“Aster, my house has nothing appealing. Our worlds are completely different, and I don’t understand your insistence on… wanting to know my life.”

“Why do you always seem scared, Manu? Think I’d hurt you?”

“It’s not that, Aster. The thing is…”

Before I could finish, Simone appeared at the door. Seeing I had company, she walked through the yard, curious. Spotting Aster, she smiled.

“This… isn’t Fred Hunt.”

“Definitely not,” Aster laughed, offering his hand. ...