CHAPTERTWELVE
Bela
Skylar is sitting cross-legged on my bed, hugging a pillow to her chest. “Are yousureyou’re alright?” she asks me for the dozenth time.
“Yes, I told you. He never touched me,” I assure her once more. Which, of course, is a lie, because Tretodidtouch me, and I touched him back. Skylar doesn’t need to know that though. She wouldn’t understand. Hell,Idon’t fully understand. It was all so spontaneous, and yet… I can still feel each and every one of the lingering caresses he left branded into my skin.
The curtains stir, and I hold my breath until Nita slips inside. “Sorry,” she whispers. “I came as soon as I could.”
When I came back from the red room, I whispered to her to meet in my nook as soon as she could sneak away without being seen.
“Are you alright?” Her dark eyes roam over me, looking for signs of abuse.
“I’m fine. He didn’t touch me.” This time the lie is harder to push past my lips.
“He didn’t?” Nita’s brows pinch in surprise.
“We… talked,” I say, even as my cheeks heat. “Which is why I wanted to talk to you both as soon as possible. He’s here torescue us.”
“Rescue!” Skylar all but shouts the word, and Nita pounces on her, clapping her hand over her mouth.
“Shut up!” she hisses. Then she turns narrowed eyes on me. “And you believed him?”
I don’t blame her for being cynical. Honestly, I doubt I would believe me if I were in her place. “I do. He’s waiting for backup.”
Nita waits for me to continue, but when I don’t, she releases Skylar and sits down beside her. “So how long will that take? What are we supposed to do in the meantime?”
I bite down on my bottom lip and shrug. “We didn’t get a chance to discuss that part.”Because I wasted half the hour dry humping him and sucking on his face!
“Okay,” Nita lets out her breath and rubs at her temples, “well, hopefully this backup isn’t far.”
I couldn’t agree with her more.
“What if he doesn’t come back?” Skylar asks in a small voice. “What if he can’t help us, or he was just lying.”
I reach out and take hold of one of her hands, squeezing her fingers in mine. “He’ll be back.” I truly believe it; I just hope he comes back soon, before anything worse happens to us. “Look ,Skylar, I told Treto if he has to choose one of us, he should take you.” My eyes dart to Nita, suddenly afraid of how she might take the decision I made without asking her. To my immense relief, she nods. “I made him promise me.”
“Um, on that subject, I’ve been doing some thinking too.” Nita pulls one of her knees against her chest. She picks at the quilt, avoiding looking at both of us. “I’ve decided I’m going to stay.”
“Youwhat?” both Skylar and I bark at her.
“Shh!” she hisses. “And don’t look at me like that.” Pulling her shoulders back, she tips her chin up. “What’s there to go back to Earth for? I’m leaving behind a baby daddy who poisoned my kids against me, a dead-end job, and bills I’llneverbe able to pay off.”
“I’ve been talking to the girls and …” she shrugs, still not looking up at us, “it doesn’t really sound so bad. Alien dick sure sounds far better than any human dick I’ve had. At least, if I’ll be getting fucked, it’s my decision.”
“Nita, no.” I can’t believe I’m hearing this. “No, this isn’t what you want. There’s no freedom here. There’s no choice. I’m not saying you have to go back to Earth, but anywhere has to be better than staying here.”
“I was born and raised in the projects in an area not much bigger than this station. I’m used to being confined; I’m used to not having any choices.” She takes a deep breath and finally looks up at me. That’s when I see the resolve in her eyes. She’s made up her mind, and nothing I say will change it. “Thisis my choice, and I’m making it. I’ll stay here because I choose to.”
In the end I don’t argue with her. I may not know her well, but I recognize that look in her eye. I’d seen it often enough on my sister’s face when she’d make up her mind and couldn’t or wouldn’t be swayed. No matter how much we disagreed with whatever that decision was.
“Look, don’t think I’m going to the other side or nothing,” Nita tells me. “I’ll do what I can to make sure you two get out. I’m choosing this place, but that doesn’t mean I want that for either of you, or that I’ll go against you.”
“Thank you.” I reach out to squeeze her hand.
To my surprise, she squeezes back and smiles.
“Alright,” Nita unfolds herself from my bed and heads for the curtain, “we all need to get some sleep, especially if we want to be ready for when your alien comes back.”
