacles if I get hurt.
The comm pings from the Phantom app.
Sirin
I am home… despite almost turning around a dozen times.
I almost ran after you.
I talk to both of them, far later than I should, and eventually, Kita says goodnight.
I don’t want to say goodnight to Sirin. I never do.
So, I don’t. I fall asleep mid-sentence and I dream of him… like I always do.
CHAPTER 3
Kita waves at me from the table, as if I wouldn’t be able to find her in any crowd, but I wave back, because I am always excited to see her, too.
“Hi,” I say, dropping into the seat across from her. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She slides a coffee cup to me. “We are going to the arcade today.”
“Or else?” I tease, but she nods solemnly.
“Or else!”
When our food arrives, I think we’re going to have a quiet morning, but then I see Markoban.
“Oh dear.”
