When Kiran pops in, she’s trailed by Tano. He loses his mind confronted with so much attention, while Kiran immediately makes a beeline for Maximus. Fashion seems to be her career, not just a hobby, and when Beau interjects, she casually gives them tips. It’s all so wholesome, and even Tanisira stopswatching the two suspiciously after a while. It surprises the life out of me when arms loop around my waist, and I end up pulled flush against Tanisira’s body, my back to her front. She drops her chin onto my shoulder, and I only hesitate for a moment before resting my hands over hers.
“How did it go?” she asks, ignoring the crew’s jeering.
“Honestly, really well.” I give her the rundown, and she huffs.
“Surya-ki laash. I’m proud of you for standing your ground.”
“Thank you,” I say, trying to react like an adult and not a giddy teenager. “It’s waiting for an update from the police that’s the hardest.”
“If you like, I can take your mind off it later.”
Her breath ghosts across the shell of my ear and sends a shiver rolling down my spine. She always goes for the ears first, damn her. I fight to keep my expression neutral. “Is that right?”
A kiss at the nape of my neck is all it takes to undo me. “Tee,” I groan.
“Shhh.” She chuckles, pulling me closer. “I’m in the living room tonight. Once Vee’s asleep, sneak in and let me distract you.”
Suddenly, I wish it were just us in this kitchen so I could drink the words straight from her mouth. It takes a lot not to squirm shamelessly against her, but I manage it. I peel myself out of her arms and go to catch up with the others, despite the heat roiling beneath my skin. It’d be a shame to waste the evening pining after Tanisira when I’ll have her later.
I still can’t believe I get to say that.
Dinner is a cornucopia of beautiful food, aromas, and company. Dev, claiming it would be cruel to ignore Yimirisé’s spices, helps cook. There’s a dessert his family sent him away with which I can’t pronounce but absolutely destroys me. It’s thick, rich and bursting with flavour, and I sit quietly in a food coma as chatter fills the kitchen.
Yimirisé and Kiran laugh loud and hard at everything Beau says—and Beau’s laying the charm on thick—until Yimirisé corners Tanisira and gets into a deep conversation that’s at least peppered with smiles and soft touches. Kiran tops up the jugs on the table with water and juice, and even though there’s no alcohol in the house, the mood is still boisterous and fun.
At one point, my slate goes off, and I nearly swallow my tongue before I see it’s only an alarm reminding me I’m due a shot tomorrow. Not Hina.
I find out theHomeboundis a junky little ship, but the crew think it’ll be perfect with enough TLC and upgrades. Vee wants to know everything, until it gets to interior decorating and he drifts off. I’m watching him go when I catch Maximus and Khrys whispering to each other, curled inward in a manner that’s more intimate than anything I’ve ever seen them share. I distinctly remember Khrys being disappointed. Did something happen while they were docked at the port?
“Khrys,” I call, raising my eyebrows meaningfully when she finds me through the mass of bodies. She flushes a little, her pale skin no match for the rose that spreads across her cheeks, her neck. When she totters over, I pull her into the corner and make that expression again, eyebrows deep in my hairline. She doesn’t even hesitate. I think everyone feels sorry enough for me that I could get any secrets I wanted out of them right now.
“We’ve been... flirting.”
“Obviously! I thought you said he wasn’t interested.”
“Okay, so.” She peers over her shoulder, then lowers her voice further. “It turns out Max is asexual, except the Suryavans don’t have a term for it because... something about the value we place on sex. Anyway, we were bored on the ship, and we got to speaking and it turned into a whole day where we were just talking and...”
“And?”
She bites her lip. “He asked if he could kiss me.”
I barely hold back a squeal. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. At first, I thought he was attracted to you and that’s why he barely spoke to me, but apparently, he’s no good at flirting with people he’s interested in. Isn’t that insane? I mean, look at him.”
I smile and pinch her cheek playfully. “Look atyou.”
“Yeah. We don’t know what’s going to happen if his father manages to sort out the bounty; if this is just a short-term thing…”
Her words tug at my stomach. A short-term thing. It’s too close to the thought circling my brain. Because trying is all well and good, but how will we make this work? My life is back on Telluria, including everything and everyone Vee knows. Tanisira’s life is in space and here too, as much as she denies it.
Long distance is a valid relationship form to have; I just don’t know if it’s valid forus.
My slate goes off again. With a sigh, I dig it out of my pocket to silence it. I must have accidentally set the alarm to snooze.
But it’s Hina’s name that pops up on the screen.
I freeze.
