It's also become obvious that Straik is far more tolerant of the va Sithais’ antics. I can't count how many times I've gone into a room to find him in a headlock from Kaspar, or to find him rubbing his ear after Adiron stuck a wet finger in there. He takes it all in stride, and when I ask, he just mentions that he “was due” or “it's how they show affection.” The man from before would have gone apoplectic with rage, but like Jade said, he's different. He's calmer now that he has me to fuss over. He even paces less.
It's probably good for his blood pressure.
"He's the best man," I tell them fiercely. "I know sometimes it's hard for you guys to believe, but my Straik is wonderful. Just ask his crew. They adore him."
"They adore you, too, which means their taste is questionable," Alice teases. "Lady Ruth."
I stick my tongue out at her.
Jade moves in for another hug. "I believe you when you say he's amazing. I'm just thrilled you're happy and in one piece. Now give me one more hug so we can be on our way, and we'll see you in seven to ten days over on Jerrok's asteroid." She pulls me in for another squeezingly tight hug. "You be good until we see you again, all right?"
"Me? Good? Not a chance." My throat gets tight and I hug her for what feels like forever, tears pricking at my eyes. Jade is so soft and sweet and pulled-together that it makes my throat even tighter when I see her eyes are misting with tears. Alice gives me another brief hug, and then Helen squeezes me in an enthusiastic embrace.
They turn and leave, waving goodbye, and my heart aches all over again.
I feel achingly empty after the others leave. I check my wrist communicator, but the symbol that's Straik's name is next to the symbol that says “meeting” so I know I should leave him alone. Just because I'm sad and mopey doesn't mean I should bother him. Still, when Zaemen suggests we go to the ship for the day, it feels like a good idea. I can't relax at Lord va'Rin's house. It's lovely, but everything's so damn expensive. That crystal vase I nearly puked in the first day we were here? Turns out that costs more than some ships. The color-changing rug? You could buy two farms (or twenty humans) with that sort of thing. Everything reeks of splendor and wealth, and while Milly and her husband have been gracious hosts, they're busy.
They're busy, and I'm a pukey, sad pregnant lady who misses her friends. So I head back to the ship with Zaemen on one of the air-sleds and listen absently as he talks about some blonde he met in Port and obsesses over their every interaction. "She wished me a good trip," Zaemen says as we pull up to the Darkened Eye. "Do you think she truly means that? Or is it bad luck? I've heard that humans wish people the opposite sometimes. They should 'break legs' and things like that. Do you think she wants me to break a leg?"
I try to imagine a tiny blonde human breaking Zaemen's muscular legs and it brings a reluctant smile to my face. "I don't think she wants you to break your legs, no. Maybe she was genuinely wishing you a safe journey."
"So you think that is good? You think she will be my mate when we get back?"
Yikes. "I think you should learn how to take it slow, buddy."
He grunts. "That is slow, as far as I am concerned. Part of me wants to sneak her aboard the Darkened Eye and hide her until it is too late to return her to Port." He pauses and then frowns. "Though I suppose I should not have brought that up if I was truly going to do it."
"Probably not," I say lightly and make a mental note to have all the hidey-holes on the ship checked out before we leave Risda, just in case there's a human or two stowed away by our overeager crew. I absolutely understand their excitement over meeting single women, but at the same time, I know what it's like to be the recipient of unwanted attentions. "You guys all know how a woman acts when she's not interested, right? Do we need to go over the social cues again?"
Zaemen parks the sled in front of the ship, narrowly avoiding some of the maintenance bots that crawl all over the docks. "I state my intentions toward the female and tell her I am not wise in the ways of flirting. I then leave and give her space. If she is not interested, she will not invite me back or seek me out. I am not to press the issue with her or even make eye contact if she has not shown interest. Is that correct?"