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Jamef studies me intently as Bethiah picks through the remnants of food. “What do you think of this planet? Is it somewhere you’d want to stay, sweetheart? Is farming something you’d want to do?”
“Why are you asking?” I furrow my brows at him. “We’re space pirates, aren’t we?”
“Of course not,” Bethiah says, laughing falsely and loudly as she glances around the busy cantina. She kicks me under the table with a meaningful look. “You say the craziest things when drunk.”
Oh, oops. “Space travelers,” I amend. “Freighters. Shippers —”
“Drop it,” Bethiah says, picking up her beer.
Right. Any way you look at it, they’re not the domesticated type, either of them. “You wouldn’t want to farm, would you?”
“I guess it depends,” Jamef says when I look over at him. “Do you need it to be happy? This planet has humans. You’d have your own land. You’d have rights to a certain degree. You’d have a stable home and could make credits without our assistance.”
“Riiiight?” I eye them both. “You’d want to farm?”
“If it’s what you need to feel safe? To be content?” Jamef glances over at Bethiah, who shrugs. “We’d try it.”
“Basically we’re saying you pick.” Bethiah reaches her hand across the table for mine. “We’ve got some free time, right? I guess I could always try milking the stock or some shit.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing in her face. “I think they’re for eating, not for milking.”
“Oh. You don’t milk the edible ones? Shows how much I know.” She shrugs. “But we’re telling you that it’s your call. If you want to go back out—all three of us—we’re probably going to be staying with my cousin Jerrok for a while. Or visiting Kaatir.”
So we’ll be crashing on everyone’s couches until the bounties are lifted on their heads. I slip my hand into her strong one. “And we could just as easily farm? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Something like that.”
I look back and forth between the two of them, and I can tell they’re serious. They want to leave this up to me. I could say I want to farm and they’d put on overalls and try to milk things right alongside me and the thought is so funny and yet fills me with so much love that I can’t even laugh. I could burst with joy.
“She looks like she’s going to vomit,” Bethiah whispers to Jamef. “Might wanna back away.”
“I’m not drunk!” Laughing, I release her hand.
“That’s what all the drunks say,” Jamef teases, giving my neck a squeeze. Then he shoots a look at Bethiah. “The other ones try to milk things.”
“I’ll milk you,” she says, shaking a playful fist at him.
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Oh my god, Jamef made a joke. Now I’ve really died and gone to heaven. Is it possible for one person to contain so much happiness? Being here with the two of them, sharing this moment—I’m the luckiest. I can’t hold back my joy. “I don’t want to farm,” I confess, beaming at the two of them. “I want to learn to drive the ship.”
“Fly the ship.” Jamef seeks out my gaze. “But you’re sure?”
I nod. “I figure you need me to stay on the ship, right? And if I’m there, it’s best if I know how to work the darn thing. I could fly it while you guys are doing bounties and swing around and pick you up. Like we’re a team.”
Bethiah gives me a look of approval. “I like that idea.”
Jamef just nods.
“And I don’t mind visiting Jerrok for a while. It’ll give me a chance to learn the controls of the Spot. And I’d love to see Hazza again. None of that sounds bad to me. But I also want to stay here for a few days if that’s all right. I want to make sure Simone is settled and happy…and we should probably make sure Rhonda isn’t going to burn the place down.”
“Pyromania isn’t her thing,” Bethiah comments. “Too messy. But it’s probably not the worst idea to stay and make sure Simone’s all right. I’m fond of that kid.”
“I’ve got another suggestion.” I bite my lip, gauging their expressions to my outlandish idea. “Remember that pet Sophie has? The protector-kin?”
“The carinoux?” Bethiah nods. “Do I ever.”
“You want to give one to Simone,” Jamef guesses. He knows me too well.
“Is that bad? It would fulfill her need for a pet and she wouldn’t be lonely, and it’d also keep her safe if anyone tried to bother her.”
Bethiah just stares at me. “You do know how much those things cost, right?”
“I don’t, actually.” I wince at the stare she gives me. “Expensive?”
“Let’s just say I could buy a ship with one.”
“Ouch. I thought they were cute. If we didn’t live on a ship I’d have asked for one myself. I guess that’s out of the question.” I can’t imagine walking around with a pet that expensive at my side. Heck, I can’t imagine paying anything like that. Ships must cost a small fortune. The carinoux sure were pretty, though, and affectionate. “It was just an idea.”
