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“They were lucky they came from families that weren’t extremists, or else they would’ve continued on to become just like Ulrek. But Ulrek? His father and his grandfather were both Dominion captains, and they fed him that Kool-Aid from birth. I know it doesn’t excuse his actions, and I’ll understand if you don’t want to work for him. I wouldn’t want to, either. You can try to apply to have the contract canceled, but I’m not sure it will fly.”
“I did that already, right before I came over.”
“Talking about canceling contracts.” Angie squared a look at her. “I did some digging while you were on your way here. I see you applied to have your marriage with Craig annulled. About. Fucking. Time.”
Delaney considered telling Angie about the group Craig had recently joined after his hate-on for aliens had gotten worse. He’d started meeting up with this underground group of “human purists.” At first, Delaney thought it was just another bunch of assholes who got together to talk shit about Talleans. But after Craig volunteered her to cook for and clean up after them at one of their meetings, she knew they were serious.
They’d talked about committing honest-to-goodness terrorism. It didn’t matter to these people that the Talleans here on Reka 5 were completely different compared to the ones working for the Dominion. It was pure hate. Being present for that one meeting had made her almost physically ill. It was one of the reasons she’d decided it was time to leave Craig, even if she didn’t have a credit to her name. She didn’t want any part of that, even by association.
But Delaney didn’t want to strain this old friendship more than she had to because she still had one other favor to ask. Also, it was Delaney’s fault they hadn’t stayed close, and it still made her feel like shit to think about it.
No. She’d already broken the news about Ulrek. It was best she waited a little bit before telling Angie bad news about Craig. So she just gave her the gist.
“Long story short, I found out he was cheating, but honestly, I was looking for an excuse for a while.”
That was the official reason Delaney had given Craig in the Dear John letter she’d left on the kitchen table. Saying that it was as much his Tallean hate-on as his infidelity would probably get her targeted by the crazy group he’d been meeting with. Her instincts had told her not to push those buttons until she was somewhere safe. She’d hoped that would be on board at her new job.
Delaney took a big breath. “And I took my name off our rental a few days ago.”
Angie nodded. “Just in time for the new season.”
The entire colony ran on a seasonal rental schedule, and summer had just ended. Though, you couldn’t tell by how hot it still was.
“Yup. So technically, I’m homeless now. And jobless, if I don’t join theRevenge.”
“I’ll get you a temporary room in the New Colonist Housing building until you get a verdict about the contract.”
“Thanks, Angie. I owe you, I really do.” Delaney felt the tears start to well in her eyes at Angie’s kindness. She wasn’t usually this emotional, but she’d had a long, hard day.
“No problem. That’s what friends are for. You probably don’t want to spend the next little while alone, either. Come out to the bathhouse with me.”
Delaney hesitated.
“If you’re worried about being a fourth wheel, don’t be. My mates won’t join us until after, for drinks.”
“Gotcha. So, who all’s coming to the baths?”
“Ulia and Jillian.”
“Jillian? She’s back?”
Jillian was another lucky lady who’d managed to snag herself a Tallean mate. Jakkan wasn’t Dominion, but he worked undercover as a merchant in Dominion space. He was filthy rich, and they came back once a year to set up a stall at the market to sell off any trinkets and merchandise they had “liberated” from the Dominion. Delaney looked forward to their booth every year. The Earth chocolate and candies never lasted long.
“They aren’t setting up at the market for a few days, but yeah, she’s back.”
Delaney thought about it. She hadn’t been to the bathhouse in ages, since Craig thought the baths were nasty places. He’d yelled at her and threatened to cut her hair off when he’d found out she’d been going after work with her co-workers.
Which was ridiculous. The public baths were a common enough place to hang out with friends. Nudity wasn’t taboo in Tallean culture, and it was rare to see anyone wearing swimsuits—in fact, Delaney wasn’t sure there was such a thing as Tallean swimwear.
Sex, too, wasn’t hidden behind closed doors in Tallean culture. It was most definitely not allowedin the tubs, but it was allowed everywhere else. On the benches, on the floor, in the co-ed change rooms.
She didn’t really feel comfortable being naked in front of so many eyes, but considering she was currently homeless, jobless, and her still-husband was blowing up her phone with calls and messages asking where the fuck she was, perhaps being naked in public wasn’t the worst of her problems. And besides, drinks sounded really good right about now. Plus, it was the perfect way to rekindle an old friendship.
If she was set on making a change in her life, she might as well go all out.
“Sure. I’ll tag along.”
“Great. I’ll meet you there. Check your comm now. I just sent you the code for the room. We’re not that busy right now with newbies, so you should be able to live there until something comes up.”
