Freya’s happiness was short lived. Without Unity, nothing felt good for long. The sun was brighter but, somehow, the day had diminished. Dan was taking a different way back, driving north on Old Franconia Road. Freya couldn’t figure out why, but it seemed like too much effort to ask. When the car pulled into the cramped parking lot of the Littleton Diner, it was like he’d suddenly pulled up to Disneyland.
“Thank, God. Dan, you’re a genius.”
“I’m just hungry, but thanks,” Dan said. From his wan smile, Freya knew he also suffered from withdrawal.
“I was so wrapped up in thought I forgot I need to eat. No wonder I feel so shitty.”
“You’re not alone there,” Dan admitted. “Don’t let me order the whole menu.”
The Littleton Diner was an old-fashioned railcar diner with chrome-rimmed red leatherette seats. All the booths were full, and Freya and Dan sat at the end of the counter next to a drink bubbler continually spraying pink lemonade in a glass tank.
Freya had never in her life seen anyone order a drink from one of those machines. Many of the diners were dressed in military uniforms, and she guessed they were headed to a parade.
Freya had meant to order a cheeseburger, but she saw a lance corporal in dress blues eating a plate of huevos rancheros and decided she wanted that instead. Dan got the Sunday special porterhouse. They devoured everything and felt immensely better.
“Have you been hungrier since this started?” Dan asked as she mopped up the last of her eggs with rye toast.
“Yeah, and I’ve wanted to eat unusual stuff. The other day I was really hungry for mussels.”
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“Weird, I ate way too much clam chowder the other day. Two whole cans, and I was thinking about buying another from the gas station when I was done. Really hoping this doesn’t end with some xenomorph bursting out of my chest.”
It was supposed to be funny, but neither of them laughed.
“I thought about getting an MRI, but then I realized if they found something they would want to take it out and all this would stop. Uh…” Freya said, frowning, “have you been sleepwalking at all?”
“I don’t think so, but not sure if I’d know.”
“I drank an entire case of Ensure while I was asleep. I woke up feeling like I was going to explode.”
“Woah…” Dan trailed. “I thought I was just having a growth spurt. I’m an inch taller than I was in September.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I measured after my mom said something.”
“I’m growing, too,” Freya said, motioning to her chest with her chin.
“Oh? I hadn’t noticed.”
“You absolutely did,” Freya said flatly. She’d caught him staring about a hundred times.
“Guilty,” Dan grinned. “Everything seems like it could be within normal parameters so far, though. Do you notice anything different about me?”
“You seem more filled out, especially your shoulders. I can’t tell what’s changed and what’s just that I’m in—” Freya caught herself about to blurt it out. Suddenly, Dan’s eyes blazed with interest. Freya took a deep breath.
“In love with you,” she finished. Immediately, she was afraid she shouldn’t have said it, it was the wrong place, way too soon.
His hand found hers under the counter, and their eyes met.
“I love you, too,” Dan said.
He’d said it quietly, just for them. But the words thumped in her chest like a kick drum. For several beats, she was so stunned she could only stare back, trying not to cry. It was only when she’d paid the check, and they were going through the ritual of starting the Toyota, she realized Lassa had been right.
There was no doubt at all.