As they left, he turned back to me. “I still might not entirely understand the cosplay thing, but even I can see the good your group does.”

“Yeah? Not embarrassed to be seen with us?” Okay. Perhaps I wasn’t entirely over my earlier funk.

“No. You guys are great.” He gestured at Kellan and Jasmine and the others. “Good people. I like your friends.”

“Thanks. I think they like you too.” More like I liked him. Way more than I should. And with each picture he stood for, I liked him a little more, especially when he’d remind people to go bid high on the auction items. As the party progressed, the requests for pictures slowed, and we ended up standing near the back of the room, eating fancy food and watching people spin on the dance floor. A sappy song came on and more people headed to dance. There were several same-sex couples, including a Batman and Superman duo who were particularly good dancers.

Dynamic duo. That was what Milo had called us, but I knew in my gut that wouldn’t be us. Milo? Making lovey-dovey eyes where other people could see? Not happening. Not to mention the chances of him wanting something permanent and public were next to nil. I exhaled hard, trying to keep my earlier resolution about not getting bent over things out of my control.

Right as I breathed out again, a hand brushed mine. Milo. But instead of flinching away, like I’d expected, he kept his hand there, against mine, fingers tracing my wrist and palm.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

“I believe it’s called holding hands.” He laced our fingers together, squeezing my hand like we were alone in the car and not five feet from my friends who were not going to miss this development.

“It is.” My heart clattered against my ribs, which were entirely insufficient to withstand this surge of emotion. “And I’m not complaining, but I feel honor bound to point out that we might be noticed.”

“That’s okay.” The back of his neck was flushed as were his cheeks, but he didn’t pull away even though I could feel the tension in his grip. “Maybe we should dance.”

“Here? Now?”

“Well, maybe not this song. This song is pretty terrible. But your friends are dancing.” He gestured at the dance floor where Kellan and Jasmine were swaying out of rhythm to a Disney love song. “We should too.”

“That’s going to be even more noticeable than holding hands. People are going to think we’re together.” I was starting to worry that I was having an out-of-body experience. Or maybe that Milo was.

“What was that you said earlier? Let them.”

Yep. He’d definitely been kidnapped by aliens and this was his cry for help. And he might sound resolute, but he’d also turned pale and stiff again.