I scrubbed my arms, shaking. The warm water sluiced over me and the lights were on as high as possible, illuminating every nook and cranny. I could see everything: the large soaking tub and toilet on the other side of the bathroom. The shower was formed of rocks, and the water escaped from what appeared to be a waterfall. Not even the bathroom was free of the plants that grew all over the ship. Moss grew on the rocks and small plants grew along the edges.
Sitting on the wide stone bench, I vigorously rubbed my skin with a washcloth until it was bright red, and even then, I kept going. I swore I saw the hands from the various aliens holding me.
At least it was a water shower. The only “shower” I’d had access to when Tryk bought me was a vibration one that knocked off the dirt and disinfected me. But it never felt clean. Something about water was cleansing and freeing. Sort of.
A chime sounded, and I looked up from where I was tucked against my knees. I shut off the hot water and tugged on clothes. The apartment I was in was nice enough, with a bedroom, bathroom, closet, and a living room that had a small table in the corner, though there wasn’t a single chair with a back anywhere in the apartment. The table had woven mats around it, and the living room had a single backless couch.
I glanced at the door. I had no idea who was on the other side. Perhaps it was Don. He’d said he wouldn’t force himself on me, but I didn’t believe him. Though it could be Seth or Teddy. That made me smile, a bit. Though it was super late, not that you could tell, because we were in fucking space and the only thing outside the window was distant stars.
Wrapping an arm around my waist, I opened the door. I practically sagged when I saw Teddy standing on the other side. Bartholomew was his given name, but he went by Teddy, though I had no idea why. His black hair was short, barely curling nearthe nape of his neck. He was so much taller than me, over six feet, but he was thin as a whip. His long face aided in the general stretched look he had about him. His bones were poking out of his tan skin, like he hadn’t been eating well.
“Hey,” he said.
“Teddy, come in.” I hugged my middle, and my shoulders curled in tight as tension wracked me. I sat on the backless couch, pressing into the tall arms that easily reached my shoulders.
He took a seat on the other end, peering around at all the bright lights, and asked, “How are you?”
“Fine, Teddy. Though you look thin. Has your husband not been feeding you? Punishing you for some obscure reason?” Was his bastard husband starving him? Did I need to protect SethandTeddy from their shitty husbands? Probably. Teddy had been forced to leave the cafeteria without saying goodbye to me.
“Mindy’s extremely paranoid about feeding me, so yeah, I’ve been eating. I’m on nutritional supplements as well. I imagine Klars—that’s the doctor in charge of humans—will start you on some.”
All of us humans had had a basic scan and our trackers removed, but we would be required to have a more comprehensive exam, or so Seth had said. “Are you happy? With him?”
“Yes,” he said. “I love him. I love him a lot, and I’m happy.”
“So you’re staying?” I asked. Teddy was close with his mothers and sisters. I couldn’t imagine him leaving them. As little as he talked, Teddy had mentioned them a handful of times on Xome, which told me exactly how important they were.
“Yeah.”
I fought the urge to say something. How could he leave them? Teddy must really love this alien husband of his, though I wasn’t convinced this Serlotminden was actually taking care of Teddy.
Teddy took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to leave you. I would have never intentionally abandoned you.”
“I know,” I lied, tugging my knees to my chest. Maybe he would have, afterall? I would’ve never guessed that he’d pick some guy over his family. My thoughts kept spiraling as I constantly searched the room. For what? I had no idea, but my body wouldn’t relax.
He frowned. “What happened after I was gone?”
“Agk sold me,” I said as nonchalantly as possible.
“I’m sorry. Are you alright?”
I smirked. “Of course, I am. I’m alive, aren’t I?”
Though I couldn’t say if that was a good thing or not.
We lapsed into silence, which wasn’t odd for us. Teddy wasn’t much of a talker. Back on Xome, I’d dominated the conversation, usually lying on him or snuggling. But this time, I couldn’t get my voice to work. Besides, if I did somehow manage to speak, what would I even say? Words wondering if Teddy had abandoned me? No, that was too assholeish for even me to contemplate. We’d been everything to each other. I would’ve killed or died for him and I had to believe that Teddy felt the same for me. But what else was there to talk about? What had happened when I was sold? Not likely.
When the silence continued to prevail, Teddy finally stood. He stretched toward me like he intended to hug me, and I flinched back, panting.
With a deep frown, Teddy asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Sure,” I forced out. “Why? Do you need to tell me how horrible your husband has been? He hasn’t been, right? He looks like an asshole.”
“Seriously?” Teddy asked, crossing his arms. “Mindy loves me. I just wanted to check on you.”
“Well, you did,” I snapped.
Teddy shook his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
