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“So, how’s it going with JayJay?” Geo scratched at his beard.
“I’m not talking about this with you guys, so don’t ask. I’m way less tired, though.” Which was the truth. Today was the first day I hadn’t napped in forever. “Can you take me back to your place tomorrow?”
How many mantu hides did Makir have? Keeping busy might be the only thing that kept me sane. I needed my sewing machine. Plus, I wanted to visit TeyTey.
Geo reached for Makir’s tail, slid his hand up it, then jumped off the swing. When he stood in front of me, some of the worry lines on his forehead had smoothed. “Already? Isn’t it too soon? Shouldn’t you guys have—aren’t more…treatments necessary?”
I kicked off the ground harder. My head grew heavy with the pull of gravity as the swing soared into the air. “Dr. Ten said we’d have to figure it out as we go. Right now, everything’s good. If I need another…treatment, I’ll come back.”
If three sexy times with JayJay cured me, that would be solid fucking gold. I could return on the next launch to Earth.
Geo’s lips turned down, and Makir’s tail wrapped around my calf.
“We’ll miss you when you go back. Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” they said in unison. Charz and Pika’s whimperspicked up, driven by Geo and Makir’s anxiety, and they launched themselves onto my lap, tipping me off the swing.
The moss cradled my body, and I laughed as the dogs danced on my chest. “Haven’t you noticed this planet is riddled with man-eating worms? You guys should move to Earth.”
As much as I hated the idea of only seeing Geo once every couple of years, placing well in the design challenge could restart my career. Makir was like family now, too. I would miss them both, but this was my big chance. The one thing I knew for sure was that I had no desire to spend time with JayJay if he was going to be an asshole.
“Will one of you please take me back?”
“Anything you need, Ginger.” Geo wrapped his arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his warm bulk. “Let’s get you back to Earth.”
A swarm of tiny dragonflies lit the space in front of us, flashing like a neon blue sign. Moonrise had arrived, and JayJay would be waiting for me.
“See ya in the morning, then.” I waved goodbye. Before I moved out of sight, Makir slid onto Geo’s lap and wrapped his arms around Geo’s neck. They rocked back and forth on the swing together.
A sense of longing for the kind of closeness my best friend had came over me with each trudging step to JayJay’s room. His bedside manner didn’t matter. I needed to get home.
17
Imunched on awarm graneth bun outside the bakery, giving my crew a wide berth. The yeasty treat barely registered on my tastebuds. Racks of baked goods stood behind D’ovey’s counter, where he passed bins to Efred and Saluda, who stacked them onto the hover trailer beside me. A gust of cool spring air spread the bakery’s tangy honey scent every time the door opened.
Mayor Yurst had me so mad I wanted to tear one of his statues from his boastful courtyard and smash it over his head. And Devile was coming. The Rock Dweller who’d erased my existence from every Rock Dweller on Yagras. Devile had severed every tieto anything I’d ever loved. And he would be arriving on Tern in a few rotations. Fear, bright and cold as a fungus-laced dart, shot through my heart, and the graneth puff fell from my shaking hand to the pink puddle at my feet.
In the doorway, D’ovey twisted an apron string so taut it might snap and leaned closer to Hill. “We’ve no idea what’s going on. Just the little snippets we get when you come for supplies.”
Hill’s teeth clacked as if working out a solution to Dovey’s problem.
I rubbed my trembling hand over my face, trying to work out my own mess. My patience had already been frayed before I’d been coerced into attending that useless meeting. The way I’d treated Ginger made my skin itch as if tiny antu bit into me. I scratched the insects I imagined from my arms. The urge to fix something—to take charge—fueled my impatience, and gathering supplies was taking too long. I would make things right with Ginger. I owed her an apology and an explanation.
“That’s enough supplies.” My crew eyeballed the half-loaded trailer, then directed their wary gazes at me. I softened my voice before thanking D’ovey. After testing the tightness of a strap over Makir’s spare parts, I tipped my chin. “Let’s head out, team.”
“We’ll work on something.” Hill placed his hand on the older Boola’s shoulders. Flour dusted the creases around his mouth, highlighting the deep brown lines etched there as he waved us off.
Blant, that should’ve been me taking a moment to listen and lead.
I threw a leg over my saddle and hit the ignition. I’d dishonored myself and Ginger when we’d last mated. My lack of respect for a female disgusted me. On top of that, I wasn’t upholding the position Sisip had given me to protect Yurstille sothe colonizers would feel safe. The ancestors would frown at my behavior.
The loud downdraft did nothing to quiet my busy mind as a cloud of choking pink dust swirled around me. I didn’t deserve the privilege of being chosen as the Rock Dweller to assist Ginger in her time of need. To throw that honor away lowered me to the worst of males. My poor treatment of a female warranted removal from my position.
I’d apologize to Ginger and explain everything. When she chose another Rock Dweller, I’d be nothing more than understanding. How had I sunk so low? I hadn’t even stripped her shirt or kissed her as she’d taught me. I could have hurt her, not preparing her like I’d been shown.
She needed a respected Rock Dweller with an untarnished past, one the great spirit guides held in esteem. Representative Devile held a position of power and authority.
No.
I shook my head, forcing that picture away. The imaginary red antu swarmed under my skin now, and I dug into my forearms with blunt nails.
