“I think I made a fool of myself,” I said, cringing at the thought of what I’d done last night.

Jojo was on the picnic blanket, playing with his plastic keys. The morning sun hadn’t done much to warm us up, so I was in my jacket with the wool collar. Nat and Owen were much more bundled up, since, as they said, their internal thermometers were still on an island setting. Mr. Thurgood and Isabel were bouncing through the park; they’d instantly bonded and become best friends, rushing after falling leaves and yipping and generally having a good dog-time.

“How many chances do you have to kiss someone famous?” said Nat. “I don’t blame you for doing it. You should’ve taken a picture for your scrapbook.”

I lay back on the blanket and stared up at the brisk blue autumn sky. You could smell the salt on the breeze. “It was so damned awkward, though. He kept looking at things.”

“Definitely better when guests keep their eyes closed,” said Owen.

“Do you think he was judging me? I mean, he seemed pretty okay with how the evening went, but my house is like a shack compared to what he’s used to.”

“I’m the last person to tell anyone to quit being insecure,” said Nat, “but damn, quit being insecure. Sorry, Jojo, I meant darn. You’re not going to date Ransom Pope. You had him over, and of course it’s going to be a little weird, but that’s not the point. The point is, if you hadn’t had him over, you’d be kicking yourself for missing your one chance to catch up with him.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I said.

Owen, who was playing with one of Jojo’s blocks, said, “And now, with that memory, you can submerge yourself back into your life of lonely spinsterhood.”

“I don’t think I’m quite a spinster,” I said.

“You’re like a lonely gyroscope spinning,” said Owen, “but it’s admirable the way you have detached yourself from all worldly concerns.”

Oh, this was going to be one of those kinds of conversations. “I’m not a monk, Owen.”

“Your last date was in 1620.”

“Things are just busy--”

“People wore buckles on their shoes the last time you went out with anyone.”

I sighed. “I’m not ready yet, okay? It’s great that you guys can find love, and that everyone around me is dating and all, but I’m the one with a baby to raise. Adding a boyfriend to that would just cause chaos, and if there’s one thing I’m trying to prevent in my life--”

“Pleasure? Fulfillment? Togetherness?”

“--it’s chaos.”

“And yet you kiss the most famous pop singer in the world,” said Nat.

Jojo handed me his keys, and I pretended to munch on them, which made him laugh and demand them back.

“Even if I did want to date--which I don’t--I certainly wouldn’t go out with Ransom.”

“Definitely not,” said Nat. “He’s far too good-looking and rich for anyone to take seriously.”

“Also straight,” I said. “With many, many girlfriends.”

“Bi people do exist,” said Nat. “Don’t act like there are only two sides.”

“I don’t get a bi vibe from him,” I said.

“Is bi-dar a thing?” asked Owen. “I’m only able to detect gays and precious metals.”

“Bye bye bye bye,” said Jojo.

“See,” said Nat, “even Jojo knows the truth.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Bi or not, Ransom Pope exists on a whole different plane than we mere mortals.”

I’d never really talked about what it did to me when he walked out of my life back then. And I didn’t want to talk about it now, not when we were joking about my empty love-life; it would just bring down the mood.

The thought of Ransom coming back into my life was so hypothetical and out there, it didn’t even bear thinking about much. We were in two different worlds now, and what we’d shared was long in the past.

“When Jojo’s a little older and doesn’t need as much attention, I’ll go out again,” I said.

“Or you’ll find another excuse to be alone, so you don’t get hurt,” said Nat. Suddenly he sat up, blushing. “God, that came out so much harsher than it sounded in my head.”

He looked so distressed over it I had to laugh. Before I could say anything to make him feel better, though, my phone rang. I checked the screen. “Oh, hold on guys, this is a client. Can you keep an eye on Jojo a second?”

“Cave, hey, this is River, I’ve got a favor to ask.”

River Tate ran Pages by the Pier, the only bookstore in town. For a long time, his store had been the center of Oceanside culture; he had been a big force behind converting a chunk of downtown into an art district.

“Sure, what do you need?” I asked.

“You’ve probably heard about Ransom Pope by now.”

I glanced back at Nat and Owen. To tell the truth, I wasn’t sure whether I was supposed to know Ransom was in town or not. Had Ransom gotten his being here all strategized?

Ransom, there on the boardwalk, the sun glinting in his dark hair...

“I might’ve heard something about it,” I said.

“I’ve been talking to other guys here in the art district. Everybody’s pretty excited. We’re thinking about having a Ransom Pope Day. Welcome him back home, big parties, lots of celebrations, maybe a parade.”

“I don’t understand,” I said. “I’m a website guy, not a parade grand marshal.”

“No, no, I know that. But what we were thinking is, we should revamp our sites and our social media, to welcome him. You know, get lots of pictures of him on the websites, get some local excitement going over it.”

“Sort of blend your own marketing with his.” The thought made me feel a little queasy. I’d just kissed Ransom. I wasn’t ready to see him as a superstar again, not yet.

I glanced back over at Jojo, who was happily playing with Nat and Owen. Further off, Mr. Thurgood and Isabel had found something in a bush they were barking at. As much as it made me uncomfortable, this project could keep me busy. Busy but profitable. I could stash some money away. Might make for a nice Christmas for Jojo.

“Just tell me what you need,” I said.

“We’ve scheduled a meeting with his people, and I want to bring you along. Just a meet-and-greet, welcome to town, let’s compare notes. That sort of thing. He gets good publicity, we get good publicity, everybody’s happy.

It was so funny hearing River talk this way. He was such a book geek, but when you got him started on business...

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me through the phone. “Present a unified front, you’re saying.”

“Once we arrange this meeting, you’ll come?”

“Of course I will,” I said.

“Perfect. I’m so excited, Cave. Can you imagine if there was some star power behind Oceanside? People might actually buy books from me again!”

I returned to the blanket.

“Ah, the mighty businessman returns,” said Owen. “Nat and I were talking about lunch. Do you feel like getting some curry?”

I lifted Jojo. “Actually, it’s getting to be time for somebody’s nap.”

I began packing my things. I’d certainly be glad of a little more money coming in. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see Ransom again, though.

I mean, I did. It surprised me how much I wanted to see him.

But I didn’t want him to look at me and see a small-time website developer who was just looking to cash in on his fame. That was horrible.

Besides, we’d already said our goodbyes.

Maybe I wouldn’t see him again. Surely he wouldn’t be at the meet-and-greet himself. That would just be his managers or whatever. That thought comforted me. It was for the best that I didn’t see him. Nostalgia is a potent drug, and I didn’t need to pine for someone who so clearly had his life somewhere else.

Oh, but who was I kidding? It was just like old times. The giant star had orbited back into my life, and once again I was a little satellite circling him.

“But this time I’m not letting myself get close,” I told Jojo as I put him in the car. “This time I’m keeping myself safe.”