Page 42 of Escape Clause

They vapped to a different spaceport than the one she’d landed in, but she was too heartbroken to wonder about the change in venue. However, onecould not miss the enhanced security. Armed guards stood at vaporators and strolled through the terminal. The guards outnumbered the passengers.

He ignored the rack of accelerators, opting to walk her to the boarding area. Although her experience with the turbo-charged airboards had been scary, she would have preferred to ride rather than extend his company. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold it together. A dark cloud of grief had settled around her, and the tears could fall at any moment. But she marched beside him with her head held high.

They entered a waiting area, vacant except for the agent manning a kiosk in front of the terminal-spacecraft connector. “That’s your ship.” He motioned to the huge vessel visible through the massive windows.

Her chest tightened.Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Not yet.“So it is.” She tightened her grip on her bag. Her knuckles were white. She risked a glance at his face, hoping to see regret, conflict…anything, but he remained expressionless, his gliteri dull gray. “Goodbye, Krogan.” She moved toward the kiosk.

“Hope—wait!” He sounded frantic.

Her heart leaping into her throat, she spun around.He’s changed his mind. He wants me to stay!

“You don’t need to board yet. We have a little time.” He motioned to the vacant seats.

Was he fucking kidding? How could he think they could just sit and chat? Fury and pain blazed in her gut, but she refused to let him see how much his cavalier attitude hurt. She shrugged a shoulder. “No sense delaying the inevitable. I prefer to board and get settled.”

“The separation need only be temporary. When it’s safe, you’ll come back—”

Do you think I’d risk coming here again?“You mean, when I won’tbe a hindrance to you? Return to a man who doesn’t care enough to keep me when things get a little rough? Marriage is supposed to be for better or worse.”

Maybe that hadn’t been part of their vows. She’d had trouble focusing on the officiant’s words; she couldn’t remember what they’d pledged.Note to self: Next time, pay more attention.Except there wouldn’t be a next time. “This is final. I won’t be back.”

“I didn’t mean what I said. You were being stubborn. I was afraid you wouldn’t leave. It’s for your own good.”

For my own good?What a crock.I don’t want you,he’d said and meant every word. Perhaps hehadn’t intended to say it, but the truth had slipped out. He’d never desired to marry—he’d made that clear at the start. They said you could tell a lot about a person from first impressions. He’d given the impression of a cold, impersonal man who couldn’t be bothered to get to the spaceport on time. Every other bride’s future husband had been waiting for her as she descended the gangway.

Not hers. There was no room in his life for a wife because he’d married his political career. He’d agreed to the wedding to promote Cosmic Mates, and as soon as she’d become ahindranceinstead of an asset, he’d jettisoned her like yesterday’s space junk.

All night long, she’d sobbed into her pillow hoping he’d change his mind, that he’d come to her room and rescind his hurtful words, ask her to stay because he loved her and couldn’t live without her. But he didn’t.

Before packing her meager possessions, she’d contacted Prudence to inform her she would be coming home. Instantly sympathetic, Pru had cussed out Krogan and again offered her a place to stay. She was so grateful to have Prudence in her corner, but soon her friend would marry William, and her attention and focus would shift to him. They would always be friends, but it would be different.

I just want to be special to someone.

She longed for a man who loved her enough to fight for her.

“I hope you find a cure for the nano-virus. I wish you all the best with the Cosmic Mates program.” She turned and marched to the kiosk without another glance.

“Hope…”

She ignored him. After scanning her wrist, the agent let her pass onto the gangway.

* * * *

A human female crewmember greeted her upon boarding. “We’ll be launching in about twenty minutes. The flight will take two days. Let me show you to a stateroom.”

Other than the crew, she didn’t see people. “Are there any other passengers?” Were there other Cosmic Mate brides whose husbands wished to protect them for their own good?

“You’re the only one leaving. A hundred women disembarked early this morning. We’ll be picking up an even larger group for the return trip.” She eyed Hope, hesitated a moment, and then asked, “Cosmic Mates didn’t work for you, huh?”

“No, it didn’t. It’s a great program, and I highly recommend it, but it wasn’t right for me.” She wasn’t going to diss Cosmic Mates. She couldn’t blame the program for her heartbreak. Both she and Krogan had enrolled under false pretenses.

“This is your cabin.” The steward slid open a door.

Two double-decker narrow berths had been squeezed into a space the size of a computer chip. She’d have to turn sideways to scoot between the bunks. This was a larger ship than the one that had brought her out here, but the cabins were much smaller. Thankfully she’d be the only one staying here. She couldn’t imagine four people sharing such a tiny space.

“The head is here.” The steward motioned to a closet-sized bath. Vaporators were more spacious than this cabin. “Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you.”

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