His hand moved behind my ear, his fingers winding into my hair, and a moment—or maybe a lifetime—passed. I couldn’t be sure because all I knew was him. His energy wrapped around me, cradled and protected me, and I was in awe.

“What you did for Sam…” I whispered.

“Shhhh…” His fingers moved to my lips, silencing me. “Let’s not talk about that. She’s disappeared from the Index. Nobody knows where she is, and I think it’s better that way. Let her be forgotten.”

But I couldn’t stop. “I think about her. All the time. I think about how you saved her. It was unbelievable. I couldn’t move. I was too scared—too afraid to risk my own life—” My gratitude got caught in my throat, and I couldn’t go on. A tear rolled down my cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry.” He wiped away the tear. Cupping my jaw, he tilted my face toward his until our foreheads touched. Potential hummed between us. “And don’t put yourself down. You’re incredible. I knew it the day I met you, and I’ve been wanting to get you alone ever since.”

“Are you speaking your inner monologue?” I asked as the augmentation shifted around us. Stars fell from the sky in bursts, twinkling in my periphery like fireflies.

“Sort of. Though I can’t say everything that’s on my mind…” His eyes dipped to my lips.

I really wanted him to kiss me.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he broke the connection, sinking back against the lounger and pulling me down with him. Wrapping me in his arms, he cuddled me to his chest, resting his chin on my head while we watched the wonders of the universe unfold overhead.

Engulfed in the safety of his warmth, I relaxed against him, until, too soon, his wrist screen vibrated, jarring us back to reality.

Groaning, he checked the alert. “I’ve been offline too long. My investors will be missing me. We should probably get back in there.”

“Me, too.” I sighed.

Adam stood and helped me to my feet.

“Ready to let everyone in on our secret?” he asked, making a show of switching his Life Stream to “live.”

As I understood that this meant we were together, that he was mine and there was no going back, happiness flooded me. I nodded and set my stream to “live,” too.

Hand in hand, we walked back to the party, caught up in the bleary daze of possibility.

Deena was onstage when we arrived, but her eyes went straight to us, her expression murderous.

She stormed over. “What are you doing with him?”

My hopes evaporated, my voice sticking in my throat and coming out sounding like a cough. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. You knew this was supposed to be our night. Mine and his.” She leaned in so her nose nearly touched mine.