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“Andie?” a voice called from the back, interrupting me.
I paused, scanning for the speaker until the people parted and someone from my past came rushing forward.
Cory wrapped me in a bear hug when he reached me.
“Oh my God. Andie. I never thought I’d see you again.”
I hugged him back, stunned since I’d never once considered I’d actually see a face I recognized in these volunteer groups. Fort Irwin and the evac site weren’t anywhere near where either of us had lived.
“Uh, can we save this reunion for later?” Roni asked.
Cory immediately loosened his hold and looked over at Roni.
“Yeah. Sorry for interrupting. It’s just…crazy. I never thought—” He looked at me, emotion lighting his gaze.
“I understand,” I said. “It’s good to see you. Let me get through the introductions first, and we can talk later.”
He nodded and released me, backing up a few steps as he nodded at me to go ahead. His gaze shifted to something behind me a second before a set of hands settled on my shoulders.
“I am Molev, and this is Andie. You are here because you want a chance for a new life—a safer one—with my people. We will welcome those who know how to work well with others and want to see a diverse community thrive in a failing world. However, we have zero tolerance for theft of any kind.”
Molev’s grip on my shoulders took on new meaning with those words.
I reached back and patted his hand, hoping he wasn’t openly glaring at Cory, and took over the welcoming speech. Molev didn’t leave my side as we divided into groups, not even after Cory went off with Team Katie.
The morning stretched into the eventual midday, and Molev finally called for a break.
Typically, our team ate with the volunteers, just another chance to get to know them. But I hung back with Molev as the volunteers went for water and sandwiches from the coolers.
“You left,” I said when there was no one around to hear. “Was it to punish me or because you needed some time to process?”
He crossed his arms and scowled at me. “I doubt you would find my absence a punishment.”
“I’m sorry my reaction upset you to the point that you needed space.”
“Will you tell me why you dislike the idea of marriage?” he asked.
“Whoa,” Cory said, having approached without either of us noticing. He held up his hands when we glanced at him. “Didn’t mean to interruptthatconversation. Hopefully, you can give him a better answer than you gave me,” Cory said with a good-natured laugh, but I saw the lingering hurt in his gaze as he turned to walk away.
“Wait,” Molev said. “Did you ask Andie to marry you as well?”
Cory paused. “It’s old history,” he said. “Nothing to worry about. I promise.”
Molev grunted. “What reason did she give you?”
I couldn’t believe he was asking my ex that. “I don’t think this is the right place for—”
Cory answered over me. “Two years ago, she didn’t want kids. She told me that, once people get married, there’s an inherent pressure to breed the next generation. She was dead set against mini-Andie’s running around. She was even talking about having her tubes tied at the time but was having a hard time finding a doctor willing to do it.”
“Explain tubes tied,” Molev said.
“It’s a surgery to prevent pregnancy forever,” Cory said.
I turned and started walking, angry at both of them for judging my choices. I’d yet to meet a man who tried to see things from my point of view. Why should they? The idea of starting a family was easy for them. Find a good woman to have sex with. Watch her grow a baby for nine months. Be there when she gives birth. Then work hard to provide for the little wifey and rug rat.
Why did men think I was any more into changing poop diapers than they were? Or sleepless nights? Or giving up a carefree lifestyle?
Arms wrapped around me from behind and lifted me off the ground. I scowled up at Molev. He didn’t look down at me as he started running away with me, though.
