Delta Anomaly

by Rick Barba

  “You don’t need to anymore,” she said.

  Kirk just stood and watched her work for a few seconds. She wasn’t self-conscious at all. He liked that.

  He noticed that tonight she wore her hair up. He saw the hint of a tattoo on her neck, under the pile of hair scooped up, and was intrigued. He realized there was a lot he needed to learn about Hannah. “You changed your hair,” he said. “I like it.”

  “I get bored easily,” she replied.

  “Should I take that as a challenge?” asked Kirk with a glint in his eye. “Do I need to do something special to keep you from getting bored with me?”

  Hannah shook her head and laughed.

  “So when do you get off?” Kirk asked, drumming his fingers on the counter.

  “Hmm . . . ,” she said, pretending to consider his question. Kirk held his breath and waited. “I just decided that it’s now. Jen!” she called.

  Jen stepped from the back room. Her hands were powdered with flour. “Yes?”

  “Okay if I split a little early tonight?”

  Jen gave a sly look at Kirk. “Why?”

  “Pretty please,” she begged.

  “Give me five to finish up this batch of scones,” said Jen. “Then I’ll take the counter. And you owe me!”

  “Thanks, Jen!” said Kirk and Hannah in unison.

  Kirk strolled over to his corner table, feeling almost giddy at the thought of having a few hours of Hannah all to himself. He had a lot to tell her. He felt like a better man, thanks to her. Certainly a better cadet. He owed her, big-time. If he ever got to sit in the captain’s chair of a Starfleet capital ship, his decisions would be informed by her way of looking at things. Plus she was so damn sexy. Jen can’t finish those scones fast enough, he thought.

  A few minutes later Hannah plopped down into the chair next to him.

  “So what shall we do tonight?” he asked.

  “Let’s study,” she said.

  “Study?” repeated Kirk. Seriously?

  “You got a test coming up?” he asked.

  “No, I just like to study.”

  Studying wasn’t what Kirk had in mind. He had been thinking moonlit stroll and then maybe a drink or two at a bar. Or dinner. Nevertheless, he agreed to her plan.

  “But first,” he told Hannah, “I was hoping we could take a walk.”

  “Okay,” said Hannah. “Why?”

  “Because it’s really foggy and chilly out tonight,” he replied. “Uncomfortably cold, in fact.”

  Hannah gave him an uncertain smile. “I like walks, but um, what’s your angle here?”

  Kirk pointed to her jacket, which hung on a coatrack behind the counter. “Your jacket,” he said. “It doesn’t really keep you very warm, does it? In fact, that jacket sucks. Or am I wrong about that?”

  Hannah looked over at her jacket.

  “No, you’re right,” she said. “It sucks.”

  “So, you will be freezing and I just can’t have that . . . so it will be up to me to keep you warm!” Kirk grinned at his logic. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  Hannah stood up and slid her arms around Kirk’s waist. She pretended to be considering his idea. “So this walk is just a ploy to get a little closer to me?” she asked, looking up at him under lowered lashes. Kirk’s head was spinning.

  “Just for a few minutes, I promise!” He held up his arms in mock surrender. “Then we can come back here and study.”

  Hannah arched an eyebrow. “Cadet, who said anything about studying here? My apartment is just a few blocks away.” She playfully pushed him away, walked over to the coatrack, and pulled on her jacket. “Coming?” she asked over her shoulder.

  Kirk suddenly thought studying sounded like the best idea he’d ever heard.