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“Maybe if you ask nicely, I’ll let you guest star.” I snorted, handing his phone back. “I just wanted you to see that. Bobby’s got similar dreams.”

Other than a log cabin, we hadn’t delved into talking about the future. I think I avoided it because it’d complicate whatever we had brewing. Yet, I caught myself drifting in that direction. I wanted to ask Junior if he knew any of Bobby’s dreams, but I wanted to hear it from the source.

I let out a hard exhale. “Thanks, Junior. I needed to hear that.”

“You can pay me back by doing a reaction video.” He gave me a wink. “Or at least a selfie for my fans.”

“Let’s do it.” He spun around, similar to Gladys, and I held up the gloves, smiling as he took the photo. “Make sure you tag me so I can share.”

I gave him a wave as I exited the store. On the sidewalk, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I grinned at the photo of Bobby standing next to that directional chicken thing on top of the barn roof.

Up to this point, I had been content living in the moment and enjoying my personal handyman. If we were going to take this relationship from fantasy to reality, it was time to explore the future.

Chris: So tell me, what do you want to be when you grow up?

“Wendy, stop putting Peter in a headlock.” I covered my hand with a script, groaning as the two toppled to the stage.

“Tiger Lily, stop riding Nana.” There was no stopping them as they ran back and forth.

Had their juice boxes been swapped out for soda and lunch with candy?

I need to check if tonight might be a full moon.

“This is madness,” I mumbled.

Laurel had a parent-teacher meeting and put the cast in my hands. I barely knew the kids’ names. Yelling didn’t have any effect on them. Did I let them go until they tired themselves out? This is why teachers deserved more money. How did they make these tiny terrors behave?

“Hey!” Will walked down the center aisle.

After reading his article, I hadn’t figured out what I wanted to say to him.

I’d deal with that later. Right now, I needed assistance.

A single word from him and everybody on stage froze.

“Cut it out.” His voice controlled the room, and the kids listened. “Mr. Wilde is trying to talk.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled to him. Now, with the entire cast staring at me, I forgot what I had planned. Apology notes to my former directors wouldn’t be enough. I’d need to buy them the finest bourbon. I understood why Laurel had taken to pacing and talking to herself.

“Line circle,” I said. Half a dozen hands shot up before I could explain myself. “I want everybody to sit in a circle. Then, take it from the top and recite your lines. The idea is to see how fast you can pick up your cues. If somebody misses a cue, make sure you’re helping them.”

“Got it, Mr. Wilde.” Ollie gave me a wave. It seemed the kiddo had regained some confidence. I might be blowing it as a director, but at least he walked away feeling like he belonged.

“In a circle!” Tinker Bell, the tiny tyrant. I wouldn’t argue if she helped keep everybody in line. As long as she didn’t bite anybody today.

Now to deal with another complicated situation. Turning to Will, I crossed my arms across my chest. “I know you’re the one writing the articles.”

“I wasn’t hiding it.” Teenagers. They had all the answers and more attitude than necessary. When I was his age, I had a chip on my shoulder the size of a small boulder. Eventually, time would temper it. Right now, I needed to uncover his fascination.

“Something doesn’t add up,” he said.

“If you wanted to write about me, you could talk to me. Better a first-hand source than the rumor mill.”

“Bobby isn’t the reason you came to Firefly, is he?”

I gestured to a chair. I listened as Pan and Wendy were going back and forth with their lines. When it went silent, somebody whispered… loudly… Michael’s name. He jumped in with a “Whoops,” and they continued. Perhaps we had hope of this going off without an issue?

Now to deal with Will. “Off the record? No. He’s not.

I came here because everywhere I turned, somebody wanted to drag my name through the mud to sell papers.

” I shot him a look, hoping he picked up on the irony.

“Everybody thinks being famous—” Yes, I used air quotes.

“—means we can take a beating day after day. Truth is, I’m angry that it has nothing to do with my performance.

Soft Spoken is a great movie. My best! But because I’m not wearing a cape or jumping off an exploding building, it got review-bombed. ”

I let out a long sigh. Of all people, I didn't expect my issues to come pouring out to a teenage journalist. "Being famous isn't all it's cracked up to be. Everybody thinks I owe them, and when I do something for myself, I'm the jerk."

“So, you came to Firefly to hide?”

“I know Jason and Simon from the convention. I mentioned needing an escape between projects. Jason sent me some listings. I know you’re itching to get away from Firefly, but there is something magical about it.”

“Honestly? I don’t care why you’re here.”

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if??—”

“I care about my uncle.”

He might be searching for a way out and rebelling against authority, but Will still had the heart of a Fireflian... Fireflier? He wanted what was best for Bobby. Any animosity I might have over the newspaper articles evaporated.

“I care about him, too.” I meant every word. “But you’re right; your uncle turned out to be the best accident I could have hoped for.”

The kids had made it to Neverland, and the Lost Boys were giggling over their lines. I watched as Ollie pointed to a boy who missed a line. There were a lot of accidents since that first night. Bobby. The play. Spaghetti dinner. Things were changing, even if I couldn’t predict how.

“I feel like there’s more to this story.”

I chuckled. “You’re going to make a good journalist.”

“You’re not going to tell me. Are you?”

I shook my head. “Some secrets deserve their locked boxes. But I’ll make you a promise.”

Tinker Bell had gotten to her feet. I got up, ready to sprint to the stage if she latched onto one of her classmates. Will eyed me, waiting for my proposition.

“There’s a story unfolding. I don’t quite know what it is, at least not yet. But when I can put words to it, I’ll give you the exclusive.”

“Really?” Skeptical, another mark of an excellent journalist. “Why help me?”

Had I been that distrusting of adults as a kid? Or maybe he still saw me as an outsider? I cracked a smile. I might not be from Firefly, but the longer I spent here, the more I saw the potential.

“You deserve your chance outside Firefly. It’s the least I can do for your mum.” Laurel had come to me asking for a huge favor. But as Ollie belted his lines, I realized I was the one benefitting.

“You like him, don’t you?”

I liked a lot of things. I liked the smell of the air as a storm got ready to drop rain.

I liked the first cool day of the year when I could put on wool socks.

I liked a good glass of bourbon and the lingering taste of juniper.

I liked daydreaming about the future and wondering what might be.

No. Like didn’t quite cover the ripple Bobby caused since our first meeting.

I liked him, yes. But I liked the potential we had even more.

“I’m going to take that goofy expression as a yes.” Before I could reply, he pushed past me, charging the stage. “Nobody said build a human pyramid!”

We had only looked away for a few minutes, and they were already on all fours, stacked three children high. I wanted to keep imagining the future with Bobby, but that wouldn’t happen if I went to jail for child neglect. I risked the possibility as I grabbed my phone and sent Bobby a text.

Chris: Date night. Tomorrow. Dress warm.

That’d give me time to plan the romantic date Bobby deserved.