Starry Eyed

A quick note:

To celebrate the completion of my latest novel — TRANCE, Inc. — I wanted to release a fun commission project that I wrote for my friend/reader Mercedesbens. I'm going to be sharing one chapter of the story every day for the coming five days, because I think that sounds like a fun way to release a story and I've never done it like this before.

Lots of love,

JC

P.S. Keep in mind, this isn't meant to be just a stroke story. Explicit scenes are in later chapters.

* * *

My eyes twitched left and right across the screen of my phone. My thumb scrolled. I sipped at my tiny cup of espresso, then realized I'd never gone back to the kitchen for a refill.

Clear skies tonight,

I thought, pushing myself up from my side of the comfy leather sofa.

Perfect.

My bare feet padded softly on the cool tile floor as I walked down the hall and towards the big, expensive kitchen.

Everything in this house was big and expensive, really. I still couldn't believe it was bought and paid for. Some mornings I woke up and thought I was back in the old place, with its clogged shower and broken dishwasher. Then, I walked downstairs into this kitchen, fired up the espresso machine, and realized how good it was to save the world.

Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves,

I reminded myself, taking a detour through the entryway and scooping up a couple pieces of mail from our wicker bin. I knew that all I'd really done was build some electronic gadgets that helped out the visually-impaired. But it felt good to contribute. And it felt good to know that all the money I'd made was just a byproduct of doing something awesome for a group of people I cared about.

So yeah, sometimes I felt good about myself. Sue me.

A text tone distracted me from my moment of ego-stroking.

Did you check the weather? OMG!

I chuckled, typing back one-handed.

Of course. You didn't think I forgot about our big night, did you? ;)

As I walked into the kitchen, Janet glanced over her shoulder. She was bent over the counter, reading something on her laptop. Her face was a flushed, just a touch of pink in her cheeks that made her look sexy and vibrant.

"Someone's been working out," I said, swatting her ass with as rolled-up magazine as I walked past. The joking attack landed solidly on one pert hemisphere with a little

thwack.

"Eh!" Janet slapped playfully back at me. "Hands off the merchandise." Her dark hair was back in an athletic ponytail and she was wearing those teal yoga pants that I loved. They were the ones that made her legs look miles long. And long, distracting miles they were.

I snorted, dodging away and heading for the espresso machine.

"What were you laughing at?" she asked, turning around to leaning back against the marble countertop. "And are you drinking coffee?"

"Oh, it was nothing," I shrugged, and dropped the mail on the counter. The late afternoon sun beamed in through the big windows and warmed my bare back as I measured coffee grounds. Janet was right to be surprised. Usually I only drank caffeine in the mornings. But tonight was a special occasion. "I just got a text from Cass. We were joking about our party tonight."

"Party?" Janet sounded surprised, but I hurried to reassure her.

"Don't worry, babe. I'm not having a bunch of people over or anything. You know I wouldn't do that without talking to you. It's just going to be the two of us. You remember I told you? How, ever since high school, when Cass and I were the nerds who didn't get invited to stuff, we decided to say that any time we planned to get together it was a party."

It was safer than calling it a date, anyway,

I thought, but then I was sidetracked by my girlfriend's next question. "And you said it's tonight?"

She was asking far too innocently. Something was wrong.

"Yes...?" I trailed it out into a question.

One of my girlfriend's dark eyebrows arched. It was a look I knew. It meant that I was in trouble.

I gave her a look of wide-eyed innocence. "Please, Your Honor, what have I done?"

Before she became a social media fitness guru, my girlfriend had been a high-powered attorney. Now, she made just as much money in half the time. And with one-tenth the stress. What she hadn't left behind was the glare that she used to use for staring down opposing witnesses. She hadn't whipped it out just yet, but I could tell she was waiting for the opportunity.

Then, Janet's shoulders sagged as she sighed. "Nevermind. I'm just... disappointed, is all. You said we would finally have a Friday night to ourselves. A date night like we used to do. Cheap pizza. And a movie on the laptop, instead of in the home theater."

Immediately, guilt punched me in the gut. I

had

said that, hadn't I?

But at the same time...

"The meteor shower is only going to be tonight," I said, giving her an uncomfortable look. "I know I told you we could do a date, and I'm

really

a huge dick for canceling, but this is like a once-in-a-decade experience. And stargazing is kind of my and Cass's thing..."

"Of course, babe." Janet nodded, not meeting my eyes.

"Maybe next week?" I asked. I tried to sound encouraging, but even I knew how many times I'd used that line recently. The words felt hollow.

"Yeah, totally," the brunette agreed. "Anyhow, I guess it's good I saw discount salmon at the Whole Foods. I'll film that salmon bowl tutorial I've been meaning to make. Who wants pizza anyways?"

Oof,

I thought, as the noise of the espresso machine cut off the need for more awkward conversation.

She planned for you to flake.

Within a couple minutes, though, the thought of seeing Cass had buoyed my spirits. It had been too long since I got to spend the night with my best friend. And that promised to be an adventure of particular magnitude.

I went back to the couch and picked up the scientific journal I'd been browsing earlier. The magazine was a week or two old, and had fallen open to a well-thumbed page.

Braillen's Brainchild

, the headline boldly declared, across a picture of my face. My smile was bright, but my eyes were hidden by the sleek black headset that was strapped onto my face.

"

These might look like nothing more than next-gen night-vision goggles,"

read the caption.

"But these devices are actually the world's most powerful prescription for substandard vision. Braillen Novak's breakthrough invention has allowed hundreds of previously-blind customers to see with near perfect clarity."

The description was exaggerated — "near perfect clarity" was a stretch — but it was a guilty pleasure, seeing my name in print.

Braillen...

It was an odd name, no doubt about it. But it makes a little more sense coming from two blind parents. I admired the photo for several seconds, then settled back and flipped to the article I'd been reading -- a study on biomedical optometry. Usually I had no trouble launching into the latest science, considering how each development or insight could be the seed of a new product idea. But today, I couldn't get into it.

With a groan, I tossed down the journal. I was still feeling conflicted about bumping my date with Janet.

I frowned. But, at the same time, I

couldn't

cancel on Cass.

My old friend was driving an hour and a half just to see me. We would take her truck out to the back of the property. Not because it was a far walk up the hill, but because we would lower the tailgate and lay down on sleeping bags in the back. Over the years, we'd developed some rituals. For instance, Cass brought hot chocolate and I brought beer -- just like the first time, when I sneaked a couple of cans out of my family fridge. It was an odd combination, but I had grown to enjoy it.

I know how it would have seemed to outsiders, but there wasn't anything romantic about it. We were just friends.

Well, at least, we'd never

dated,

per se...

Okay. Fine. What was the harm in admitting the truth? I'd had a bit of a crush on Cass ever since the day I sat down in high school English class and thought how hard it was going to be to spend a whole hour discussing literature with a cute girl. Now, tonight, that girl and I were going to be christening the new house with our first stargazing together. I couldn't just call the whole thing off.

I lay back on the couch and closed my eyes so I could think. Like I always did, I sent out a quick

Thank you

to the universe. It was something my parents had taught me. I would always be grateful that the world only went dark when I closed my eyes.

* * *

Thanks for reading!

And if you thought this was short, don't worry. The other chapters are longer. :)

I'll see you tomorrow for the next publication:

Starry Eyed -- Ch. 2.