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A loud knock disturbed my internal rant before Geo opened the door carrying a food tray. Hiti mushrooms floated in a rich broth. The thought of JayJay slipping Makir some fungi so he could take care of me in his absence made my stomach do a little flip. Pika and Charz circled Geo’s feet before they landed on my lap, slathering me with kisses.
“It’s time you quit hiding in here, Ginge. It’s been a week.” He set the tray in front of me, and my mouth watered at the soothing scent of chicken soup. A welcome surprise. My appetite had abandoned me since my visit to the doctor.
I sipped my soup while I waited for the inevitable intervention. How would Geo smooth over the fact that my life would never be the same?
“Wow, Ginge, this is amazing.” His gaze drifted over the armor I’d created for JayJay. “I know you win awards for your costumes, but this is incredible.” Geo straightened his shoulders, sat cross-legged beside me on the floor, and took a deep breath.
Here we go.
“This isn’t you, Ginge.” He fingered my limp hair, and I pulled away—I hadn’t washed it in days. He eyed the ratty leggings I’d taken refuge in. “I’m mad at you, you know.” He pressed his lips into a flat line. “How could you not tell me you’re sick?”
I dodged his soulful gaze, taking a sudden interest in my mismatched socks. Why did he have to look at me like that, with his heart beating on a platter, when his anger would be more welcome?
“I’m sorry.” I peeked up as a tear tracked down Geo’s cheek. He was killing me. I set my soup to the side, scooted forward until our knees touched, and leaned in, my forehead tucked into his chest. Then I wrapped my arms around his soft waist, not able to reach all the way behind his back. “I’m having a hard time accepting it.”
“Of course you are. Queen of the stubborn.” One of his hands cradled the back of my head, and the other rested on my folded knee. “I’m not going anywhere, ’kay? We’re doing this together.” His rough voice soothed the raw edges of my nerves.
Tears rolled over my cheeks, soaking into Geo’s soft T-shirt, and my tight chest heaved. I might never return to Earth. Pika nudged my knee with her wet nose.
Geo’s dogs wriggled between us, tipping the bowl of soup over as an email alert flashed on my borrowed wristport. Hot liquid seeped into my leggings. Weird, I’d only programmed a few contacts to come through while I was on Tern. I blotted my wet wrist with my soup-stained T-shirt and opened the message.
“Holy shit, Geo. The Global Design Guild has selected me as a finalist for this year’s competition.” My hands shook, and fresh tears leaked from my eyes. All my life, I’d aspired to be among the thirty competitors selected each year. “Here, read this.” I stripped the wristport from my arm and shoved it at Geo. “Am I hallucinating?”
“Nah, Ginge.” He squeezed my knee. “It’s the real deal.” Geo scrolled through the email, reading aloud. “All competitors must meet in Vancouver in three months.”
I looked down at my soggy lap, lank hair falling into my face, and the urge to have a shower drove me to my feet.
“Come on.” Geo stood and tugged me toward him, our fingers intertwined. “There’s no time to waste.” He opened one of my suitcases and placed JayJay’s armor inside. Then, his new alpha side took control, and he narrowed his eyes. “Pack.”
“You know I can’t go home. I’ll have to decline,” I whispered, swiping at my never-ending tears. “Shit! Why am I crying so much?”
“I’m not talking about home. Makir and I are taking you to JayJay.” He stared at me with a knowing look, as if I had accessto the crazy-ass thoughts in his head. “It’s the only way to get you better and back on time.”
“I can’t fucking think right now.” The need to escape from my overworked mind and soothe the uneasiness stirring inside was eating at me. I started braiding and unbraiding my hair as I rocked on my heels. It was either that or run. But my bullshit excuse for a body wouldn’t get me far. “Do you think it would work?”
To my dismay, he spun and began stuffing clothes into a suitcase. “Dr. Ten’s report said you must share semen with a Rock Dweller to improve. C’mon, Ginge…youhaveto.” His voice softened to pleading. “We need to get you on that next shuttle to Earth. You can’t miss out on this.” He snapped the suitcase closed with a bang. “You’re going to spend some quality time with JayJay.”
“But—” I sputtered, searching for some argument I might win. “There are other Rock Dwellers. Why can’t it be someone else?” No other Rock Dweller boiled my blood quite the way JayJay did. “He’s too… Loud,” I shot back weakly, when really, I was worried this might destroy the fragile relationship we’d begun to build.
“Too loud.” Geo snorted, rolling his eyes at my antics. “All Rock Dwellers are loud, Ginge. If you need a reason, Sully’s married, and all the rest are too young.”
I added some underwear to the suitcase. If I left it to Geo, I’d be commando the whole time. “But what about a Lizzard? Dr. Ten said their sperm would work, too.”
Geo whipped around so fast I thought the handle of my suitcase might tear off. “Are you fucking kidding me? Raz is the only Lizzard on Tern. He terrorized Makir, and you know it. And you’re thinking about being alone with him… Naked?”
I threw both hands up. “You’re right. Sorry.”
Jaw clenched, Geo carried on, “Plus, even if Raz had a shred of decency, he’s not playing for your team or species. He has a hard-on for Lornian males.”
“All right, I get it. I wasn’t thinking.” With cautious steps, I approached the angry bear and squeezed his hand. “I love Makir too. I just got a little caught up on the…er…whole sperm donor to get healthy thing.”
“Ginger, no offense, but you smell.” Geo slung a towel over my shoulder and ushered me to the bathroom. “Even JayJay might run from you now.”
I glared at him.
Geo backed away, a smile sneaking up the edges of his mouth. “Too soon for jokes?” He jammed his hands into his pockets. “But in all seriousness, I know this is a fucked-up situation, but if you have to have someone’s sperm to get better, then JayJay’s a good choice. He’ll treat you right.”
With my chin dipped to my chest, water pounded the back of my head and wet hair hung in a curtain around my face. Warmth worked its way into my swollen joints where I sat in the shallow basin. The thing was, I didn’t want to force a guy to ‘treat me right.’ I gripped my knees while my chest rose and fell.
