Page 33 of Escape Clause

“I’m stunned. There is some justice in the world after all.”

“The wheels of justice turn slowly, but the wheels have reached Gleezer, and they’re rolling over him and flattening him like a bug.” She chortled gleefully. “People are talking about turning the date of his arrest into an annual village holiday—Justice Day.”

“I didn’t need to leave after all,” Hope said.

“You had no way of knowing how things would turn out. Nobody could have predicted this. We’ve been living under Gleezer’s tyranny and corruption for so long, we assumed it would always be that way. At least now you’ll have no worries about coming home in a year. That’s still the plan, isn’t it?”

“Maybe…not.”

“You’re staying? I knew you would! You did the deed, didn’t you? Bow chicka wow wow,” she sang.

“Will you stop with the bow chicka wow wow? Sex doesn’t solve everything.” Especially if you weren’t having any. The kisses they’d shared had curled her toes, and she’d thought for sure last night’s kiss would lead to more, but then it didn’t.

And he’d canceled their date.

“What are you saying?” her friend asked.

“I like him.” She liked hima lot.“I’m open to making the marriage permanent if it works out. But I’ve known him for less than two weeks—it’s too soon to see the future.” She forced a joke. “Besides, as Gleezer’s arrest proves, I’m a terrible prognosticator. I never saw that coming.”

Prudence giggled. “Nobody did. But it proves miracles do happen.”

She and Prudence said their goodbyes, and Hope settled on the sofa in the living room. Night was falling, but the day had been overcast and gray, so there was no colorful sunset to watch, just a darkening of the sky.

She would try to wait up. He’d told her not to, but she needed to see him, even if only for a few minutes.

She’d gone from optimistic to discouraged, but she wasn’t giving up. Not yet. She was falling in love with him. But could he love her? He had warned at the start, theirs would be a temporary marriage. But then, last night, he’d said he desired to be a good husband to her. Why would he say that if he wasn’t developing feelings for her?

They had chemistry. He’d kissed her, and she could tell he’d been aroused. He had praised her people skills, thanked her for helping him at thereception. However, mutual attraction and respect, while meaningful and necessary, weren’t the same as love.

Could love grow from that? Or were the odds too high against them?

The demands on him were far greater than what an ordinary man faced. He couldn’t ignore his responsibilities. Their canceled date had given her a glimpse of what to expect if she stayed. Good intentions followed by broken promises. Rinse. Repeat.

Intellectually she understood, but emotionally? No. Being last on someone’s list triggered her insecurities and fears of abandonment.

She didn’t doubt important matters had claimed his attention.

But when am I going to be important?

* * * *

Hope woke up with a start when something brushed her cheek.

Krogan was leaning over her.

She blinked. “What time is it?”

“Midnight.”

“You’re just getting home?”

He nodded. “I told you not to wait up.”

“Since I fell asleep, I didn’t exactly wait up, did I?” she quipped.

His smile didn’t reach his tired eyes. He appeared more drained than he had in the hologram message.

“Did you have dinner?” she asked.

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