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

“You had to buy more bulbs. A woman who works at Rye Hardware ratted you out.”


Z laughed. “At first, I did fifteen faces. Then, I thought of six more. This fall, I’ll add to them.”


“This is awkward.” We’d come to a stop.


“What?” Z looked so distraught, I had to kiss him. I started at the lips on the sad face emblazoned onto the front of his shirt. “I want to make all your faces happy.” Then, I moved to his mouth, and saw happiness there. “That’s better. But…”


Z had driven to my old apartment building. The two of us sat there and laughed, and then I pulled him into another kiss.


“God, I missed you. Such a short time,” I said. “Then, such a long time apart.”


“Nunca más. No more. Never again. If I go, you’ll come. I hope you will.”


“I’d like to. I’ve never been to Mexico. You’ll have to talk for me.”


“Sí. Why don’t you live here?” Z asked.


Chapter 42