“Stars like... celebrity stars? Are we going to a movie premiere?” I’m teasing, and he knows it.
“Stars, as in astronomical objects. Giant balls of gas undergoing nuclear fusion millions of light-years away.”
“So we’re going stargazing? Logan, it’s not even dark yet.”
“Not exactly.” That smile again—the one that makes my stomach flip. “Just trust me.”
Trust him. Two months ago, I wasn’t sure I’d ever trust him again. Now I’d follow him anywhere.
We exit the highway and wind through streets I don’t recognize until suddenly, I see it—the distinctive curved roof of the Adler Planetarium, silhouetted against the lake.
“The planetarium?” I sit up straighter. “I haven’t been here since a field trip in middle school.”
“Good. Then this will be new for you.” He pulls into the parking lot, which is surprisingly empty. “Or at least, this version of it will be.”
“What do you mean, ‘this version’?”
He parks the car and turns to face me, something almost shy in his expression. “I may have called in a favor. The planetarium is technically closed to the public today, but...” He trails off. “They’re opening it for us. Just us. For a private show.”
I stare at him. “You rented out the Adler Planetarium?”
“‘Rented’ is a strong word. I made a significant donation to their education fund, and in return, they agreed to let me use the Grainger Sky Theater for a few hours.” He’s watching my face carefully, trying to gauge my reaction. “Is that... OK? I wasn’t sure if it would come across as too much, but I wanted to do something special, and I remembered you mentioned once that you used to love coming here as a kid, and?—”
I kiss him.
It’s not a polite, public-appropriate kiss. It’s the kind of kiss that probably shouldn’t happen in a parking lot in broad daylight. When I finally pull back, he looks dazed.
“I take it that means you approve,” he manages.
“Logan Whitman, you ridiculous, wonderful man.” I’m grinning so hard my face hurts. “This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“Really?” He sounds genuinely surprised. “It’s just a planetarium.”
“It’s not ‘just’ anything. You remembered something I said months ago. You planned something around my interests, not just something flashy. You—” I shake my head, overwhelmed. “You see me. The actual me. That’s worth more than any grand gesture.”
My voice cracks on the last word. And that’s the terrifying part, isn’t it? Someone finally sees the analytical mess that I am, a person who turns feelings into data points—and he’s still here. Still looking at me like I’m something precious. I never want this feeling to end.
He reaches over and takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine. “I’ve always seen you, Audrey. Even when I was too scared to do anything about it.”
We sit there for a moment, holding hands in the parking lot of a planetarium he rented for me, and I think:This is what it’s supposed to feel like. This is what I’ve been waiting for.
“Come on,” he says finally, squeezing my hand. “Let’s go look at some stars.”
Inside, we’re met by the planetarium’s director of astronomy programs, who apparently knows Logan from some tech conference years ago. She greets us warmly, gives us a brief tour of the exhibits (empty and echoing without the usual crowds), and then leads us into the Grainger Sky Theater.
The room is massive—a domed ceiling stretching overhead, rows of reclining seats arranged in concentric circles. The lights are dimmed, and when I look up, I can already see the faint suggestion of stars beginning to appear on the curved surface above us.
“I’ve programmed a custom show based on Logan’s specifications,” the director says, a hint of amusement in her voice. “He was very... detailed in his requests.”
“I wanted it to be accurate,” Logan mumbles, his ears going pink again.
She winks at me. “Enjoy the show. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”
When she leaves, it’s just us—two people alone in a cathedral of artificial stars.
“Detailed specifications?” I ask as we settle into seats in the center of the room.
“There are certain things I wanted to show you. My favorite galaxies. A few nebulae that don’t get enough love. The current position of the Voyager probe. Also, a simulation of a massive black hole devouring a star, but only if you’re interested.”
