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Billie smirked, utterly unfazed by the reprimand from Pip, and returned to addressing the women as a whole.
“Osif believes that we will be ready to move in the week after next if all goes according to plan.”
“That sounds lovely,” a petite woman, who I believed was called Joanna, said.
The women all nodded in assent.
“Are you all—” I halted, looking for words, “Are you comfortable enough while you wait for your accommodations to be built?”
“We feel bad for displacing some of the orkin, but we’re more than comfortable,” a curvy woman, Ginny I think, responded.
“Those displaced don’t mind. They have already readily accepted you into the tribe, but I am sure they will be happy things are moving along smoothly,” I replied.
“Speaking of, we need to get back to Osif’s team,” Pip said, standing and looking at Billie.
“Go on without me. I wanted to talk with Agnarr a bit more,” Billie responded.
Pip’s brows went dangerously high, “Billie...” she warned.
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask him for more personal details. For now.”
Pip looked from Billie to me and then back to Billie.
“I promise I’ll behave,” Billie said.
“Okay, but join me soon,” Pip agreed, still looking slightly alarmed.
As Pip left, I looked at Billie, “Well? Shall we go?”
“Go where?”
“Given that you wanted to talk about something without Pip here, I assumed you’d want to talk alone?”
Billie laughed, “Alright, yes, you are correct. Let’s go for a walk,” she said, standing. “Bye!” She waved to the other women as we headed out the door.
They didn’t look confused at all by the events. Perhaps they were all in on something I wasn’t. Now I was even more worried about whatever Billie wanted to speak with me about. As we walked down the path that wound its way around the edge of the village, Billie didn’t make me wait long.
“So, I know you have some surprises in store for Piper—”
“How do you know?” I whispered as if Piper were somehow going to sneak up behind us.
“She knows,” Billie said simply. “She doesn’t know what the surprise is, but she knows you’re planning something. Just like I am sure you know she is planning something. It’s almost as if you were made for each other.”
I crossed my arms and tried to scowl at her, but she was undeterred.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Both of you love each other enough that you aren’t going to ruin each other’s surprises.”
“So you took me on a walk to tell me we are both terrible secret keepers?” I huffed.
“No. I took you on a walk to suggest another secret,” she said, still grinning.
She had my attention.
“Oh?”
“Well, Piper and I talked a bit about the orkin mating customs.”
“Oh gods.” I dragged my palm over my face.
