* * * *
Laurel fled to the supply room before she burst into tears.
She’d become attached to the spikey-haired alien lug with the blue-blue eyes. She didn’t want him to leave. She’d tried to feel him out, see if he’d be receptive to staying, but his emphatic answers showed he was eager to go.
She grabbed packets of wet wipes and vegetarian meals from the tubs and dashed away tears with the back of her hand.
She thought they’d become close. But not close enough apparently for him to abandon his people and stay with her.
How can I blame him? He might like me a little, but that doesn’t mean he’d like other humans—or that they would like him.If he stayed with her, she’d be condemning him to a life of distrust and hostility.Of course, he would wish to rejoin his own people.
Would she be willing to live among the Progg to be with him?
No. So, how could she fault his choice?
But couldn’t he show some regret, some ambivalence?I wouldn’t be like, “Hey, it’s been real. Thanks for the memories,” and walk away like he meant nothing.
God, I’m going to miss him.
She blew her nose on a tissue.At least I can blame my red eyes and runny nose on the cold.Squaring her shoulders, she pasted on her best chill nurse-face and left the supply chamber. If she only had one more day with him, she didn’t want to miss a second.
Chapter Seventeen
“We could go to my parents’ house. You could shower before you leave,” she suggested. Pathetic! She’d do anything to delay his departure.
She’d tossed and turned all night, finally falling asleep in the wee hours of the morning. When she awakened, feeling hungover, she’d found him dressed and ready to go. She’d offered to make breakfast, but he’d said he’d helped himself to a power bar.
Did she need further proof of his eagerness to leave?
“Thank you, but it’s best if I get an early start. I used the wipes. They work well.”
“I did put some in your pack.”
“I saw.”
“They’re biodegradable.” She rubbed her hands together. Even after she’d first dragged him back to the cave, their interactions hadn’t been this stilted and uncomfortable.
“Thank you for the wipes. For the food. For saving my life.”
“I have a hunch you recovered on your own.”
“Well, you were there.”
I couldn’t let you die alone.By some miracle, he’d pulled through. “You savedmylife. I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth to prevent herself from crying. There’d be plenty of time for a pity party when she was alone.Lots and lots of lonely time.
“Well.” He shrugged into his pack.
“Well,” she replied.
“Goodbye, Laurel.”
“I’ll walk you out,” she said.
He didn’t dawdle but rushed out the neck of the cave and pushed through the covering brush.
