“Oh!” Harry said, beaming at him. “How do you know my name?”
The human gave him an odd look. “It’s on your nametag.”
“Oh,” Harry said, flushing. How embarrassing.
The guy’s smile widened, something like amusement flickering in his eyes. Harry wanted to know the human’s thoughts so badly he had to dig his fingers into his palms to distract himself. Bad, bad Harry, he scolded himself. His parents wouldn’t be amused if they found out that he was exploiting his telepathy again. (Harry never had bad intentions. He just had a curious mind. Literally.)
“Keep the change, love,” the man said.
Harry decided that he liked this human. He liked all humans, really, but this one was very nice. Maybe he would make a good friend.
Harry brightened at the thought. He had wanted to make friends since his arrival, but in the first few weeks he hadn’t been confident enough in his ability to pass for a human and hadn’t dared. Perhaps it was time to try. Harry was positive he made a very convincing human. Sure, people thought he was odd, but no one ever suspected the truth.
“What is your name?” Harry said enthusiastically.
The human’s dark eyebrows lifted a little. “Adam,” he said.
“Really?” Harry said, pleased that he knew something about the name and there wouldn’t be awkward silences in the conversation. “That’s what the first human was called!”
Adam stared at him.
Harry deflated a little. Had he gotten it wrong?
“Yes,” Adam said after a beat. “Sort of.”
Relieved, Harry smiled brighter. “Have you found your Eve yet?”
Adam blinked and cocked his head to the side, eyeing Harry. “Not exactly,” he said at last. “I don’t swing that way I’m afraid.”
Harry frowned, confused once again. His translating chip must have been malfunctioning. Adam didn’t look afraid, and Harry didn’t understand what a swing had to do with Adam’s relationship status. “Swing that way?” he said, hoping his confusion didn’t seem too odd.
“Are you a foreigner?” Adam said, chuckling softly.
Harry nodded, pleased that there was a plausible explanation for his ignorance.
“Odd,” Adam said. “You don’t have an accent.”
“I’m very good at accents,” Harry said honestly. His translating chip could only get him so far. It didn’t help him much with accents and slang. “So what did you mean?”
“I meant that I don’t like women that way. I’m afraid there’s no Eve for me.”
“Oh,” Harry breathed. When Adam started frowning, he grinned. “This is so cool! I’ve never met a homosexual person in my life!”
“I doubt it. You probably have, just didn’t realize. We look just like heterosexuals. So inconsiderate of us.”
Adam had said it seriously, but Harry wasn’t fooled.
He pouted. “Yeah, make fun of a foreigner struggling with your culture and language.”
Adam laughed, lightly tapping Harry on the nose. “Sorry, couldn’t resist—you’re adorable, kid.”
Harry scrunched his nose up. “I’m not a kid. I’m tw—eighteen.”
“Well, I’m twenty-six,” Adam said, glancing at his watch. “And I have to go.”
Harry frowned. “Already?”
He couldn’t quite hide his disappointment, and Adam smiled at him. “Are you disappointed?”
“Yes,” Harry said.
Adam chuckled. “My lunch break is almost over.”
“What’s your job?”
“I’m a financial analyst at the bank on the other side of the street,” Adam said with a smile that made Harry suspect he was humoring him.
“That sounds interesting,” Harry said.
“Not really,” Adam said. “But it pays well, and I suppose I can’t complain. I really have to go. It was nice to meet you, Harry.”
“Likewise,” Harry said earnestly. “Come here again!”
“I will,” Adam said before reaching out and touching the flower tucked behind Harry’s ear. “You know, on any other bloke this would look weird, but it suits you.”
Harry beamed at him. “Thanks!” He liked the way the purple flower looked in his chestnut hair. It almost made his eyes seem purple.
Harry watched a little sadly as Adam took his coffee and left.
He hoped it wasn’t the last he’d see of him.
* * *
Adam did return to the coffee shop two days later. He wasn’t alone this time.
Harry watched curiously as Adam and his companion talked, sipping their drinks. He hadn’t been the one to take their order—Samantha had while he was on a break—and now Harry was left floundering. Should he go say hi? Adam hadn’t looked his way even once yet. Maybe he didn’t remember Harry.
“What’s with that sad face, Hazza?” Samantha said.
Hazza. Human nicknames were fascinating.
Harry told her about his dilemma. “Should I go say hi?”
Samantha looked back at the pair. “Better not. Maybe they’re on a date.”
“A date?”
Samantha shrugged. “Yeah. They’re both hot, and they look pretty cozy to me.”
Bewildered, Harry returned his gaze to Adam and his male companion. They did seem rather cozy. Adam’s companion was a young dark-skinned man, who possessed a symmetrical face with symmetrical features, which was universally considered beautiful. But Harry wasn’t sure of the man’s sexual appeal the way humans would just know. Sometimes the differences between their species were so frustrating.