The words confirmed Scott’s own three days of reveling: their fiesta, Mars, and now this. All this. It was indeed a diem to carpe. So he seized it: he gave the cosmic idea he’d been nursing for fewer than twenty-four hours more air, a louder voice.
“Okay, now. You listen.” Gavin signaled an encouragement Scott was far past needing.
“This third day could be the start of something even more glorious. Yes. For you. A new life. Cosmic, in fact. Now, do you recall our first evening, your balcony, you introduced me to Mars?”
“Yes, yes, that wondrous first night. ‘Sigh,’ as Shell mutters periodically.”
“You and your precious Shelley. Bet you’d stay here for her? Bastard.”
Gavin shook his head firmly and gave another “hurry it up” twirl.
“Fine, fine. On that life-changing night (was for me a
