Love by the Numbers

Author:Karin Kallmaker
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
ISBN: 9781594933189
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2013-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Nicole called after Lily, “Why don’t I just come with you?” but Lily sped away. Perhaps she knew where the shortest line might be. She seemed to always know things like that.

A reader rushed up and said in French-accented English, “I was so afraid I’d missed you.”

The voice was reminiscent of her roll across the grass in France, but the slight, mid-thirties man bore no resemblance to the sleek and playful Estelle. “You’re just in time.”

He stage-whispered across the table, “I love the fact that your research covered same-sex couples. You have so many homophobes in America I’m surprised they let you print it.”

“In America nobody needs permission from anyone to print a book. Just the means and will to do it. How would you like me to sign the book?”

“To my boyfriend Fritz. We’ve been together eight years now.”

“Congratulations.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lily approaching with two water bottles, but someone had intercepted her. “Best of luck to you both.”

She handed the book to the reader and glanced over at Lily. A middling-height man who nevertheless towered over Lily looked upset. She could hear snatches of the conversation, but it appeared to be in German. Lily had confessed her German was not much better than middle school vocabulary, but the lack of understanding didn’t account for how pale she’d become. The quantity of tears shed earlier meant a loss of potassium and it occurred to her that Lily needed food. Instead, she’d driven hours in great stress and then made gracious conversation in several languages with strangers. Then concerned herself with Nicole’s comfort above her own.

Nicole gathered up her satchel, growing increasingly concerned that the man was well past standards of privacy distance, even for Europeans, who required less space than Americans. He was almost touching her with his chest.

It sounded as if Lily were saying, “Nine nine dew erst” but the man began waving his arms.

Lily said one last thing and the man yelled something back and stormed off just as Nicole reached them.

“What on earth was that about? Are you all right?” Nicole took the water bottles from Lily’s shaking hands.

“A fan of the Linden-Smiths,” Lily said. Her lips were pale.

Nicole uncapped one of the bottles. “Drink. Let’s get out of here.”

She drank her own water while she and Lily slowly made their way toward the distant main exit. Though Lily pointed out a booth here and there, it was clear to Nicole that she was not really seeing much of anything. Well, that ass had been physically intimidating and that was enough to shake anyone for a while.

“And here we have biographies, more biographies, memoirs,” Nicole said, filling in the silence. They were finally nearing the main doors.

Lily stumbled to a stop in front of a massive publishing house booth draped in red, white and blue. Stacks of new books were arranged in clever displays, featuring faces Nicole dimly recognized from television. The news anchor who had come out

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