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

“Affection.” He moved to my lips to offer another. Though I wanted him to linger there, a second ping tore him away again. “I’ll see you in the morning. Bye, Abby.” Z waved but didn’t leave right away. Was he waiting for an invitation to return after work, maybe for a late dinner? I could even change the sheets.


“Bring an umbrella in the morning.” I still wasn’t assertive, at least not without a hard-on, so I didn’t suggest it. “There’s rain on the way.”


“And you would know, because your dressing roommate’s a weatherman.”


The phone pinged again. Z’s grunt in response was sexy. I felt the vibration and frustration behind it. That’s how close we were. “Tomorrow,” I said. “Or some other day. Go.”


Our next kiss was chaste. The one after, not so much.


“I might not be up to my full potential tonight, anyway, what with my injuries.”


Chapter 22