“But none of them will talk to him or Don, so they need a human, like I told Kal.” Seth shook his head, but he was smiling and blushing like a teenager. “He wants to keep me safe.”
Red flag, thy name is Kal.Though that was a bit hypocritical coming from me. We were both overly protective. I hated the thought of Don on the space station as well. He’d been hurt and was recovering.
Seth stood. “I have to go. Did you want to come?”
I immediately shook my head. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, because I did, but the thought of seeing a bunch of dirty, terrified humans shoved into a small space was too much. It reminded me too much of what happened to me, and I couldn’t do it, as much as I wanted to.
“If you need me, call,” Seth said, hesitating at the door.
I waved him off, and Seth left. I continued to throw my things into the crate, trying very hard not to be mad or hurt.
Less than five minutes passed before the chime sounded again. I fought a snarl. I wanted to be left alone, but clearly, that wasn’t going to happen. I shouted, “Come in.”
“Vince?” Teddy called.
“Bedroom,” I yelled, throwing more shit into the crate.
His eyes followed the steady stream of shirts that landed in the crate. “Seth called. They found the humans.”
“Yep.”
“They’re safe, I guess.”
“Yep.” I didn’t want to talk about them.
“Seth told me about Don.”
I threw a sweater into the bin harder than needed, the metal from the zipper smacking into the side. “He wants me to go home. What else is there to say?”
Teddy nodded and sat on the bed. “You were planning on staying?”
Guilt smacked me. I hadn’t told Teddy. I should have, but I was a bastard like that. Also, I hadn’t wanted to bother him, especially with the xoi here, the captive humans, and all that. I said, “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Hmm.”
Sighing, I faced him. “I’m sorry, alright. Everything has happened so quickly. I did plan to tell you that I’m staying.”
“Even with Don and you breaking up?”
“We’re not breaking up,” I snapped, then took a deep breath and shoved a hand through my hair. “No matter what, I’m staying.”
He stared at me for several long moments, then asked, “Do you want Mindy to beat him up?”
I burst into laughter and sat on the ground across from Teddy. “Do you think he could?”
“No, and I doubt he would either.”
“Yeah, probably not.” These siblings were very close. My eyes closed and I hugged my knees to my chest. “I’ll be okay. Me and Don will be fine too.”
“Thanks for staying,” Teddy whispered. “I need you.”
Tears burned my eyes from that admission. He didn’t do emotion, so saying that had cost him. I gave Teddy a wide smile. “I need you too. You’re one of my best friends.”
Teddy smiled. “We’ll be okay. I know the start wasn’t great, but…” He waved around. “Things are working out.”
I fought a sob. It would all work out as long as Don chose me. I nodded. “We’ll make it.”
I lay in bed alone. It was late, and Don hadn’t come back. I wasn’t sure if he was going to or not. I’d heard nothing about the humans, besides the fact Seth had gotten them calmed down and Klars was checking them out.
