Page 80 of Crease Collision

I want to say something. It’s an urge I should fight, but I’m tired after practice. And happy about seeing Oskar.

I stare at the wall, remembering how rough Oskar’s voice was when he called this morning. He was barely awake, and I was heading out the door to practice.

“Yeah,” I say. The word is quiet, but I’m glad it’s out. “Things are good.”

Nico nods once. Quiet acceptance.

“I’m glad,” he says. And then, because he’s Nico, he pushes a little. “Does he know anything about you yet?”

Nico isn’t prying. He’s the keeper of all my broken parts, wanting to know if I’ve given any of them to someone new.

I leave the question unanswered until Nico grunts.

“He knows I like building things,” I say.

Technically true. Deliberately, laughably incomplete.

Instead of calling me on it, Nico says, “Okay.”

That’s my best friend. He gives me space when I need it, and he’s there when I don’t.

My buzzing phone makes me jump. 8:28 p.m.

OSKAR: Landed. I’ll catch an Uber and be there soon.

It’s a little easier to breathe. When he’d texted three hours ago, the Fury’s plane had landed in Pittsburgh because of a mechanical problem. Since then, I’ve been wondering if he’d still come over once they made it to New York.

I’m in the hobby room, deep into the central command tower of the LEGO space battle. It’s a masterpiece of gray and black plastic, a universe I control completely. When the doorbell rings, I’m slow to check my watch. Shit, it’s been an hour since he messaged.

My knees are stiff when I go answer the door. The lines around Oskar’s eyes look deeper than usual, and his hair is what Theo calls a “plane mess.”

Oskar smiles, and everything becomes okay.

“Hey,” he says, his voice soft.

“Hallå, hjärtat.” I hope he can understand the Swedish I practiced all afternoon.

His smile explodes into a big grin as he drops his bag and reaches for me. He says something in Swedish, using the low voice I love. He follows that with a quick, firm press of his lips against mine, then pulls back. “I want more, but I’d like to hang out a little first. Is that okay? If I kiss you again…”

“Totally understand.” I bounce my eyebrows. “As long as we make up for it later.”

“I promise.”

It’s fine because part of me is still focused on the LEGO. I need to get at least seventeen more pieces done before I can let it go.

I take his hand. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

Only Mom and Nico have ever been in the hobby room. I don’t even let the cleaning people in. It’s a safe space, neat and clean, with everything on shelves so I can see it.

Oskar turns in a circle. “Wow. This may be more organized than the Fury’s equipment room.”

I point at the chair Mom uses when she comes over. “Sit down. I only have a little more to do tonight.”

As I search for the piece I need, everything feels perfect. Soft light, nature sounds in the background, and Oskar watching me.

A few minutes pass, and as I’m snapping a piece into place, my other hand brushes against a small, transparent control panel I thought I’d misplaced. Without looking up from the model, I hold the piece out toward Oskar.

His fingers graze mine as he takes it. He says nothing as he moves closer, and I point to where it goes. After maneuvering it into position, he pushes back to where he was sitting before.