"It's a genuine love lotus. How much did you pay for it?"
Farradyne almost felt a glow of cheer. He fumbled in his pocket and came up with the cash register receipt. "The usual five dollars," he said.
"Someone must have been trying to start another addict," she said in a hard tone.
He looked at her. "But why did you wear it?" he asked.
"I wore it because I know I'm immune and I wanted to see how you reacted. If it was for the usual reason, I was going to lead you on and then send you packing." She looked up at him shyly. "I didn't want it to be for the usual reason, Charles, but I was confused."
"But how do you tell them apart?"
"That I'll not tell you until tomorrow."
Farradyne shrugged. "Okay," he said, taking the love lotus out of her hair and tossing it down the disposal chute. "So what'll it be? Chess, or tiddledy-winks?"
"Astronomy," she said with a smile. "We can see no stars from where I live on Mercury, you know."
He followed her up to the control room and stood behind her as she peered through the spotting telescope. She leaned back against him and rubbed her cheek against his chin.