AJ was too furious to care. “Yes, it was.”
With that, she stormed back into the house. In the hall, she took offher shoes and tried her best to slow her breathing. Outside, she heard Noah’s car rev to life and pull away.
The next day, AJhad half a mind to skip acting practice. But she didn’t want to go back on her bargain with Eudora—after failing Mike last night, the least she could do was deliver on theAstronauticalspanel. The second she faced Noah, her rage reignited.
Howdarehe.
“If I be waspish, best beware my sting,” she hissed, advancing on him.
“My remedy is then to pluck it out,” said Noah, taking a step back. They had started in the middle of the drawing room, but with each exchange, AJ drove him toward the entryway.
“Ay, if the fool could find where it lies,” said AJ, lunging forward again.
Another step back. “Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail,” said Noah, his spine hitting the wide doorframe.
AJ pressed up against him, jabbing her finger into his sternum. “In his tongue,” she said, giving his mouth an accusing stare, then flicking her eyes up to his, awaiting his rejoinder. His brow furrowed as he took her in. He swallowed.
“Line,” he said.
“Whose tongue?” said Eudora, seated over where they’d started in the drawing room.
“Whose tongue?” repeated Noah, his voice low.
“Yours,” said AJ, relaxing her hand so she could move another two inches toward him. She was right in his face. “If you talk of tales, and so farewell.”
Noah’s lips parted slightly.
“Scene,” called Eudora. “My goodness, AJ—they’ll need to keep a fire brigade parked out front with you as Kate. Let’s take it again from ‘You were a movable.’ ”
AJ’s eyes were still locked with Noah’s. She gave him a pointed glare, then walked back into the drawing room. Slowly, Noah peeled himself from the doorframe and strode in after her.
That night, AJ wasblessedly alone at Reel World. She processed the returns in a self-righteous haze, then hammered out a very satisfying fic for her forty-two followers: Glimmette bringing a treacherous crewmate to justice in zero gravity. After, she ducked out for a slice.
When she returned, Storm rose from behind the counter. “You just missed your boyfriend.”
“My—who?” said AJ. Storm nudged a small brown-bag parcel toward her.
“Coming in on his day off…it must be serious,” said Storm, slinking away.
AJ felt her cheeks warm as she opened the package and pulled out a tattered copy ofLaughter & Death: A Handbook for Improvisation,by Ezell Farr.
Trembling slightly, AJ flipped open the cover to find a looping inscription on the title page.
Noah—
My angry cherub, remember to eat.
Zell
Below it, Noah had added a note.
AJ-
Ezell wrote this while filming astronauticals. I thought you might like it.
Noah
A peace offering. AJ briefly considered chucking it. But there was something arresting about the way he’d written her name, hooking theJ beneath the A, a singular curve in an angular alphabet. Like he’d savored the pen stroke. She closed the book and tucked it in her bag.
