For some reason, he was really passionate about doing this.
AJ didn’t dare think—but it had to be said: none of these events would have been half as high profile—or as lucrative—if Noah hadn’t been present. And if these appearances had not, in fact, been his publicist’s suggestion, then…
Slowly, AJ looked up at his face, pulse in her ears. When he saw the intensity of her expression, he smiled tentatively.
“You okay?” he asked.
AJ searched his brilliant eyes, trying to read him. “Why are you doing this?”
He gave her an odd look. “Doing what?”
“The cons.”
Noah drummed his long fingers on the table. “I told you, grassroots support.”
AJ’s eyes bored into his. “No other reason?”
Noah swallowed. “And because I want to.” He looked at her cautiously. “Why?”
AJ shrugged, her heart pounding. “Just curious,” she said, leveling her eyes at him. “Figured I’d ask, since it’s the last one.”
“What if this didn’t have to be your last one?”
AJ and Noah jumped.
Oona and Otto had somehow slipped past security and were now before them in full Arho gear.
The muscle in Noah’s jaw worked as he turned from AJ. “Come again?” he said gruffly.
Oona matched his surliness. “What Ottomeansto say is that folks are thrilled that you two are back, and there is massive interest in a potential Blue Con later this year.”
“A Blue Con?” said Noah more genially.
“Yep,” said Oona—they were now speaking Rho to Rho. “A con purely devoted toInto the Blue.I guess if you wanted to invite your aunt for anAstronauticalscrossover chat, that would be okay.”
AJ suppressed a smile at this. “Good to know,” said Noah.
“You wouldn’t have to do anything except show up,” said Oona. “And we know you guys don’t, like, do this out of the kindness of your heart, so, FYI, the money in private cons is, like,good.”
Like how good,AJ wanted to ask.
“Please say yes!” said Otto.
“I’m sorry,” said Risa, emerging from the back of the booth. “But that won’t be possible. Noah’s fully booked this entire fall.”
“I can make it work,” said Noah with a swift glance at Risa. “Unless—Age, can you?”
AJ’s heart flipped. “Yes,” she said, before she could stop herself.
“Great,” said Risa in a voice that sounded like death as she trudged to the back of the booth.
“S-so you’ll consider it?” stammered Oona, whom AJ had never seen look uncool.
Noah nodded. By now, their castmates had taken notice. As Otto and Oona pitched the idea to Xiaobo, Dave, and Toni, Noah flipped over his headshot and scribbled his agent’s email on the back, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Relief coursed through AJ. It wasn’t over yet.
So much for getting on with her real life.
