The Chaos of Stars

With a pang I’m reminded of Ubesti. I never let my parents get me another pet after her. Just another thing to love and lose. I gently shoo Ry’s cat away with my foot. She mews reproachfully and saunters out of the room.

Ry watches her go, eyes narrowed, then shakes his head. “Want anything?” he asks Scott, who’s engrossed in a video game. It’s so big on the television that I don’t know how he can keep track of anything going on.

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Coke, Isadora?”

“Yes, please.”

He pulls a cold can out of a hidden fridge in the bar and hands it to me. “So.”

“So?”

“The entryway is off-limits, but what would you do with this room?”

“What makes you think I’d do anything with it?”

His dimple shows up. “You glared at the blinds.”

“It’s a great room! Really. But . . .” My mouth twists into a reluctant smile. I detail my plans, and Ry nods, following my finger as I point out what would go and what could stay.

“. . . And the overhead lighting is pretty, but wrong for this room. There shouldn’t be any fixtures, just recessed lights along the edges of the room, with a dimmer so you could control the level.”

“I should have you talk to my mom,” he says, thoughtfully staring at where the popcorn machine would go.

“Is she here?” Scott sits up straight, suddenly engaged in the conversation.

“Don’t think so.”

“Aw, crap.”

“Plans for hitting on DeeDee thwarted?” Tyler asks as she walks into the room and sits next to Scott.

“Sadly, yes.”

“Wait—you want to—his mom?” Eww. Just, eww. People suck. “You’re okay with that, Tyler?”

Tyler shrugs, her sharp shoulders lifting the corners of her mouth at the same time. “Yeah. But only because I’d probably make out with her if I got the chance, too. You should see her.”

I look at Ry in horror, embarrassed for his sake, but he shakes his head. “Used to it.”

“Really, you need to see her,” Tyler insists.

“Really, I can promise you that I’ll have no desire whatsoever to hit on Ry’s mom if and when I see her. Ever.”

Tyler and Scott snort their private laughter. “Sure. If you think Ry’s gorgeous, just wait.”

“Who says I think Ry’s gorgeous?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

“Nature pretty much demands it. Unless—are you a robot?” Scott slaps his forehead. “Of course!”

Tyler nods solemnly. “We should have seen it sooner. That long, elegant neck, those eyes, the hips, the perpetual good-hair days. Totally a robot.”

“The only question that remains is whether she’s a good robot, or an evil one.”

“Well, Hera liking you might indicate you’re evil,” Ry says. “But then again, nothing evil could appreciate my truck as much as you do. Speaking of, can I offer you rides anywhere you want for the rest of the summer in return for redesigning my bedroom?”

“Time for us to go!” Tyler says, standing up so fast she dumps Scott, who had his legs across her lap, on the ground. “Just remembered we have a thing! I’ll call you later!” She practically skips out of the room, dragging her grinning boyfriend by the hand.