“Hey, you two, that was wonderful. Really great.”
We both thank her, then she looks at me. “Oh, and terrific news! I was just talking with your boss, Dev, and he told me you’re going to Florida next week for a conference. Guess who’s going with you?”
Holy Captain Kirk. She better not mean who I think she means.
Nineteen
Serafina
As we walk to the elevator, Waltraut tells me all about how she wants me to accompany Ben to the Kennedy Space Center next week. “While he has his meetings, we thought we’d film you in front of some of the famous rockets they have on display. Then, when he’s free, we’ll shoot some footage of the two of you together talking shop.”
“Wow, okay. I guess that would be fine. How many days will I be gone?” I’m thinking about all the time this side gig is taking away from my real job — my app.
“Three days should do it.” Then, like she’s reading my mind, she says, “Think of this time as an investment in your future.”
“Totally,” I tell her. “I’m just about to start trials for the dating portion of my app and I’d like to be around in case there are any problems.”
“Have you gone on that date you were talking about on-air?” she asks as we step into the elevator to head down to the lobby.
“It’s today,” I tell her excitedly. “His name is Howard.”
“How would you feel if we sent a camera along with you?”
A cold shudder washes over me. “Maybe next time. I want to make sure any kinks in the program are ironed out before showing our new feature off to the world.”
“Let me know when that is,” she tells me. “The network might even want to do a bigger segment on one of the nighttime magazine shows.”
Oh. My. God. YES! That would be so amazing, but instead of saying so, I merely utter, “You bet.”
I’m actually going straight from the Goddard Institute to a restaurant near the Columbia campus. Oddly, my date is with a Gemini who is a psychology professor there.
After putting Charley into a cab and sending her home, I hoof it the three blocks to Kale Cafe, a vegan restaurant that not surprisingly specializes in kale dishes. This was obviously Howard’s choice as I would have suggested we go somewhere that is more comfort-food oriented.
The inside of the café feels like what I think an ashram would look like. The walls are painted with gorgeously bright, intricate patterns. The ceiling is high, giving the space a very open and airy feel, and the seating is actually bean bag-type chairs situated around coffee tables. It’s super cool.
I spot a man that I assume is my date, based on the description he gave me online — a lanky intellectual with a ponytail and a goatee. While he’s not exactly my physical type, I’ve vowed to keep an open mind, just as I hope the people who use this portion of my app will.
Veering through the bean bags and tables, I stop in front of him and ask, “Howard?”
He looks up at me and tilts his head. “Sarah?” As the owner of the app, I decided that even though secretiveness is not the best way to start a relationship, I should hide my identity, so my dates feel comfortable telling me what they really think of Dating for Your Star Sign.
“Hi,” I tell him brightly. Then I plop down on the bean bag opposite him, trying to maintain my dignity while wearing a shorter skirt. “Do you come here often?” I giggle at asking such a cheesy question.
“Yes, I do.” He isn’t even smiling. “That’s why I suggested it.”
Oooookay. “So, how did you hear about the star sign app?” This guy is not giving off the warm fuzzies in any way, shape, or form.
“A friend of a friend suggested I give it a try. Being a man of science, I’m not really into the whole astrology thing.”
“Oh.” Disappointment shoots through me like a wicked case of food poisoning. “But you took the time to fill out the form, so you must not be totally closed down to the idea.”
“Yeah, about that.” He picks up a lavash cracker from the basket sitting on the table and breaks it in half. “My friend filled it out. I thought the whole ‘date for your star sign’ thing sounded pretty hokey.”
Irritation quickly overtakes my previous optimism. “Are you even a Gemini?” I demand.
“Yeah, for whatever that’s worth.” He bites into