Page 39 of Gravel and Grit

She pushed her remaining food around on her plate for a moment before she put the fork down with a gentle clink and took a deep breath. Her voice was even and clinical at first, relaying facts detachedly, as if speaking of someone else’s life.

“My parents died when I was three, killed in a house fire. They didn’t have any family to take me so I was sent into foster care. I was too old for the people that wanted babies, and I’d been burned in the fire, so I had some health issues and emotional trauma which made me unappealing to the rare couples that were willing to adopt older children. I spent my life being bounced from one group home to another.”

She paused for a moment, frowning softly as she stared off into space, then commenting offhandedly, “It’s a peculiar feeling to grow up knowing no one loves you or will mourn if you die.”

Zaek felt like he’d been gutted. He must have made some sound of dismay, because she looked at him and blushed at the expression of horror he didn’t hide quickly enough.

“It wasn’t always easy, or pretty, but I made it through,” she said almost defensively.

“My apologies, Mira. I did not intend to—”

“No. I’m sorry. Humans’ way of dealing with orphans is appalling and your reaction was appropriate. I hope you do it better on your planet.”

“We most assuredly do,” he answered emphatically then snapped his mouth shut, realizing he could have offended her.

She smiled to let him know she wasn’t upset, then huffed a laugh. She flicked him an ironic look and admitted wryly, “I actually had a bit of an obsession with aliens. It didn’t do me, or my social standing, any favors, but I didn’t care. The thought of life among the stars made me feel less alone, like I was part of something bigger. I used to imagine that, somewhere out there, was someone just as lonely as me. They would find me against all odds, and together we’d make a home, somewhere we could both belong, on a new planet where kids always had people to love them.”

Zaek wanted to fulfill that wish, wanted to be the person that made it so she was never lonely again, so badly it was a physical ache.

Mira redirected the conversation to lighter topics after that. They sat there for hours, Zaek doing his best to answer all her questions and peppering her with his own, until morning became afternoon, then evening. By the time the sun started its descent, he felt like he knew her better than he knew himself.

When her eyelids began to droop and she was yawning more than speaking, he asked if she wanted to rest.

“I should clean up first. You cooked.”

“No. You are my guest.”

“It won’t take more than—”

“I will leave it for you, if you insist, but for now, you need sleep.”

He was lying. He had no intention of letting her clean up his mess, but since it made her feel better he was willing to pretend otherwise. Human etiquette confused him at times, but he was beginning to understand Mira.

She did not enjoy being coddled and liked to fly on her own power. He respected that, immensely, but he also needed to show her that he would make a good mate and part of that was caring for her.

“Okay,” she relented, but she eyed him knowingly, like she knew he

wouldn’t actually leave it for her.

Our Bunny is perceptive.

2 7

ZAEK

They had another back-and-forth moment when Zaek attempted to lead Mira down the hallway to his sleeping room. She tried to insist she would sleep on the couch, but through cunning and skilled negotiation, he won that argument as well… by bribing her with candy.

He had thoughtfully snuck two of her favorite chocolates into his bag with the intention of presenting them to her, when she inevitably ran out, as a way to gain her favor.

Since arriving at his cabin, he kept them close—in his briefs, to be exact

—waiting for the right time to strike.

Revealing them now—while she was looking away so she did not discover his hiding place—gave him the upper hand in the standoff and ensured his victory, which he thought was an excellent example of his parenting skills. He’d learned much from daytime television plays, including the key to rearing Earthian children—buy their compliance with treats.

He made a mistake, however, in not sufficiently concealing his smugness.

In retaliation for the triumphant smirk he gave her when they came to a stop in front of the sleeping room door, she gently poked him in the side.

---