Page 20 of Swipe Right for Stardust

Taffy stirred, one tentacle reaching out to brush against the wall. I pressed my hand to the other side, feeling a faint warmth.

“At least one of us is getting some rest.”

I returned to bed, but tossed and turned. The race loomed large in my mind, intertwining with thoughts of Zarnak. His gentle demeanor, his unexpected kindness. The way his fur looked so soft...

A quiet chirp sounded behind me. I rolled over to see Taffy had emerged from the nursery. It inched closer, tentacles waving.

“Can’t sleep either, huh?”

Taffy climbed onto the bed, settling on my shoulder. I stroked its tentacles, marveling at the silky texture. A wave of calm washed over me, my eyelids growing heavy.

“Thanks, buddy,” I mumbled as I drifted off.

The simulated sunrise woke me, golden light spilling across the room. I swallowed hard as I remembered.

Race day.

“Okay, Vanessa,” I told myself. “You’ve got this. Just another day exploring an alien planet. No biggie.”

I ordered breakfast from the food synthesizer, still amazed by the tech. A plate of fruit materialized, its colors shifting before my eyes.

“Wild,” I muttered, taking a hesitant bite. Flavors exploded on my tongue - sweet, tart, with an undercurrent of something entirely new.

Taffy clung to my shoulder as I dressed in the provided race attire. The sleek suit melded to my body, adjusting its temperature. I stared at my reflection, barely recognizing myself.

“Well,” I said to Taffy. “Here goes nothing.”

The Grand Atrium had transformed overnight into a high-tech command center. Holographic displays flickered with race information, bathing everything in an otherworldly glow. The star-field ceiling now showed a rotating model of Nexus Prime.

Other contestants filtered in. Snippets of conversation drifted past me.

“Did you see the course? There’s an actual lava field-”

“I heard the Mist Maze can drive you insane-”

“My partner’s allergic to half the planet’s atmosphere-”

Great. This was going to be a cakewalk.

I searched the room, searching for one particular face. A giddy feeling bubbled up inside me when I spotted him. Zarnak. He towered over the other contestants, his white mane unmistakable.

Our eyes met across the room. The noise and chaos faded away. I made my way toward him, drawn like a magnet.

“Good morning,” Zarnak said as I approached. “Did you sleep well?”

“About as well as can be expected,” I replied. “You?”

“I found rest... elusive.”

We stood in awkward silence. I wanted to bring up our almost-kiss, to ask if it meant anything to him. But now wasn’t the time.

“So,” I said instead. “Ready to conquer a planet?”

Zarnak’s lips curled up in a small smile. “With you by my side? Absolutely.”

My cheeks heated. Before I could reply, Lysandra’s voice boomed through the atrium.

“Contestants! Your attention, please!”

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