CHAPTER 3
Kita waves at me from the table, as if I wouldn’t be able to find her in any crowd, but I wave back, because I am always excited to see her, too.
“Hi,” I say, dropping into the seat across from her. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She slides a coffee cup to me. “We are going to the arcade today.”
“Or else?” I tease, but she nods solemnly.
“Or else!”
When our food arrives, I think we’re going to have a quiet morning, but then I see Markoban.
“Oh dear.”
Kita looks and isn’t surprised. “Don’t worry. I told him where we were this time.”
“Here,” he puts a pad on the table, turning it to face her. “I am one hundred percent tracking chip free.”
She looks at it, eyes narrowed, and then looks up at him. “Is there a reason your procreation viability numbers are in this list too?”
Markoban looks embarrassed. “It’s always nice to be aware of things.”
Pushing the pad back toward him, Kita rolls her eyes. “Fine, you may join us for breakfast.”
He thanks her and sits down, ordering quickly. And it is a quiet morning, even with him asking Kita questions I would have thought he already knew.
My comm buzzes and I check the message while the two of them are distracted.
I’ve reserved the bath for tomorrow. Will you join me?
Of course.
“I don’t know human facial expressions well,” Markoban asks. “Is that a smile?”
Kit smacks him upside the head. “Don’t be obtuse. Of course, that’s a smile.”
“But that is not a normal smile. I’ve seen those before.”
Kita jumps in before I can even think of what to say. “She is being courted.”
“Really?” The surprise in his voice is expected. The positive nature of it… not so much.
“That’s great!”
“Thanks.” It feels weird to say.
“Is he a good guy?”
“Yeah, he’s wonderful.” That doesn’t feel weird to say.
Markoban looks at Kita. “Have you met him?”
She manages an “mmhmm” her lips pressed tight together.
“We could do a double date sometime.”
“Absolutely not.” I say, as Kita manages a “No” while choking and sputtering on her drink.
“Oh… okay, sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“We aren’t dating.” Kita reminds him.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Only because you haven’t said yes yet.”
“You haven’t asked!”
He tips his head to the side, and glances at the pad.
“Oh for… This isn’t the solar age anymore. You have to ask me on a date. You can’t just drop your viability numbers and expect me to take the hint. It’s dating, not mating.”
He winces.
“Sorry.” He looks down, curling two tentacles together like he’s holding his own hands.
I pick up my coffee and sip, staying out of this.
Taking a deep breath, Kita dips her head until she meets his eyes. “Ask me to go on a date with you.”
His voice is unsteady when he manages, “Will you go on a date with me?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” His posture changes and his eyes might sparkle.
“Did you think I told you to do it just so I could deny you?”
“Maybe?”
“I will go on a date with you.” Kita tells him. “You will plan it. Whether or not you get a second one is completely up to you. Don’t mess it up.”
He nods, snatching the pad off the table, and hurries away without saying goodbye… without waiting for his food.
“What do you think he’s going to plan?” I ask as Kita quickly flags down the waiter to cancel his breakfast.
“No idea, but it got him to stop thinking about who you’re seeing.”
“Did you agree to go on a date with him just because he was going to ask about—” I pause because I’m not sure what to call him in this moment. I settle on, “My love life?”
“Smooth catch.” She laughs and then shakes her head. “I’ve been thinking about interactions we’ve had over the past month or so. It’s been pretty obvious that he wanted to ask me out. I mean, you know that. You’ve been here for half of the things.”
“I had noticed, yes.”
Brows raised in an all-too-human gesture, she changes the subject and we finish our food.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, but I want to remind you, I am absolutely horrible at this kind of thing. Honestly, if you make me do anything where I have to move my hands in separate patterns or swing at things, you may get punched.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
I let her take my hand and lead me away through the corridors, but I catch a glimpse of someone and turn.
In the shadowy corner, leaning against the wall, watching… I don’t even know what, is Agan.
His lips are twisted in a sneer, but he doesn’t follow us, so I don’t mention it to Kita. I’m determined not to let him ruin any more of my days.