Page 117 of On a Rogue Planet
And it wasn’t showing any signs of getting better.
With a sigh, she lifted a hand to run through her hair and connected with the rounded helmet of her enviro suit.Idiot. She dropped her hand. She was working outside the huma-dome on the wreck of a cruisership.
It was good to have some space from the constant well-meaning scrutiny of her family. Eos and Ria kept trying to get her to talk. Dathan and Zayn kept bringing up Xander. Nik watched her with a brooding gaze. And Lala kept asking what sex with a CenSec was like and wanted all the details.
Mal bent her knees and jumped off the ground. She landed over near her toolbox and pulled out a torque wrench. She bounded back to where she was working, knelt down, and started loosening bolts.
A noise made her look up. Krypto crouched nearby, watching her with his unblinking gaze. “You miss him too, don’t you, boy?”
In the privacy of her room, she watched any news she could on Centax. The galaxy was obsessed with the coup and the heroic story of the CenSec who’d crossed into uncharted space with thedashing Phoenix brothers to retrieve a priceless treasure and save his planet.
She smiled to herself. Oh, she bet Xander just hated that.
She’d seen him a couple of times on the news holo-vids. Usually, standing behind Axton Saros as the Prime was interviewed. Axton looked a lot like his brother, only leaner and less enhanced. And Axton Saros smiled, frowned, showed his emotion freely. Xander was always a strong, emotionless presence at his brother’s back.
Tears pricked her eyes. She dropped her head forward until her helmet rested against the metal of the ship.
“This is really what you want?”
“Yes.”
Oh, she was obviously a brilliant liar.
“Girl, you are a pathetic mess.”
Mal’s head shot up and she dropped the wrench. It spun freely and lowered slowly toward the ground. Krypto leaped up and snatched the tool before dropping it at Mal’s feet.
Mal shot Lala a sharp glance. “What are you doing out here?”
Lala managed a shrug in her hot-pink enviro suit. Mal had no idea where the hell the girl had managed to find it.
“Thought I’d come annoy you out of your misery for a bit.”
Mal snorted. “Gee, thanks.”
“You fell for a CenSec, girl.” Lala shook her helmeted head, then leaned down to pat Krypto on the head. “And people callmecrazy. Cyborgs can’t fall in love. It’s no surprise he dumped you.”
“He didn’t. I left him.”
“Say what?”
Mal leaned back and put her gloved hands on her knees. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Well, he is a cyborg. He had some sexy muscles, for sure, but I guess you couldn’t get past the metal parts.”
Heat rushed through Mal. “That’s not it!” She got to her feet. “He’s perfect the way he is. Some people only see the machine, the enhancements, but he’s still a man. He’s intelligent, loyal, dedicated, stable, strong…” Stars, she was so crazy in love with him.
“But emotionally stunted.”
“No. He feels, even though they tried to take that from him.”
Lala blinked behind her clear visor. “I guess you just didn’t trust that he loved you, then?”
“He needs time to explore his feelings more.” Mal threw her hands up. “Why am I talking to you about this?”
“I obviously don’t know him as well as you do.” Lala waggled her eyebrows. “But the man certainly seemed to know exactly what he wanted. You.”
“Lala—”
