Page 35 of Cosmic Captain

“Hmm, I’m sure I can find multiple things to tease you with,” I said.

“True.”

We fell silent again, but it wasn’t as oppressive. It might take time, but I was positive we’d be close again eventually.

Right in time for me to leave, my brain unhelpfully supplied.

“So you have a thing for Seth?” he asked bluntly, and I burst into a fit of laughter as warmth filled my aching chest.

“God, Teddy, I missed you.”

Our friendship was different from the one I had with Seth, as Teddy and I had been forced together, and our relationship had been forged in fire, literally, but it was no less special. He was so important to me, and I loved him dearly, even if I could never get the words out. Admitting I cared about people, even platonically, was a no-go for me. Of course, admitting romantic feelings was worse. I didn’t do that, and I didn’t do long term. I had Seth. Why would I ever need anyone else?

“I missed you too. I kept trying to get back to you when I was on that frozen planet. I didn’t want you to think I’d abandoned you or died.”

“As you said. It’s alright, Teddy. I’m not mad at you and I don’t blame you. I blame your kidnapping husband,” I teased.

Teddy rolled his eyes.

“Seth,” I said with a sigh, going back to his earlier question.

“I don’t even remember you mentioning Seth when we were on Xome, but you clearly have a thing for him,” he said.

That was my Teddy. He wasn’t the most expressive person, but he shot straight to the heart of the problem. I played with the ripped part of the black jeans that were under my equally black skirt and said, “He was my childhood best friend, my first and only love, and he meant—meanseverything to me.”

Teddy nodded. “He was abducted. You were abducted. Now you’re both here.”

“And he’s married to an alien and has a baby on the way.” I finished, grinning at the ridiculousness of my situation.

“Yep.”

“Just my luck.”

Teddy smiled, but it was tense. “You know… they mate for life, right?”

“I do. And from the way you and Caleb can’t seem to breathe without your alien husbands attached to your faces, I’m going to assume you both like it.”

He flushed again.

I leaned back against the tall couch arm, head falling back. “Seth. God. I’ve loved him forever and now he’s with someone. Permanently.”

“How are you?”

I ignored his question and said, “I had the insane idea of asking to be their third.”

“I know we never discussed it, but you don’t strike me as someone who, well, shares.” Teddy and I had known each other for over two years, and he knew I was a possessive bastard.

“You’re not wrong.”

“From what little I’ve seen of drakcol, I don’t think polyamory is a practice for them, but maybe they’d be interested?”

Kal’s fierce glare and the way he held Seth so tight said something very different. Kal share? I had a feeling he was more similar to me in that regard. Kal aside, Seth didn’t like me, not romantically. He never had, as much as that hurt to think.

“I’m gonna say no,” I said.

“Yeah, Kal doesn’t seem the type to be alright with Seth having another relationship, and I doubt you want to sleep with Kal.”

I shook my head, hugging my knees to my chest. I’d thought about it for one second, and it made my stomach churn. Fucking Seth didn’t bother me as much because I completely trusted him, but at the same time, my muscles tightened at the thought of hisfingers on my bare skin. Of him pushing inside of me. Of him on top of me. Of his low noises. Of his warm breath on my face.

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