Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
“Awkward,” Ruth-Ann says. “But you managed to charm her anyhow?”
Charm her? I’m not sure I’d go that far, but I will see her again, so I feel that is a thing in my favor. I have time to charm her if I see her more often. “I want her to meet the crew so she can realize that clones are common. That, and she requires our assistance, so I will need to speak with Lord Straik.”
“Assistance? For what?” Erzah looks cranky at the thought, and I know he is thinking of his personal plans—specifically the cantina he is working hard to open and doesn’t want delayed. “We can’t fly anywhere right now, Aithar. Sunrise—”
I shake my head. “She needs a bounty hunter to help her locate her missing sister. I told her we would help.”
The room grows quiet.
“So she’s using you,” Ruthie says flatly.
“What? No. We have a date.” I turn to Ruth-Ann, hoping she’s on my side.
Ruth-Ann presses her lips together tightly. “Did she agree to the date before or after you said you’d help her?”
“I don’t remember. Does it matter?”
“Yes,” says everyone in the room.
“Oh, Aithar,” Ruthie says, getting up from Kazex’s lap and coming to my side. Her expression is all sympathy, the piercings on her face gleaming and drawing the eye. “You’re too nice. These women are all using you because you want so desperately to be loved.”
I’m silent. Hurt, and silent. They don’t understand. Michaela isn’t using me. She didn’t even want to date me. It was me that pressed the issue. But if I tell them the truth of what really happened, they’ll truly hate her. “Michaela agreed to go on a date with me, and she doesn’t come into town much except to deliver her goods. I imagine she is suffering from trauma from her enslavement. I would like to use our date to show her that a’ani can be trustworthy and that town is a safe place for her. No more should be read into the situation.”
Am I lying? Yes. Because I hope for Michaela to fall violently in love with me. I can’t make that happen overnight, however, so I am going to take this one step at a time.
“We’re not trying to be cruel, Aithar,” Ruthie says.
“Then be kind to her when she arrives. That is all I ask.” And I reach out and tousle Ruthie’s short, stiff hair. “If you befriend her, she will probably shower you with butter.”
“Now you’re talking,” Ruthie chuckles even as she chases my hands away from her mohawk.
CHAPTER
FOUR
MICHAELA
What am I even doing? I stare at myself in the mirror, even as I smooth my hands over my nicest outfit and eye my hair. I’ve swept it up in a clip so it will show off my neck, because it looks graceful with the asymmetrical neckline of my sundress. I’ve got a pretty scarf jauntily tied loosely at my waist to add contrast, and the entire look is both casual and slightly seductive.
Which is why I’m wondering if it’s wise. I’m not going to make out with the guy. I’m not interested in him romantically. The only reason I’m going out with him is because I could be in a lot of trouble if the custodians—this planet’s version of law enforcement—find out I held him captive. Aithar wants a date, so I’ll give him a date. And if it gets me information about a bounty hunter I can talk to in order to find Rafaela, so much the better.
There’s no reason to be nervous. So why is my stomach fluttering?
I pull a curling strand of hair loose at my temple and wind it around my finger to get it just so. Another curl freed and it softens the look even more. I know I look good. Even without makeup and jewelry, I clean up nice. Not that I think my date will care much. I suspect if I showed up in milking overalls, he’d still be delighted. He’s a bit of an eager puppy in that sense.
Guilt twinges again.
I’m using him. I’m deliberately prettying myself up to use a guy that seems wide-eyed and innocent and sweet. There’s a wrongness to it that I can’t quite shake, but what are my options? I wasn’t happy with the thought of torturing, either. I’m equally nervous because I’m going into town…and lingering. I’m going to be meeting Aithar’s friends. More aliens.
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
I’ve been on this planet for almost two years now and I’m still uneasy. I don’t go into town to make friends. I don’t hang out with the other women here. I tend to my farm, I keep my head down, and above all else, I don’t get noticed. I don’t want to be noticed. I want to blend in with the scenery. I want to be anonymous because that’s safest. There’s no point in getting attached because something is bound to change up and I’ll be left scrambling again. The hole in my heart left by Earth and all we’d been stolen from was occupied by my sister Rafaela, because we’d been taken together. All of my focus turned to my sister. When she was taken from me…well, my heart’s nothing but hollow holes now. I work hard, saving the alien credits I’m paid with, because if I can buy Rafaela’s freedom, I want to make sure I have the funds. Until then, I don’t need anyone or anything.