Spring has sprung, and with it, smiley faces. When yellow crocuses bloom all over town in the shape of an emoji during April’s first warm days, reporter Nero Storm is sent out to discover their meaning and origin.<br><br>Nero has little to smile about himself, what with dysfunctional family drama and a tragic love life. The previous fall, it seemed as if he might have finally met the man of his dreams in dog daddy, ride share operator, and charity organizer Z. Though the two spent but ten morning and evening car rides together, sparks flew. Unfortunately, at the end of that time, Nero witnessed a crime, and Z disappeared.<br><br>Now, as the rest of the world looks forward to a new beginning promised by spring, Nero is left to wonder. Are the smiley face flowers a message for him, and will he ever see Z’s smile again for real?

21 Smiles

“Let me know if you need heat…maybe AC. Autumn around here can go either way. Put down the window for fresh air, if you’d rather.” There was the slightest roll to Z’s Rs my ear found quite pleasant.


“Would you like to stop someplace, or is it straight on to work?”


“We have thirty minutes, so, umm, coffee, maybe?”


“You got it.” I also got another smile I could only see from the nose up.


We were both quiet awhile after that, maybe for a half mile or so. My anxiety made me want to talk. “Tell me about your name.”


“Is that how you ask questions professionally?”


“Excuse me.” I sat forward, but all I could see in Z’s mirror that way was the top of his head. Thick swoops of black there were pulled back into a knot, all of it still a little damp from his morning shower, maybe.


Chapter 14