Page 9 of Starrily

Oh, shit.

Chapter 3

Destiny had a pretty good sense of humor.

Well, maybe not destiny,Simon corrected himself. He didn’t need to ascribe that much gravitas to another meeting with this woman. It was a funny coincidence.

Shedidn’t look like she was finding it particularly funny. Everett had introduced him, and Simon had extended his hand, but she only stood there, looking marginally ill.

Hopefully, she wasn’t going to puke on him again.

The other man stepped forward and shook Simon’s hand. “Hello, hello. I’m Dr. Watzmann.”

He looked nervous, so Simon gave him a reassuring smile. “Pleased to meet you.”

“And this is Dr. Calliope Guidry, our astrophysicist.”

Calliope, huh? Simon looked at her. “A-muse-ing.”

She flinched as if she didn’t expect him to address her. “Excuse me?”

“Calliope. It’s the name of a muse.”

She pursed her lips into a tight line. What a shame—they were pretty nice, full lips. “Dr. Guidry will do.”

She really was allergic to ice-breakers, wasn’t she?

“Well.” Everett clapped his hands together, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “Shall we get down to business? Simon will swing by your office tomorrow,” he said toward Calliope.

“He’ll what now?” she blurted out.

Simon looked sharply at Everett.I’ll what now?

“Uh, Callie—remember when I said afewconditions?” Watzmann said. “The second is that Mr. Montague shadows you at work for a while.”

“What?” she recoiled.

“Sheis the scientist I need to follow?” Simon said to Everett at the same time. Destiny had a reallybadsense of humor.

Calliope’s eyes flashed between him and Everett as if trying to discern who represented a greater danger. “Uh … no. No,” she squeezed out, turned on her heels, and ran out of the room.

Watzmann swung his gaze back to Simon and Everett. “Excuse my colleague. I’ll—uh—she’ll come around. Tomorrow, then?” He nodded—Simon wasn’t sure whether to them or himself—and ran after Calliope.

“I suppose we’ll email you the rest,” Everett half-shouted after him. He shook his head. “Scientists. Crazy people.” And he gestured for Simon to leave.

“I’m not doing it,” Simon said, once they were on their way out. “If you need the article, find someone else for me to shadow.”

“Not you, too,” Everett muttered.

“Does it matter who I work with? You said it was for exposure. As long as it’sascientist, isn’t it the same thing?”

“And what’s wrong with her?”

“She’s completely humorless.”

“So you found the one woman who doesn’t fall for your bad jokes.”

“Hey! My jokes aren’t bad.”