“Oh my God, that’sgorgeous,” she said effusively.
“Thanks,” said AJ, her cheeks scalding.
“When’s the big day?” she asked. Now they were best friends.
“We haven’t set a date yet,” said AJ, taking her hand back. With AJ doing the cons and Brian crisscrossing the country for baseball all summer, they had tabled the conversation until the fall. She glanced at Noah, who was watching this exchange with detached interest. As far as AJ knew, he was still seeing Allison Seabring.
The staffer reappeared with two folding chairs.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Drew,” he said, dusting off the seats. “I still have feelers out about a table.” He made a squeezing motion with his fingers.
“Great,” said Noah.
They situated themselves a little way from the others. Toni did not renew her complaint about being blocked.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” said Noah, nodding toward AJ’s headshots.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Drew. I don’t know if we have any more…”
Noah smirked. “I’m going to see it eventually.”
AJ felt a tremor of warmth—a fresh green shoot in the scorched ley line of their bond. Noah didn’t seem to think Comic Expo was beneath him at all. In fact, he was in a very good mood, as if there were no place he would rather be than sitting beside AJ on a folding chair.
AJ grimaced and handed him the photo she’d signed for Meagan.
Noah covered his mouth, his eyes softening as he took in her face. Then he burst out laughing.
“From AJ Graves?” he read. “Are you writing to her from your oak desk?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said AJ. “What’s yours,xoxo Rho?”
“I was just going to let the Sharpie burn through the paper, but that’s a good idea.”
AJ cackled, and Noah looked extremely pleased.
“Heads up,” called Xiaobo. They looked away from each other to find a mob of cosplayers rushing their row.
Word was out: Noah Drew was in the house.
At the sight of the stampede, AJ’s stomach lurched. One fan had felt…manageable. Nice, even. And more to the point, in line with AJ’s perception of the show’s reach. This crowd—it had to be Noah. Had this many people even heard ofInto the Blue?
“Single file, please single file!” their row staffer wheezed.
Meagan had pushed her way to the front of the pack, closely trailed by a duo in full Arho getups—an enormous, bald man dressed in Ana Tar’s flowing white robes and a slight woman with a black pixie haircut, Rho’s leather armor, and a swirling facial tattoo.
They sidestepped the staffer and the signing table, arriving breathless before AJ and Noah.
“What did I tell you?” said Meagan, elbowing between them.
“I just,” breathed giant Ana, his eyes brimming. “I can’t believe it’s you!” He reached out his hands, and AJ automatically gave him hers. Noah sat forward, alert.
“So protective!” said giant Ana approvingly. “Don’t you justloveher?”
AJ’s heart stopped. She didn’t dare look at Noah.
“I’m Otto,” the cosplayer continued blithely. “Obviously, I’m an Ana. This is Oona, she’s my Rho.”
“We are the co-chairs of the Blue Coats Society,” said Oona in a scratchy, meaningful voice.
