I wasn’t entirely sure how to greet him. Everything had changed on Saturday, and not simply because of the kiss. We’d been through something together, and that deep conversation had lingered in my head all week. Milo was gay. And maybe not as big a jerk as I’d assumed. But I also wasn’t sure that we were friends, and I sure as heck wasn’t asking him his thoughts, even though we’d been texting the past few days. I’d spammed him with various drawings I found of both fan art of Neptune and the Tom of Finland–style drawings that I’d teased him about. He still hadn’t shown me his stuff, but we’d had several funny conversations about what I’d found. I wouldn’t call our conversations flirty, but I also wouldn’t call them not. Thus, I stood there, uncharacteristically short on words.

Kellan didn’t share my internal dithering and stuck out a hand for Milo. “How’s it going?”

“Not bad.” A muscle worked in Milo’s jaw, and he glanced around the waiting area. He’d never been the best at small talk, but right when I was about to save him, he turned to Kellan. “So…uh…is there a spring show at the college?”

I half groaned and half laughed. “Now you’ve done it. We’ll be here all afternoon.”

“Funny you should ask.” Kellan grinned broadly and ignored my crack. “I’ve been busy all week on the costumes for our musical revue coming up.”

“Cool.” Milo’s mouth quirked like he wasn’t entirely sure what that was but didn’t want to ask.

“It’s a bunch of music numbers from various Broadway plays. Kind of like a mash-up or remix,” I explained for him, having already heard all the details from Kellan multiple times.

“It’s super fun,” Kellan added, stroking his beard. “You should come.”

My eyes went wide. Hold up. I wasn’t so sure about my worlds colliding like that. And sure, I’d been the one to tell Milo that Kellan wouldn’t make a bad friend, but that was a little different than my current bestie inviting my former friend to a non-cosplay event. It wasn’t a terrible idea, but my neck prickled regardless.

“Maybe.” Glancing at the elevators, Milo looked more ready to escape than to agree to see the show. “How bad are ticket prices?”

“Do you have a student ID?” Kellan asked.

Milo shook his head, face shuttering.

“No problem.” Oblivious to the minefield he’d wandered into, Kellan continued on, cheerful as ever. “I get a certain number of comps, and this is the rare performance that my folks aren’t coming up for.”

“Um. Thanks,” Milo said right as the elevator dinged again.

“I’m here.” April rushed ahead of my mom, voice muffled by her mask. “Sorry we’re late. Mom had a call.”