Free Starseed by Jude Willhoff

out between you and the boy. He just needs time to realize that just because his mom passed away that his dad didn’t stop living.”  Elle took a sip of her Diet Coke.
    “ I didn't know you had a boyfriend,” Sara teased Dotty, giving Elle time to regroup.
    “ Young lady, please keep that bit of information to yourself. I don't need any competition with this one. I'm kind of stuck on him.”
    “ For you, Dotty, it's a deal. Mum’s the word. Nobody will hear it from me. My lips are sealed.” 
    “ I'll get your order,” Dotty said, “and it's on me, today.”  She went off singing to herself as excited as a teenager on the night of the big dance.
    “ They must have been making out in the back when we came in.”  Sara blushed. “I feel bad about disturbing them.”
    “ It wasn't our fault.”  Elle laughed, feeling happy for her friend having someone in her life. “The cafe is open. We came in. That's all there is to it.”
    “ Hi, girls.”  Kole slid into a chair next to Elle.
    “ Hey there, you made it.”  Elle noticed he was dressed more appropriately in hiking boots, jeans and a T-shirt. With his haircut he didn’t look so much like he’d stepped out of the sixties. Much better, but to her dismay, there was that zing that crept up past her breastbone when she was around him.
    Dotty delivered the Cokes and fries, still smiling . “Kole, do you want anything?”
    “ A Coke and fries. They look mighty tasty.”  He was practically salivating over Elle's food.
    “ Here, you can share mine till yours get here.”  She pushed her plate toward him and he snagged a fry.
    “ Coming right up.”  Dotty waltzed off, taking care of business.
    “ How are you doing?”  He leaned forward, taking another fry.
    “ Good.”  She was ready to do battle. Then for a moment she let herself meet the intensity of his gaze. When he looked back something softened in her chest and the fight went out of her. No matter how upset she was with him, he had the ability to put her at ease.
    Dotty brought his drink which gave Elle a moment to compose herself . “We met the man who manages the High Mountain Array,” she continued. “He's agreed to give us a private tour of the place.” 
    “ A private tour. That'll be great.”  Kole seemed overly excited, almost like a young child on Christmas morning.
    How odd . It was only the Array. But then again, it was his job and apparently he just wanted to take some awesome photos. She had to stop reading more into things. She hesitated for a heartbeat, mesmerized by the sparkle in his enigmatic blue eyes. “There's one thing you have to promise me.”  She had to do this for Sara.
    “ You're so serious. What's the matter?” he asked with a look of concern shimmering in his cool blue gaze. “Are you in a better mood, today?” he asked and took another fry.
    Elle frowned, remembering how upset she’d been the night before . “I wasn't in a bad mood last night. I was tired.”
    “ It didn't appear that way to me.”  A sideways grin made his eyes crinkle at the corners. “It seemed you got upset when we were talking about the possibility of aliens.”
    “ That's your imagination.”  She drew her thoughts back to the matter at hand. “Anyway, what I was getting to is that you can take all the pictures you want, but Sara and I don't do pictures. I mean we don't want to be in any pictures you take for the magazine.”
    “ Why? You're beautiful women.”  He let go of a French fry. “I can't see why you wouldn't want to be in my pictures.”
    “ Let's say we're not photogenic and leave it at that.”  Her look dared him to drop the subject.
    He glanced back to Sara . “I can't imagine you not being photogenic, but if that's the way you want it. I promise I won't take any pictures of either of you for the magazine.”
    “ What kind of pictures are you planning on taking?” Sara asked.
    “ I usually snap landscapes and wildlife. This Array is a new kind of