Across the room, Kepler squeezes the lime into glasses as Flora drops in mint leaves. After the last glass, Kepler looks up, his smoky grays pinning on me from across the room. When he finds me watching, he upnods, and I return the gesture, my heart thumping hard in my chest. I can’t stop this. Don’t want to stop this. This is more than a crush. More than me exploring this sexual awakening situation. More than friendship. What if I could fall in love with Kepler Quinn? What if I’m a bit in love with him already? What if I have been for years?
