Page 58 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
I’m really starting to get into it and moaning my enjoyment when Luna pipes up. “Okay, okay. Enough of that. Goodness gracious. Now you’re just trying to taunt those of us who aren’t getting any.”
Najar pulls back with a smug smirk on his face. “Haters are just jealous.”
Rambo whizzes by us, emitting a trail of beeps. “I’m sorry that people are so jealous of me, but I can’t help it that I’m popular.”
I immediately start laughing, and Luna stares at Najar like he’s grown a second head.
Or maybe another set of tentacles.
“Who the hell are you and what have you done with my grumpy, stick-in-the-mud friend?”
I clear my throat suggestively. “Ahem. You can thank me for that. Evidently, all he needed was to get laid.”
Luna cackles and Najar rolls his eyes but favors me with a fond smile.
Eventually, we have to part ways because Najar has to assist Khephren and Luna with some of the system checks on the ship so we can take off.
So I use this opportunity to go to my room and text my sister.
Me:Sorry for not texting sooner, but we got stuck in a snowstorm.
Her reply is instantaneous.
Gemsy:Dude, I was starting to freak out. Not cool.
Me:There wasn’t anything I could do. Sorry, kiddo.
Gemsy:I’m just glad you’re okay. How was the ice planet?
Me:Utterly amazing and fascinating. I got to explore their version of a winter market and even went ice skating on these weird cleat things they call ice gliders. Oh! And I met an indigenous creature reminiscent of a caribou, but with six legs and a horn on its head. They call it a Frosthorned Snowdeer. It was marvelous!
Gemsy:Sounds like you’re making the most of this intergalactic vacation.
Me:I’m having a great time.
Gemsy:Have you figured out what you want to do about everything once you get back?
Me:Honestly, I haven’t been thinking about it too much.
Gemsy:I hear that. The other day I was really tempted to just quit.
Me:What happened?
Gemsy:Just more of the usual. Insurance companies are a bunch of evil scavengers. Hospital staffing issues make me want to tear my hair out. And on top of that, a violent patient assaulted one of the nurses and the cops had to come. It’s been bananas.
Me:Are you off now?
Gemsy:I’ve got two days and then I’m back in the thick of it.
Me:Sending you big bro hugs.
Gemsy:Thanks. I love you too.
Me:Um. So, there’s something else I need to tell you.
Gemsy:*wide eye emoji* What?
Me:I kind of hooked up with Najar. Although, in my defense, the room only had one bed and he’s too sexy to resist.
