It’s weird. She’s not even my type. Not that I really have a type, but she’s not what I ever thought I’d be attracted to. I guess I thought I liked them taller and curvier. And with hair. Maybe blonde hair. But here I am, thinking about Lin. Maybe it’s just because she’s the first girl in my working memory who’s ever expressed attraction to me. Maybe more. I don’t know. But since I remembered she existed when I read my log this morning, I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind. It’s fine. She’ll fly out in a little while and I’ll probably never see her again, and then I won’t need to dwell on her deep brown eyes anymore.
I stretch my sore legs under my desk. Andrea worked me hard this morning, but I’m trying to ignore the aches and focus on the spreadsheet. The numbers are telling me that even with all the cuts I’ve made, at our new burn rate we’ll still run out of liquid funds and have to start selling Syntech stock in less than a year. I need to cut costs even deeper, or figure out some other financial bridge until we can start the Geologist operations next year, but I just can’t make myself care.
It’s those eyes. All I can think of is the look in those dark eyes, gleaming with mischief as she snuck in for that little kiss on my cheek.
I push myself away from my desk. I can’t get anything done, and it’s almost time to see them off anyway. I cross my office and sigh at the wall where Evan has put up pictures of Dorothy and everyone he knows that had any connection to her. He’s going full detective on it, with strings and post-it notes and everything. Unfortunately, everyone that he’s identified as having a Dorothy connection that still works for us has passed my polygraph. I still have no idea who the mole is.
I can feel Lin and Yang Song heading out of their rooms in the residence. Time to say goodbye.
I walk out to the commons and get to the Research Center doors as they hit the grassy area, escorted by Louise. Lin seems like she’s doing even better this morning walking with a little bit of a spring in her step, but she’s glancing around a lot like she’s worried she’ll miss something. I step out onto the grass. She sees me and smiles. She stops looking around, so I guess I’m what she was looking for. I intercept them halfway across the field and walk with them to the gate. Yang Song sends a distrustful glance my way, then goes back to talking to Louise. It’s windy, so I have to form a mic to catch what they’re saying, but it just sounds like she’s repeating the after-care instructions that Lin is supposed to follow for the next few weeks. Lin angles her steps in my direction and walks very close to me. Even though the morning air is already almost body temperature, I swear I can feel the warmth of her next to me.
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“I was hoping to see you again,” she whispers.
“I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye,” I respond quietly. Her hand brushes against mine and I get an electric thrill. Does she want me to take her hand? I can’t tell. With Yang Song just a meter away on the other side of her, I don’t want to get her into any trouble. I turn and give her a smile instead, which she returns with interest.
Too soon, we’re at the gate where a car is waiting for them. Yang Song opens one door and motions for Lin to get in. Lin says something in Chinese and her translator answers back in what sounds to me like an annoyed tone. Lin says something else and Yang Song gets in the car and closes the door. Lin takes my hand, and I walk with her around to the other side. She maneuvers me so that I’m between her and the car and pulls my head down and kisses me full on the mouth. It’s like tasting honey for the first time. Sweet. Beautiful. New. Perfect.
I just grin like an idiot as she guides my hand to the car door handle and nudges me to get the door for her. I slowly take the hint and manage the very complicated task of pulling on the handle. She gets in and thanks me in English, giving me one more significant look. Yang Song didn’t see a thing, she was busy fussing with her seatbelt.
Louise laughs as they drive off.
“Very sly, Noah. What’s the deal? Her chaperone doesn’t let her kiss boys?”
“No idea,” I answer, only slightly connected to reality.
Most of me only exists a few moments in the past, running the kiss over and over in my mind. The rest of me frantically updates Lin’s index entry with the best descriptions I can come up with. None of it is even close, but hopefully it’ll bring that moment back.
“You OK, Noah?” Louise asks.
“Yeah, one sec, just making sure I don’t forget this,” I say as I finish the totally inadequate index entry.
Louise laughs at me again. “I got dibs on the next one. I think I need some of what you’re having.”
I just nod and keep grinning.
Mom, is it OK if I really like this feeling? I barely know this girl and I’ll probably never see her again. I might be an idiot.
Mom, is it OK for me to feel like this? I barely know this girl and I’ll probably never see her again.
My bot eyes can see that I look like an idiot, but I can’t seem to knock the smile off of my face.