Page 79 of Bound By Stars
This is exactly the opportunity I need. For all they know, she’s just a friend. Maybe if they meet Weslie, get to know her, and see how I feel about her, they’ll understand.
Chapter Thirty
Weslie
Eight days to Mars
My feet stop moving on the threshold of the dining room. Heads turn. The low hush of whispers comes from every direction. Everything I had dreaded. It’s as bad as I imagined. Exactly why I have never come to dinner. And to make myself more of a spectacle, I enter with the heir of a Big Six family. There may as well be a spotlight on us.
After Jupiter was dragged away by Gianna yesterday, I didn’t hear from him all night. Then he didn’t show up to breakfast, got whisked away after class again, and stopped replying to messages for the second day in a row. My heart practically exploded when my comm pinged in the late afternoon and displayed his name on the screen.
Jupiter:Wes, I’m sorry. My mom’s being overly protective after the E.F.E. threats and I’ve been in constant tutoring sessions.
He hadn’t been avoiding me. The nagging concern that he’d only been swept up in the excitement and hypnotized by that low-cut dress Asha stuck me in finally loosened.
Jupiter:Come to dinner with my family tonight. They want to meet you. I want them to meet you.
I almost immediately turned him down, but before I hit send, a sinking feeling in my gut held me back. We’d spent nearly every day together until the Gala and then nothing. Two days and I already missed him.
Plus…They want to meet you.I stared at the words until they melted across the screen. My mind raced. Does that mean… Are they okay with… Maybe their laws and rules aren’t as inflexible as people say?
Weslie:Okay, but only if you promise me half your dessert.
Jupiter:Deal.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” I say through my teeth and smooth the front of my ivory dress. When Asha picked it out, I thought it was perfect. Comfortable. Simple ivory. No glitter or sparkles. The neckline is higher than the one she put me in for the Gala, but the cap sleeves sit on the outer edge of my shoulders and the cool, silky fabric lies over my body so softly I could forget it’s there. I hug my rib cage.
Jupiter presses his hand to the small of my back, guiding me forward. The heat of his palm burns through the dress like he’s touching my bare skin. “Forget them all. It’s just you and me.”
I take a breath, and it catches in my chest.
The walls are coated with a shimmering damask. The display is something between the gala and lunch. No band. No dance floor. Fewer chandeliers. Brighter light. Just as many people. And everyone takes a turn to gawk.
“Oh, you must be Weslie!” A woman with long black hair steps into our path, holding the captain’s arm. Tar and Asha have her delicate chin and radiant golden skin, and her fuchsia dress is adorned with extensive beadwork I can imagine Asha doing by hand. “I’ve so wanted to meet you. Asha never stops talking about you.”
Asha never stops talking.
So glad I did not say that out loud.
“Good to see you, Cyra.” Jupiter takes the lead. “Have you been enjoying the journey?”
“It’s a lovely ship.” She continues to smile, like it’s her most natural expression. Caressing her husband’s arm, she leans closer and whispers, “But if I’m being honest, I’ve been on so many of these, I’m always just glad to get home. I do love our stays on Earth, though.”
“It’s a beautiful planet. I hope to see more of it someday,” Jupiter says.
I glance at him. At the pool, it sounded like he knew he’d likely never make it back, but I can hear it in his voice. He really does hope.
“Edward took me to the most beautiful little lak—”
“Cyra.” Captain Nazari pats her hand in the crook of his elbow. “Let’s let them get to their table. It’s always good to see you, Jupiter.” His eyes shift to me and he bows his head. “Weslie.”
Was she talking about the lake? In the years since Reve and I found the way out there, I’ve never seen an Elysian even close. They usually stick to the cities. Never too far from a transport and an air purifier.
“Have a good night.” Jupiter hooks my waist, guiding me to the left toward a large, round table with two free seats. “Take a breath and remind yourself that I’m giving you half my dessert at the end.”
Jupiter’s father stands, tucking his chin-length brown hair behind his ears. His smile is comforting. Familiar. It takes over his whole face. Right eye squinted more than the left. Perfectly asymmetrical. Jupe might look like his mom, but he has his dad’s smile. Behind him, Jupiter’s mother talks across the table to a man seated next to one of the empty chairs.
Mr. Earnshaw’s laugh is deep and resonating. He never so much as cracked an encouraging smile when I was trying to control the tremor in my voice in front of him and the other contest judges. The round-faced woman at his side grins sweetly, patting her partner’s hand as he roars and snorts without anyone joining in.
