“Don’t expect any favors just because you’re with me,” he said, walking ahead. He and Libby were so alike: on his own turf, Mike was the alpha. Something to do with being a D&D prodigy.
“Roger that, Dungeon Master,” said AJ, trading grins with Noah as they followed Mike inside.
The SFSB chair, Peter van der Hopper, was about forty and looked like a college professor, only he wielded a Klingon bat’leth instead of a pointer.
“It’s great to see so many of you again. Oh, hello, sister of Mike!” He nodded to AJ, who sank three inches as his eyes slid past her to Noah. “Andsome new faces. Now, we have a very full agenda today, so let’s try not to get too bogged down in the drama from the boards.”
Too late. Conflict had already erupted between the Trekkies and the Nauticals.
“For the last time,” said a boy in a Gumby shirt. “Star Trekdid not steal the idea of a space whale fromAstronauticals.”
“First,” said Mike scathingly, “the term isn’tspace whale.It’scrater whale,orcrale.Second, they absolutely did. Gomtuu onNext Gen? Comeon.”
As the discussion raged, AJ caught a number of SFSB members glancing at her legs. Apart from one much older woman with a pageboy haircut, AJ was the only girl in the room.
Then the looks stopped. It took AJ a few minutes to realize it was because Noah had lightly draped his arm over the back of her chair. He wasn’t touching her—he was probably just stretching. But it was enough to scare off every nerd in that room.
“Settle down, everyone,” said Peter van der Hopper. “Springfield Comicon is upon us. We’re going to be hosting another Magic card auction, big thanks to all who participated last year. And as some of you know, it’sAstronauticals’ thirty-fifth anniversary. Our panel is nearly complete, but we’d really love to get someone from the original cast. I’ve written to Elmore Aldrich. It’s a long shot because he’s out in L.A., but he’s still pretty active.”
“What about Eudora Drew?” asked a man in a Han Solo T-shirt. “She’s local.”
Behind AJ, Noah’s arm tensed.
“She never responded when I reached out for the thirtieth, but it could be worth another shot,” said Peter van der Hopper, shuffling his papers.
“You could ask her,” said Mike, turning directly to Noah.
Now all eyes were on Noah, taking in the long profile, the dark hair and eyes, the insane handsomeness. In context, he was easily recognizable as Daniel Drew’s son.
“Mike,” hissed AJ, blood rushing to her face. She didn’t dare look at Noah. Eudora had become increasingly reclusive after Ezell’s death in 1993—Mike’s request was wildly inappropriate.
“What?” said Mike, shrugging. “You said he’s a Nautical.”
Noah cleared his throat. “We can ask her,” he said, glancing at AJ. Her heart skipped.
“Wait, really?” said Mike, flashing a fanged grin. “I did not think that would work.”
“We can ask,” Noah repeated.
“Well, all righty then,” said Peter van der Hopper, unable to keep a trill of excitement out of his voice. “We also need volunteers to work the check-in counter on Sunday.”
As the conversation moved on, AJ’s heart continued to beat a little faster than usual.
We,he’d said.
Twenty minutes from Gladstone’scenter, Drew House was a buttercream Gilded Age mansion, the famous family’s country hideaway for four generations. As Noah’s Camaro pulled into the large circular driveway, AJ’s adrenaline surged.
She’d nearly met Eudora Drew once before—at Gladstone Elementary’s Halloween costume contest. The grand dame had been slated to judge.
But when ten-year-old AJ had won for Pippi Longstocking, Eudora Drew had been nowhere in sight. Instead, AJ had been awarded her Baskin-Robbins gift card by a high schooler in a Jason mask who was so realistic AJ had shrieked in front of the entire school. Peoplestillcalled her PippiLung-stocking.
AJ shuddered at the memory as Noah led her under the portico. He hesitated. “It’s not m—”
“Don’t you dare sayIt’s not much,” said AJ.
Noah huffed a laugh.
The thick oak door swung inward to reveal a vaulted entryway, complete with a grand staircase curving up to a balcony, an ample crystal chandelier, and a seven-foot grandfather clock.
