“Shortcake.” I ignore him. “Shortcake.” “I do not know anyone by that name.” “Play with me for a minute,” he says it softly, right in my ear. I turn my face to his and try to regulate my breathing. “HR,” I manage. His face is so close to mine I can taste his breath, hot mint sweetness. I can see the tiny stripes in his irises, tiny unexpected sparks of yellow and green. There are so many blues I think of galaxies. Little stars.”
