Page 65 of Alien Burn

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.” He shifted against the rail. “Do you prefer this?”

“Yes.”

The answer came promptly enough to please him. Then she glanced down, as though she had only just realized how plainly she had said it.

“So do I,” he told her.

She looked back at him.

He could have made a joke. Given them both somewhere to retreat. He stayed quiet, and after a moment she loosened her grip on the blanket.

“Would you show me one day?” she asked. “The sky from there. In person.”

“I'd like that.”

“I don't need a grand tour.”

“Good. The crushers become less interesting after the third hour.”

She laughed.

“Just the stars,” she said. “And perhaps somewhere to sit.”

“I can manage both.”

He heard movement on her side of the call. Sereya looked toward her door. Her smile did not vanish, but he saw the effort it took to keep it.

“I should go.”

“All right.”

She hesitated.

He waited.

“Thank you for calling me.”

“Thank you for asking.”

Another small sound reached him, too faint to identify. Sereya turned her head again, then faced the screen.

“I'd like to talk tomorrow,” she said quickly.

“Then we will.”

“If you have time.”

“I'll ask when you're free.”

She nodded. For a moment he thought she might say something else.

Instead, she lifted her uninjured hand, palm toward him. A little farewell, shy enough to make his chest ache.

He raised his own.

“Good night, Sereya.”