Chapter 16

  SIZZLE

  Back in the laboratory, Kelton looked around. He tried out his newly discovered 360-degree vision. Beta and Alex were the only ones left in the lab. Maybe Jacob was shadowing Chaz, wherever he was.

  “What’s gotten into Chaz?” asked Beta. “He used to be so much easier to be around. He has turned against Dr. Kelton. And what a micromanager! I feel like he’s hovering over me every second, checking every mouse click, correcting every entry.”

  “I think Tilly has turned him to the dark side. I think he’s gonna turn out to be an astronomer.”

  Beta looked at Alex, puzzled for a second, and then their face lit up with a smile. Beta joined in the joke. “You mean he’s going to be a proctologist?”

  “No. That would make him an asphyxiator.” Alex grinned.

  Beta laughed out loud.

  Kelton could see that Alex really liked the sound of Beta’s laugh.

  Through their laughter, Beta said, “I think he’ll be a Naval Astrogator.”

  Now, it was Alex’s turn to look puzzled.

  “You know, an astronomer who has to peer out through his belly button to see where he’s going.”

  Alex laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes. “I really like a joke you have to work for.”

  The laughter died down, and a silence descended. Kelton sensed that a private moment was coming. There was something happening between these two very awkward people that he really liked. He was fascinated and should give them privacy … and couldn’t look away.

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  “ So… Beta.” Alex started.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you think we could, you know, go to a movie or dinner or something?”

  “You mean, like a date?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “I like you a lot,” said Beta. “But I… Are you wired for that?”

  “I don’t know,” Alex said. “I mean, I’ve always been wired for AC. I am attracted to you. But I’m not sure I can work with DC. It’s kind of tricky for me.”

  “ I can understand that.” Beta said. “It’s not always clear to me either. I‘ve felt attracted to you. It’s hard for me to make those kind of connections. I’ve never had a boyfriend or a girlfriend.”

  Alex stammered. “ I had a girlfriend once. For a little while. No. What I’m trying to say is. I like the way you look. I like the way you talk. I like being around you. You are great. You are fun. You are the whole package. I’m a little concerned about…I don’t know how to say it ... Logistics?”

  Beta had the puzzled look on their face again.

  “You can do it!” Encouraged Kelton.

  Alex stumbled on. “Well, you know. It’s like this…Genetically, I’m XY. Maybe XYY, I don’t know. I’ve never actually been tested...”

  “You’re getting sidetracked. Get back on the subject,” Kelton whispered.

  “Well, what I am saying is for us to have ‘that kind’ of relationship,” Alex held up air quotes, “ your genetics are important. To me. A lot of people would say that shouldn’t be important. But it is. To me. So I kind of need to know. I mean. No matter what, we will always be friends, but…”

  Kelton could see that Beta was kind of enjoying watching Alex stumble. Alex was usually so glib, always quick with a quip or a well-timed observation. This was entirely out of character for him. He had never seen Alex working so hard to be politically correct. Kelton was expecting a sanctimonious reply from Beta and was surprised when Beta let Alex off the hook.

  Beta put their hand on Alex’s knee. Alex stopped stammering. “It’s ok.” Beta said. “We are XX.”

  Alex let out the breath he had been holding. “I can work with that.” He said with a broad and relieved smile on his face. “You maybe wanna get some dinner after the hearing?”

  Beta’s face lit up. “That’d be cool. Let’s do it... I mean, let’s get dinner... Together.” Beta stammered.

  Kelton laughed with happiness at their unlikely connection.

  Watching them set up a date made Kelton’s thoughts turn to Jillian. He scanned the area once again for Jacob. He was nowhere in sight.