Page 54 of Space for More

“So, um, I wanted to thank you,” she says.

I raise a brow, calmly sipping my drink as I anticipate what she wants to tell me. “For what? I should be the one thanking you for what happened last night.”

She flushes prettily at the mention of our joining, but she shakes her head. “No. I mean, yes, thank you for that! But also, for what you did for me.”

“What I did for you?” I’m still not understanding.

She takes one of my hands and squeezes it. “The medipod. You took a risk helping some unknown human hack into the device.”

That’s not at all what I was expecting. “You’ve already thanked me for my assistance. I was happy to help you, especially when the barbaric practices of locking lifesaving medical technology behind a paywall are involved.”

I still remember the anger I felt when Dr. Mori sent me a message begging for help to keep her pregnant patient and their future child safe. Working in the biggest neonatal hospital on Nexxa Itat, I’d never considered what it’d be like to not have the fundingneeded to treat my patients properly. I prided myself on being the best in my field, but Eden opened my eyes. Competence and intelligence aren’t the most important factor in medicine—credits are.

It disgusts me. We live in a technological age where things only a few centuries ago that would’ve been seen as miraculous are commonplace. There are enough resources in the galaxy for all to get the care they deserve, but greed is the most abundant resource of all.

At first, I wanted to run away and go to some destitute colony, serving as a medical missionary to make amends for taking my privileges for granted. It was tempting—play the savior and get away from the asinine nexxit noble politics and the pain of being alone. Tempting, but ultimately selfish. No, I decided to stay and use the resources and power afforded to me by my social status and medical background to reshape things from the inside.

Eden misinterprets my calm dismissal of her thanks. “I know it wasn’t a big deal to you, but it was huge to me.”

I squeeze her hand back. “Talking to you changed my life, Eden.”

“Really?” Her brow furrows in disbelief. How can she not see how important she is?

“Yes,” I say adamantly.

I’d tell her about the professional epiphany and identity crisis our conversations triggered, but I don’t want her to feel like she did something wrong. Or to realize how much of a pompous ass I’ve been for the majority of my life.

“Talking to you was like a light in the dark. I was going through the motions, especially after things with Mezli went poorly. You helped wake me up.”

It’s a dangerous confession to make, but something in Eden begs me to lay all my secrets and vulnerabilities at her feet. Maybeit’s a human thing. I’ll have to see if I have the same reaction to Mezli’s friend at dinner tonight.

I hope I don’t. I want whatever this is between me and Eden to be special.

“I—I felt the same way. Talking to you made me feel alive. It’s why I ended up here on Spire for the conference. You were the spark that made me yearn for more.” Eden’s eyes drop to her hands, her cheeks flushing.

“I’m surprised Mezli didn’t have anything to do with that.”

“What? No… Oh wait, you mean because we work together! Right!” She takes a large gulp of her water. “Uh, we didn’t know much about each other, just worked for the same pharmaceuticals company. They assigned her to be my guide of sorts while I’m on Spire. I don’t think they expected us to have so much chemistry! Get it? Because we work at… nevermind.”

I suppose that makes sense, but I get the feeling she’s leaving something out. “How did you end up working for a large company? I know you were eager to do work beyond your job on your home colony, but I’m surprised at how quickly you went from being a rural doctor to being brought out for the conference on the company’s credits.”

“Oh! I, uh, I may have embellished my application.” She rubs the back of her neck. “Alot.”

I chuckle at her sheepish look. “Dr. Mori! I’m shocked.”

“Hey, we all can’t be fancy rich doctors who can fly across the galaxy on a whim and stay in luxury suites! I saw my chance, and I took it. I may be in over my head here, but at least I’m doingsomething.”

“Don’t mistake my shock for anything bad. I’m impressed by you. Impressed and inspired,” I say, genuinely meaning it more than she can know.

“Inspired, huh? You have something you’re going to take a chance on?” she asks, quirking a brow.

“I do.” Thanks to Eden, I have more than one thing at stake this week. For once in my life, I’m ready to take the leap.

Her cheeks grow pink as I gaze at her. After a moment, she looks away to take a bite of her pastry, and when she looks back at me, a friendly mask has settled over her features. “Good. I’m glad. I want you and Mezli to be happy.”

I hate that she’s not sharing her feelings. I hate that I don’t know if it’s because she’s not interested in me the way I am in her or if she’s trying to protect herself from getting entangled with a mated pair.

I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want me. I’m selfish to hope we could find some sort of arrangement that wouldn’t leave one of us out in the cold. But after we shared our bodies in a way I’ve never experienced before and knowing she’s the reason I’m here at all, something deep in my soul yearns to find a way to keep her.

---