“No, it wasyourfault. I said take the left and you went right,” I protested, but I wasn’t invested.
His hold tightened. “Seth, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” I headed toward the food dispenser for a glass of water.
I watched Kal as he played with Lucy, wiggling a string toy. She jumped, snatching the end and rabbit-kicking it. I didn’t want to forget Kal. It’s not as if I didn’t like him or didn’t want to stay, but that would mean giving up Earth. I had no one waiting for me, but Earth was all I knew. I’d followed Travis to another state, and he had screwed me over. Was I making the same mistake? Did I even have a choice?
A blue figure appeared before me, and I jolted. Kal’s tail nudged my chin up. “Mate, what’s going on?”
My first instinct was to lie and hide my fears. It was what I’d always done in the past, but I knew it wasn’t a sustainable pattern.
“What happens if I say no?” I asked, taking a sip of water.
“No to what?”
My jaw clenched, but I forced the words out. “All of this. You. What if I say no at the end?”
He scrubbed his long hair, tail snapping. “I take you back to Earth.”
“And after?”
“What do you mean after? I leave you there and go home. Alone,” he ground out.
“But you would take my memories.”
“That’s standard procedure.”
“Standard,” I repeated, taking another drink of water. “You didn’t think to mention it?”
“I didn’t realize you wouldn’t know. Besides, I thought we’d work out.”
I set my glass down and tugged him close. “I’m not saying we aren’t, but you’re asking me to give up my whole planet. And I’m panicking about what my life will be like if I say no. I’ll have nothing left.”
“What do you mean?”
“Will you leave me wandering in the street? Lucy in a shelter? Me having no idea what happened in the last year?” I asked, crossing my arms over the small of his back. White noise started in my ears as fear eked in. A voice in my brain screamed at me to shut up. My muscles tensed in preparation for him to retaliate, even though Iknewhe wouldn’t.
You trust Kal, I reminded myself fiercely, but the alarm lingered.
He stepped out of my embrace. “You think so little of me? I would never abandon you or Lucy. I would make sure the two of you were safe and cared for, even if I wasn’t the one to protect you.” Kal grabbed my biceps. “I will never let you be in danger.”
My eyes burned, and I scrunched them closed, unwilling to cry.
“Trust me,” Kal whispered in my ear.
I thought I did, but clearly, I didn’t, not completely. “I’m trying.”
“I know, but at least give me a little due. What makes you think I won’t take care of you?”
“No one takes care of me.”
“I do. I will.” He let me go. When he reached his room, he said, “The choice is yours, Seth. But as for me? I want to be with you. Forever.”
I sagged against the wall. My choice? I had no idea what I wanted or what I would choose.
I walked back into the apartment, stretching. I was sore after my combat class. Monty had beaten my ass. He was determinedto teach me to fight so Kal would worry less. Fat chance of that. Kal’s favorite pastime was to worry about me. When Monty hadn’t been beating me, Wyn had been. While he was short and quite thin, Wyn was an amazing fighter, who could slip out of any hold. He was also much stronger than he looked.
Farscapeplayed in the background, but Kal was asleep on the couch, one leg hanging off the edge, with Lucy curled up on his chest. Scenes like this were becoming normal. Crazy.
