Page 57 of True Colors

“Can I pick you up?”

“I’m going to bike. It’s just a mile and a half away.”

I want to press her on this, but I also don’t want to spook her. It’s a date non-date since I didn’t ask her out, just sort of asked to tag along with her.

Ria’s right. I’ve got absolutely no game.

“You sure?”

She nods.

“What time should I be there?”

“Ten-thirty? The…p-presentation s-starts at eleven.”

“I’ll meet you at the entrance at ten thirty then.” I’ll probably be there early just in case I miss her, but she doesn’t need to know that.

I walk her to the parking garage and watch as she unlocks her bike, mounts it, and pedals into the evening fog.

I grin like an idiot all the way to The Golden Eye Social, where I’m meeting Theo for a drink.

He takes one look at me as I slide onto the barstool beside him. “What’s gotten you into such a good mood? Did you fire someone?”

“I’m going to the planetarium tomorrow,” I tell him, still smiling like a fool.

Theo’s eyes flicker. “Huh?”

“Yeah. Some…exoplanet thing.”

“Huh?” he repeats.

I wave down the bartender. “Doesn’t matter.”

Theo gives me a measured look. “What’s going on?”

I grin. “What do you mean? I’m just living my best life.”

He gives me a long, investigative-journalist stare—the one that sees through bullshit for a living. “I said nonsense like that when I met Ria.”

I snort. “Just because you’re a sap who fell in love doesn’t mean we all will.”

But the truth hits me like a punch to the ribs.

I’ve fallen for Anouk Starling.

Hard.

I haven’t even kissed her yet, and I’m sunk.

I have, however, fantasized a whole lot about touching my mouth to her soft, impossibly pillowy lips.

Theo leans in, suddenly worried. “Please tell me it isn’t Erin.”

“God, no.” I rub my forehead. “Absolutely not. In fact…it’s…ah…no one.”

If my family gets even a hint that I’m interested in a woman, they’ll descend on me like joyful, well-meaning vultures, and I am not ready for that circus.

Theo lifts his beer. “That’s exactly what I said when I met Ria.”