“That’s really nice of you, but it’s not necessary.”
“I’d be happy to help,” I tell her. “We can use all the brilliant minds we can get around here. And I’d like to be part of setting you on the right track.”
When the doors open to my floor, Serafina says, “He’s trying to get you away from the crazy zodiac woman who’s wasting her brain getting rich when she could be doing something useful like contemplating the cosmos.”
I glance back at her and see she’s got a wry smile on her face. Then, looking at Charley, I say, “She’s not wrong.”
“Did you just say I was right?” Serafina asks me.
I chuckle, then nod. “Don’t get used to it.”
When we get to the Exoplanet Research Center, I swipe my key card and the door swings open leading to the large bullpen where most of the team sits. The screens lining the walls are filled with images of faraway solar systems as well as graphs and charts depicting wobbles, temperature changes, shadows, and all sorts of things that bore the heck out of most people, but I find it positively exhilarating.
The entire team is so quiet, you could hear a Post-it note drop. They’re all hiding behind their computer screens while simultaneously peering over them to take in the newcomers. We’re a roomful of mostly socially awkward intellectuals and I’m their leader. We should just put on our headgear and be done with it. I ignore their gawking and lead Charley and Serafina to my office.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding about not caring about decor,” Serafina says.
Shrugging, I say, “Did you expect to find a bunch of Star Trek figurines or something?” I’m totally pushing it, but there’s no way she can really know what my office usually looks like.
She stares at me for a moment before asking, “Are you not even a Star Trek fan?”
Lifting both hands in the air, I say, “That’s like asking a teenage girl if she likes K-Pop.”
I give Charley an am I right look and she nods while asserting, “Love it.”
“I rest my case,” I say with a grin. “Listen, I don’t want you to go to too much trouble with this. I’m not going to keep whatever it is you do to the office anyway.”
“How do you know when you haven’t seen what I’m going to do?”
“I need to reduce distractions and maintain a professional decorum at all times,” I say. “No offense, but based on what you already told me about adding a bunch of bright colors, I’m kind of expecting it to look like a Ukrainian Easter egg when you’re done here.”
“Clearly you meant no offense …” Serafina says, raising one eyebrow.
Urgh. I should not be allowed to talk to women. “That came out wrong. What I meant to say is that I don’t want you and Charley to kill yourselves. You don’t really know me, so making these types of choices on my behalf means you have an extremely low probability of success.”
“Your faith in me is underwhelming,” she practically growls.
“I just don’t want to set you up for disappointment,” I tell her. “Anyway, is there anything else you need to bring up?”
Nodding, Serafina says, “One more trip.”
“Let’s do this,” I say, glancing at my watch.
By the time the film crew shows up, I’m a little sweaty from lugging the world’s heaviest boxes up from the lobby. One of the makeup artists comes at me with some powder and I try to avoid her only to end up having her powder my ear. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” she tells me.
I pause for a second, tempted to ask for her to enumerate the differences, but settle for a nod, before standing still so she can do her worst. One of the crew opens a large box of donuts and sets it on a table that’s been set up just outside my office. That ought to draw the team out from behind their computer screens.
Inside my office, Serafina and Waltraut are engaged in a lively conversation, both of them pointing at items in the boxes, and areas in the room. I sigh, wishing we were done already. Charley, who seems to be finished with her duties, stands awkwardly by the donut table, looking very much alone. I walk up to her after the makeup lady is done with me. Folding my arms, I ask, “So, do you think anyone noticed me getting my makeup done?”
She giggles and nods. “Pretty sure a few of your staff were making videos. You might want to check YouTube later.”
“Perfect,” I mutter. “How do you know Serafina?”
“She lives in my building,” Charley says. “She’s amazing. I’ve learned so much from her.”
I glance down, feeling slightly concerned about exactly what she’s learned from my nemesis. “I was serious before about helping you get a scholarship. When I was growing up, my mom couldn’t afford to send me to space camp, but one of my science teachers helped me fill in the forms and I got to go. Greatest experience of my life.”
Charley looks at me like I’ve sprouted extra arms. “Umm, thanks, but really, it’s okay.”
“Oh, I get it,” I tell her. “You’re proud. I was the same way, but you shouldn’t turn down a great opportunity just because you’re embarrassed you can’t afford it. If I’d done that, I sure wouldn’t be here now.”
“What are you two talking about?” Serafina asks, grabbing a donut out of the box.
“Space camp,” I say. “I was telling Charley my mother couldn’t afford to send me either.”
Serafina narrows her eyes, looking utterly confused. “Umm, Charley’s dad is a judge and her mom’s a heart surgeon.”
I freeze for a second, feeling my face heat up one degree at a time. “Oh. And they live in your building.”
Nodding, Serafina says, “I told you I make bank.”
“Right.” Turning to Charley, I offer, “I’m sorry for assuming you couldn’t afford it. It’s just that I can’t imagine anyone choosing not to go to space camp. It makes absolutely no sense to me at all.”
Serafina and Charley both seem to be biting back laughter, while I stand here feeling like a complete idiot. Finally, I clear my throat. “Should we get this over with?”
Seventeen
Serafina
While Waltraut talks to Ben, Charley whispers, “He’s adorable. You should totally tap that.”
“Charley!” I do my best to sound shocked, but the truth is, even though Ben annoys the snot out of me, I’ve totally been drooling over him. I like a smart guy who believes in bigger things. The only fly in the ointment is that he doesn’t have an open mind as far as my scientific views are concerned, and that’s a deal breaker.
“Seriously, Sera, you need a social life,” my young friend persists.
“There will be no tapping,” I tell her. “Not unless Ben transforms his personality and quits making derogatory comments about how I earn my livelihood. Plus, if you’ll remember, I have a blind date this afternoon that your program set up for me.”
“I didn’t forget, and I’m totally jazzed to see how it goes. I just like Ben. He’s super passionate about space. I mean, he seriously thinks the only reason people don’t go to space camp is because they can’t afford it. How cute is that?”