“We turn back to the glass. After a moment, Sam’s phone chimes. A second later, mine does, too. We look at our messages. I look at him. “Is yours also from Mika?” “Yeah.” “What does your text say?” “She says I should nix the exhibit and ask you to dinner.” He looks at me. “What about yours?” “She says I should say yes.”

“We turn back to the glass. After a moment, Sam’s phone chimes. A second later, mine does, too. We look at our messages. I look at him. “Is yours also from Mika?” “Yeah.” “What does your text say?” “She says I should nix the exhibit and ask you to dinner.” He looks at me. “What about yours?” “She says I should say yes.”

— Dustin Thao