Kal interlaced our fingers. “You’ve already seen the bedroom. This is the shared space.”
A backless couch faced two stools, all sitting on a woven rug. A carved wood wall, which resembled vines, was right behind them. Two massive windows with sheer curtains led to a long, railless balcony adorned with several potted plants. In between the windows was a ceiling-high bookshelf, completely full. He directed me past the couch and carved wall, to an open area with an easel and paints.
“Yours?” I asked, knowing the answer.
“Yes.”
To the right was a kitchen, including a food dispenser, cabinets, and a table framed by woven mats. Two doors matching the one from the bedroom were off the kitchen.
I gestured to them. “What are those?”
“Bedrooms. If you want one for yourself, you can take one. One of them has all of my old childhood things.”
“Do I have to sleep in another room?”
“No,” Kal said. “I hope you don’t want to.”
“I don’t, but I would like to see your old stuff.”
I opened the door to the left. The windows were closed, and light filtered into the room from the glass, illuminating the dust motes in the air. There were bookshelves full of books. Crates that held toys, clothes, and miscellaneous items.
The toys were much like the ones on Earth but with a different flavor. Figurines of odd animals and people. Shuttles. Unique weapons. Kal watched me with a tense expression, tail flicking, as I picked through the offerings.
“I like seeing your stuff.”
Kal relaxed. “Do you?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry you had to leave your childhood things behind.”
“I didn’t have any. I left everything when my grandparents kicked me out.”
“Oh.”
When Kal didn’t say anything more, I said, “Show me your favorite things.”
He held out several toys, talking about them, then moved to the shelf and pulled out a couple of books. He gave me some easy ones to read. After a bit, we left the room and sat on the couch. He sat with his back against the arm, and I rested between his legs, holding my gifts.
Lucy crept around the edges of the room, hunched and fur puffed. It would take time for her to calm down. My eyes shifted to the open windows. “She won’t fall out, right?”
“No. Neither will you. There are shields preventing it. I would never let anything happen to our Lucy or you.”
Pressing back against him, I bit my lip. Kal’s room was one thing. I didn’t feel comfortable venturing out yet, but I would have to. I had to officially meet Kal’s parents and siblings. Trembles started in my hands but spread to the whole of my body.
“What’s wrong, Mate?”
“We need to see your family.”
“Not right now.”
“Kal,” I started.
His grasp tightened. “Trust me. You can have the time you need.”
My stomach growled, loudly, interrupting us, and Kal laughed—his real, booming laugh. I commented, “We should eat.”
“We probably should.”
