Tattle Tail

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

PeaceableA blind date.

This was easily in the top three worst ideas she had ever had, but the Celestial Mates app made the concept sound intriguing.

Your perfect match. No guesswork. Our unique compatibility profile will find your mate.

Peaceable never thought clever marketing could manipulate her, but suffering through a recent family dinner left her open to the idea of letting an algorithm randomly set her up on a blind date. It had to be better than the males her mother was convinced would be a good match.

No thank you.

She meandered through the park, following the stone path to the large fountain at the heart of the park. This was the agreed meeting location.

A few people sat on the edge of the fountain, but none had that air of waiting for another to arrive.

Peaceable found a spot on the fountain’s edge in the sunshine. She tilted her face up, enjoying the warm summer sun. Kits ran and shouted. People lounged on blankets in the grass.

Stealing a glance at her comm unit, she confirmed she was early. She’d get an alert when her date arrived. Patience.

Her tail thumped against the fountain. Patience was easier said than done.

The park was her date’s suggestion: a neutral, public location. They could catch, maybe share a meal later, or simply walk away. It was a good suggestion. Even if the date was fruitless, it was a lovely day to be in the park.

Her comm vibrated with a message pop up that her date was near.

Excitement raced through her as she jumped to her feet.

She scanned the crowd.

A dark hair human male looks down at the comm unit in his hand. He looks up at her and his mouth drops in surprise.

She knew this male.

Joseph.

JosephShe hadn’t spotted him yet. He could leave, send an apology through the app, and pretend this never happened.

Peaceable spun on her heel, scanning the crowd. She looked excited with her ears perked.

No, he wouldn’t take the coward’s way out. People said a lot of unkind things about him— arrogant and irresponsible— and they had a point. Joseph didn’t want anything— or anyone— serious to tie him down, but he wasn’t a coward.

This was the last time he let the universe guide him. Valerian convinced him to use the blind date feature on the Celestial Mates app.

“It’ll be enlightening,” his mother said. He didn’t see the harm.

Big mistake.

Peaceable turned to face him. Her eyes swept over him and for a second, he wondered if she spotted him.

Then her ears went back.

Fantastic. The disappointment had already started. He bought flowers for this?

Might as well get this over with.

“Peaceable,” he said, gesturing to her with his phone.

“You are User Profile 450R3?” She glanced at his phone screen to check.

“Funny how we keep running into each other.”

“It is not humorous. It is a product of a shared workplace and limited social circle,” she said.

Why was she like this?

Joseph closed his eyes and calculated how awkward it would be if he just turned around and left. Awkward, but she might be too puzzled to mention it, so maybe worth it? They could just pretend the whole thing never happened.

“Yeah, see that was sarcasm and, you know what, never mind,” he said, and thrust the bouquet of flowers at her. “I got you these.”

Her nose scrunches up and her eyes flutter closed.

Her sneeze is deafening.

“What are those?” she asked, stepping back.

“Daisies.” He looked at the bundle of bright yellow flowers. “They’re from Earth. I thought you might like them.”

“You thought I would like an allergic reaction?” She sniffed, holding a tissue cloth to her nose.

“Don’t be dramatic.”

Peaceable gave him a sharp look. “I am not being dramatic.”

“You know, I thought we might have a drink, but never mind,” he snapped.

“Good, we agree on something.”

He spun on his heel and walked away.

Shortest date ever.

His perfect match. Ha. Right.

Celestial Mates had no idea what they were doing.