Page 57 of Starrily

“Like the one she broke up with because he gave her an anniversary ring.”

“She told you about that, too, huh?” Ava inspected him with narrowed eyes. “And how did Theia take to you?”

“She—uh—”

“She liked you, didn’t she?”

Simon shrugged. “Pets like me, in general.”

“Theia is anything but a general pet.” Ava put her hands on her hips. “Callie should listen to her cat sometimes.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Ava rummaged through her bag and pulled out her phone and a piece of paper. She put the paper onto the phone for support and scribbled something on it. “This is Callie’s flight number. It leaves in less than an hour.”

“I know. I bought her the tickets.”

“Of course you also—agh!” Ava stomped her foot. “Please, just go.”

“I’m sorry?”

“My friend is very dumb, and the more she likes someone, the more she’ll push them away. Don’t be the same kind of dumb.” She pushed the note into his hand as if he still needed it. “Now,gocatch a flight.”

***

Callie settled into her seat on the plane and busied herself with checking the magazines tucked into the back of the seat to soothe her nerves. Some were the good ones—from looking forward to getting a telescope observation—and others … well, the flight was short. She’d be fine.

Most accidents on planes take place during the take-off and landing. Has nothing to do with the length of a flight.

“Shut up,” she said out loud, then avoided the strange look of a woman on the aisle seat.

Traveling by plane is statistically the safest way to travel. Here, better already.

To stop thinking about planes—a tough task while being on one—she pulled out a book and put in her earphones. She made it to the second page when, from the corner of her eye, she sensed a commotion on the seats next to her, and someone stepping into the row. The seat in the middle should’ve been Jessica’s, but she was running late. So if this person wanted to sit here, it either meant they made a mistake or …

Oh, no. Please tell me I didn’t take someone’s seat again.She pulled out one earphone and prepared for the humiliation.

Instead, Simon slid into the seat next to her. “Hey, Phoenix.” He took off his sunglasses and smiled—casually, as if he was meant to be here. “Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

Chapter 14

Callie did a double take. “Simon?” He couldn’t be here. She was dreaming. Or the plane had crashed, and she was dying, and these were her last senseless thoughts.

“The one and only.” He winked, very much like the real Simon. Based on the complicated mix of feelings surging through her—nervousness from the upcoming flight, a string of happiness from him being here, and a lot of confusion—she could only surmise thiswasreal.

“How?” she got out.

“Well, I never had a twin. That I know of. Wouldn’t it be fun if I had an evil twin?”

“I mean,howare you here?”

“Jessica had a work emergency. Everyone else was busy, so I volunteered.”

“She didn’t call me.”

“It all happened very fast.” He tucked the sunglasses into his t-shirt. “So, off we go.”

“But she was supposed to document my work.”