Page 2 of The Trade Up

“If I’d have known there might be hot chicks like that hanging out at Star Trek conventions, I’d have started going to them a long time ago,” Drew says.

“I bet Audrey wouldn’t be a fan of that.”

“I meantbeforeAudrey, obviously,” Drew says.

“Well believe it or not, hot girls can like Star Trek too,” I say.

“Preach,” Ashleigh’s voice comes from right next to me as she reaches out to refill my coffee with what thankfully appears to be a fresh pot. I glance over at her, and a self-satisfied smirk curves her full pink lips because she just caught me calling her hot. I find it even harder to look away from those lips than her eyes. “And even pretty boys in backward ball caps,” she says, with obvious distaste, “are allowed to enjoy the show too.”

I press my hand to my heart, and say, “Did you hear that? She thinks I’m pretty.”

My teammates make the taunting sounds you’d expect from middle school boys. Because our booth is raised, Ashleigh and I are practically at eye-level from where I sit on the end, and so it’s hard to miss how her cheeks grow pink. “Don’t worry,” I say quietly as I lean toward her, “they’re more mature than they seem.”

“Doubtful,” she says under her breath. Then she looks over at Walsh, who’s dark eyebrows are scrunched together as he studies the menu in his hand again. “You decide what you want?”

“I’ll take a piece of the five-layer German chocolate cake, to go,” he says, looking up with a big grin. “Sounds like the perfect breakfast food.”

“Oh yeah, that’ll be a great start to tomorrow,” our captain, McCabe, says to him.

“I burned like four thousand calories today,” our alternate captain says. “I’ll have cake for breakfast if I want, okayMom?”

“Anyone else?” Ashleigh says with a laugh, taking the menu Patrick hands her.

“Just the bill,” I tell her.

I can’t quite read the look she gives me before she turns back toward the counter along the back wall of the diner, but I could swear that it looked a little like disappointment.

ChapterTwo

ASHLEIGH

After delivering drinks for another table, I drop the empty tray on the counter, then turn to the refrigerated case along the wall and gently slide a slice of the German chocolate cake into a takeout container. I turn back toward the counter and startle when Star Trek Guy is standing on the opposite side of the counter less than two feet in front of me, with his arms spread wide and his large hands resting on the countertop.

His hoodie is tight, so I don’t miss his muscular chest and arms. With his hat on backward and the ends of his hair peeking out, he looks younger than he probably is.

“So, you’re truly a Star Trek fan?” he asks.

“Why would you doubt that I am?” I close up the container with his friend’s cake.

“Lots of people are fans of a particular series or movie, fewer people aretruefans.” He says it as if he’s inviting me to join a secret club, rather than questioning my qualifications.

My chest and shoulders shake with silent laughter. He has no idea how much that show influenced the trajectory of my life. “How do I knowyou’rereally a Star Trek fan?”

He leans toward me, just slightly, and his voice comes out low as his warm breath skims across my cheek. “Try me.”

I know he’s talking about me testing his Star Trek knowledge, but somehow those two words come across as distinctly sexual. Or maybe it’s been too long since I broke up with my ex, Colby, and I’m just sex-deprived.

“Okay,” I say the word slowly as I think about what I could ask him. “What is the name of Section 31’s dangerous AI?”

He rolls his eyes and one corner of his mouth turns up. “Really? You’re going to start with a total softball like that?”

I shrug my shoulders and raise my eyebrows as I wait for his response.

“Control.”

“What area of space did Enterprise NX-01 spend most of its time exploring?” I ask.

“The Delphic Expanse. Star Trek: Enterprise was an underrated masterpiece.”

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