Page 134 of Dream Girl
Spencer laughed. “The actor? He is perceived as being very much the charming, omega flirt and plays that role quite well.”
“Ah, I see.”
“If you have questions, please, ask me. When Evan told me a little about you, he didn’t mention that your world came withoutdesignations. It’s very curious. Perhaps you have them and just do not label them?” he asked.
“Magic dicks are not a thing where I live, and no one smells so good.” I relaxed into my seat, enjoying the way the car smelled.
“I see. Evan told me that you and Wes met in your dreams. While the mind is extraordinary, that seems like a feat, bedtime stories of dream-traveling soulmates aside,” he added.
“Bedtime stories of dream-traveling soulmates?” I should look those up. Sometimes I still wondered how Wes and I managed to find each other in the first place. It really wasn’t the wedding cake under my pillow.
“My mother used to tell me tales like that. Supposedly, sometimes scent matches, soulmates, dream of each other,” he told me. “There are several famous romantic books and movies based on the premise. Usually they’re not from other worlds.”
I sucked in a breath. “Oh. We… we are. I mean, it seems like a cosmic joke to have your soulmate be from another world. Yet here I am? This really is something.”
“But you found him. You found him, and you have him. He loves you–and you love him. I know you’re afraid, but you have been given a greater gift than you know.” A haunted look danced in his eyes.
“You’re right.” Oh. I bit back the questions. LikeWho were theyandWhat happened to them?The look on his face said that once, he’d loved someone very much.
And lost them.
We pulled into what looked like a drive-in restaurant, bright and colorful, filled with cars and a lot of teenagers. The car settled into a spot, and a girl in fishnets roller-skated up to us.
“Can I take your order?” she asked, snapping her gum.
“Two orders of potato balls, one of each sauce, a lemon-lime soda, and… Grace, what would you like to drink?” he asked me.
I looked at the lit-up menu. “A chocolate whirl?”
Whatever that was. Half the fun of this world was ordering things and seeing if I liked them.
“Perfect.” She took his payment and skated off.
I looked around at the servers and the ambiance. This was not where I’d expected him to take me. Besides the car spots, there were tables and benches, filled mostly with teenagers and young couples.
“The best fried potato balls anywhere,” Spencer told me.
He pushed a button on the menu, and a small shelf appeared, which he extended through his open car window, pushing his seat back so there was a little table.
“My father used to take me to one of these, back where I grew up in Greece,” he told me. “Usually as payment for helping him with something at work.”
“I used to love helping my dad in the hardware store.” I squeezed his hand.
She brought our food, and Spencer set out the potato balls and all the sauces. I took a sip of my drink. A chocolate whirl tasted like a cross between a milkshake and a slushie.
“Now, taste.” He held out a little deep-fried ball.
Closing my eyes, I let him feed me. It was like mashed potatoes in a fried, seasoned coating. “Delicious.”
He dipped one in a green sauce. “Try.”
We tried all the sauces, as he told me about Evan when he was younger.
“Evan teased Wes about Mr. Hippo, but he had an entire collection of stuffed animal keychains?” I laughed as we finished up and disposed of our garbage.
“That he got out of children’s meals. He was obsessed.” Spencer laughed as we drove away. “Wes is a good man, and I’m glad he makes you happy. Evan as well. I know it must be so hard for you–and a little scary–to start over completely, but we’ll make it work. After meeting so many people and learning moreabout what projects exist here, do you think you’d like to work for me? Or is Rami going to steal you away?”
Working for the Space Authority was tempting.
