Naomi has been distracted ever since we…

26

Marv

Naomi has been distracted ever since we went to the recreation center. Three days passed, and I keep seeing her staring at her wrists.

“What is it?” I finally ask her, touching the soft skin on her arms as I take a seat beside her. She’s on the sofa, listless.

“I don’t know. The other woman didn’t like me because you helped

bring all the girls here.”

I sigh. “Yeah. I imagine that will make it harder for you to find girlfriends.”

“When do we go up to space again? To your smaller space station?”

“I wanted to talk to you about that. I found another opportunity.”

She looks up at me. “I’m listening.”

“You said that you want sunlight. The V’aalarans are looking for a few members of friendly tribes to go stay with them on their planet.”

“Is it in the Badlands?” she asks. Her eyes look scared.

“Close, but not in them. It’s at the edge.”

“Will I be able to walk in the sunlight?”

She’s been edgy lately. Has it been because I’ve kept her down here, below the surface?

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Perfect,” I tell her. “And, they actually have a job for you.”

Naomi seems to visibly relax beside me. “They do?”

“They have some females that didn’t fit in. They want to create a housing program for them and give them a chance to settle in on their own terms.”

“Really?” she asks. “Are they going to do something similar here?”

I shake my head slowly. “V’aalara’s leadership is a bit different. You see, they raised Queen Abigail. She was the first trial, and they accidentally brought her as a child.”

“That’s awful.”

“But apparently, they brought her twin sister in trial two.”

Naomi’s eyes widen. “What? That’s unreal.”

I nod. It is a bit amazing that it all worked out. “So, since they have two Earth females who they are listening to for feedback, they are trying to figure out how to make the outsider females feel more at home.”

“Since they have no way to return home,” Naomi whispers.

“Yeah. They regret taking them. They’re miserable. Refused their mates.”

Naomi leans against me. “I don’t have a flower on my wrist.”

“That’s okay. When it’s our time, it’s our time.”

She nods. “Thanks, Marv. I’m grateful.”

I kiss her forehead, my lips grazing her soft hair. “I’ll give you anything you want, my Mate,” I tell her, for the hundredth time.

She doesn’t say anything, which is good enough for me. At least we haven’t fought since the recreation center.

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