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Jennette

My heart flutters.

He didn’t just say that, right? With no preamble. Yet it doesn’t feel like a line or a come-on, like bullshit he’s trying to see if he’s got a shot at a con hookup. Tad shoots him an impressed look and Jaz grins at me, raising her brows.

“My man Seeker with the smooth moves,” Tad says. “I need to learn from you.”

He seems puzzled. “Learn what?”

Okay, he probably doesn’t mean that how it sounded. My pulse steadies as I apply myself to my food. I should have realized he isn’t declaring a romantic interest the second we meet in person. That would be weird.

He’s a little older than I thought he would be, possibly even forty, but I can’t think of a good way to ask.

In a friend group, it really doesn’t matter how old everyone is, provided they get along well and have a lot to talk about.

It only matters if we date, and I admit that’s one of my fantasies—that we get together at some point.

I steal another surreptitious look, admiring his shaggy dark hair, touched with silver at the temples.

His face is long and narrow, with a strong jaw and nose.

His eyes are deep brown. If I saw him without knowing who he was, I probably wouldn’t spare him a second look.

The silence is a bit extended now. I think Tad is surprised that Seeker doesn’t get the joke, but I’ve been in his situation. Sometimes I don’t get humor that’s obvious to other people. Jaz is on her phone, maybe typing a message.

I answer for Tad. “He’s saying he needs help in the charm department.”

“Was that a charming thing to say?” Seeker asks. “I was only being honest.”

Tad laughs. “There he goes again. I doubt I could learn those instincts in a thousand years. In fact, if there was an Olympic event for putting my foot in it, I’d win the gold every time.”

“I’m sure you’re not that bad,” Jaz says, tucking away her cell phone.

“We like you as you are,” I add.

Tad just shakes his head, making a dismissive motion. “I’d rather talk about the game. You’ve been playing for a while now, and I’ve been busy with the day job. So, what’s the verdict? Should I think about releasing it?”

“Definitely,” Jaz says. “The UI could use a bit of polish, but the overall concept is sound. And fun.”

“Maybe there could be more in the endgame,” I suggest.

“Like what?” Seeker asks.

“Like a wrap-up regarding what became of the aliens you created? Maybe you could do an ‘if, then’ sort of algorithm and generate a random outcome based on certain evolutionary paths?”

“They conquered twelve planets before going to war with superior technology and were obliterated?” Tad suggests.

“Exactly. So the game doesn’t just randomly end.”

“I like that addition,” Jaz says. “It could use a bit of something when we come to the end of the evolutionary path.”

Right now, it just displays a dark screen with the words: Your alien is fully evolved. Thanks for playing.

Tad seems thoughtful. “Hmm. I might be able to do something like that, based on the choices that were made during the evolutionary process.”

I’m focused on him and Jaz, trying to hide how much I’d rather be staring at Seeker, who appears to be listening with complete focus. I wonder if he stares at his phone like that when we’re messaging each other. His dark eyes are trained on me, more than the others.

I can’t let myself be misled again. It doesn’t mean that he’s into me, even if he regards me with that deceptive intensity.

Besides, he’s too old for me. Probably.

Soon, we wrap up the meal and split the bill.

Tad pays and I give him cash, as does Jaz.

Then the four of us stand up, preparing to go our separate ways.

We wind up outside the diner, and Tad has car keys in hand, but Seeker and Jaz don’t seem to have any.

He’s quieter than I expected, given how much he talks online.

Maybe he’s like me, better in a virtual setting.

“Do you have a ride?” I ask him.

“I walked over,” he replies.

“I need a shower,” Jaz says, offering a little fluttery wave. “I’m staying nearby.”

“And I’m longing to stretch out,” Tad asks. “We can catch up tomorrow after we’ve rested. Meet up with Stargazer and FFH.”

“Sounds great,” Jaz agrees.

They both head out, leaving me to offer Seeker a ride. I hope this isn’t intentional matchmaking. I’d be so embarrassed if they could tell I have a crush. I try to make this sound casual.

“If you give me the address, I can drop you off.”

“That would be very kind. It’s been a long day.”

I get the sense that he’s understating the situation. I don’t know why I think that, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who complains for the sake of it. “My car is this way. We can put your rucksack in the back.”

It’s an interesting bag. It seems to be a military duffel, but judging by its age, it can’t belong to Seeker personally. He might have gotten it from a relative or thrifted it. He shoulders it easily, so that means he travels light.

“What a lovely color,” he says as we reach my car.

Which is how I felt when I found my xB back in the day. “Thanks. I dread having to change vehicles. I really love this car.”

“Then why change? Will it become impossible to repair?”

Sometimes he asks questions that make me feel like he’s new here. But then, I look for signs of alien life everywhere I go, so of course I’d think that.

“It can be challenging to find parts once they discontinue a model.”

If he’s never owned a car, he wouldn’t know that. People in big cities all over the world go their entire lives on public transit. Seeker might be one of those types. Which explains why he doesn’t know about car maintenance or upkeep.

“Oh, I see,” he says. “I don’t have a driving license or a personal vehicle.”

English isn’t his primary language, but he doesn’t have a recognizable accent. I unlock the car, stow his bag, and we both climb in. Maybe I’m fixating on minuscule details, just as Glynnis says I do. He certainly intrigues me, no doubt about that.

“Give me the address?”

He recites it from memory and I input it into my phone. Two miles away. Does that mean he walked all the way there, just to sip water and sit with us for half an hour?

“I hope it’s not out of your way?”

“Not at all,” I lie. In fact, I’m a mile and a half in the other direction, but I have a car, so it doesn’t matter. “Did you hike into town from there?”

I have to know.

“No, I came from the bus station. It wasn’t far.”

Oh. That means he didn’t even stop off at his rental.

I tell myself it’s not because he was so eager to see me, only that he wanted to meet people before crashing for the night.

I slide a glance at his profile as I start the car.

Everything he packed for the week is in that single duffel bag?

He’s not a cosplayer; that much is certain. I envy his ability to travel light.

Rellows is gearing up for the huge week-long party.

There are banners everywhere, signs advertising special sales.

They don’t have a venue large enough to house the behemoth Space Con has become, so it’s held at the county fairgrounds with overflow events in various spaces around town.

They’re talking about building a community center that would have conference rooms and an event hall, but I doubt it would be big enough either.

The town can’t support a hotel of a suitable size the rest of the year.

“Did you travel a long way?” I ask, breaking the silence as I drive.

“It seemed so.”

An odd response, I think. Not a yes or a no.

I’ve only traveled via Greyhound once, and it was the longest six hours of my life.

He must’ve really wanted to meet us to put himself through that.

The realization colors my words, and I can’t help but feel flattered, even if he came to see all of us, not me personally.

“You can rest up tonight before our adventures begin tomorrow,” I say cheerfully.

“Is that a promise?”

Ugh, I’m so bad at this. That sounds flirtatious, maybe even suggestive. But I got my hopes up earlier and it turned out to be nothing. He doesn’t have a crush on you, I tell myself. It’s not mutual. Unrequited feelings are what you do.

I finally figure out what to say, the perfect note of lightness. “To have adventures? Absolutely. We can sample all the delights Space Con has to offer.”

“As long as I’m guaranteed more time in your company,” Seeker says seriously.

My silly heart flutters. Again.