Loni asked. She tried to keep her tone neutral, but a hard edge crept into the last few syllables—her wariness getting the better of her. He got up and smiled at her. “Hey. I was just thinking that…y’know, maybe if you didn’t already have a stalker, I’d give it a go.” She readjusted her backpack on her shoulder. She didn’t need to; it was just to distract her from smiling back. “I don’t think stalkers are supposed to greet you at your door with roses. I think they’re supposed to go through your garbage bins. Steal your mail, call your parents on the phone. All that.” He shrugged. “It’s my first time. I’m not very good at it. Give me a chance. Promise I’ll get better.” They stared at each other for an awkward moment. Then Loni nodded at the rose. “I take it that’s for me.” He looked down at it, then extended it and said, “Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” As she took it from him, he added, “It looked better when I bought it. I’d get a refund, but the kid’s probably changed intersections by now.”
