Page 53 of Uprooted
“Okay, okay,” I laugh, holding up a hand. “Seriously though, we’re all great scientists but we might be the worst diplomats in the entire universe. Don’t tell the EGA, but had we just stepped out of our Earth-centric perspective and talked with our hosts, we might have buttoned this whole thing up months ago. But hey, we eventually got there!” I tip my glass back and take a drink, signaling the end of my speech. WhatI don’t say is that I’m glad we didn’t figure it out right away. I’m glad we overlooked the obvious more than once. It gave me time with Aro, and that probably makes me the most selfish person here.
“Now, let’s get the party started!” Dr. Lee shouts. He climbs down from the table and animatedly talks to one of his team members. I laugh when he sloshes his drink all over himself.
The party kicked off as soon as the samples and findings were sent off to Earth so the scientists there can pick up where we left off. Everyone around me is elated and congratulating each other. I keep a smile plastered on my face, even though inside I’m devastated.
“You are absolutely incredible.” I hear his familiar voice behind me. I turn and Aro is standing there, dressed in all black again, his tunic and perfectly tailored pants. He stands out with everyone else still in their uniform and coveralls.
The fact that he made the effort to get dressed up for the occasion is not lost on me.
“You deserve some of the credit, too,” I tell him.
“No way. This was all you.”
“You need a drink,” I tell him, noticing he is empty-handed.
“Lead the way.”
After endless rounds of toasts, the party slowly dies down. Aro and I have settled comfortably on a couch. I’m tipsy and my face hurts from smiling for so long.
“You’re amazing,” he says. “You’ve said that already,” I say.
“I’ll never stop saying it. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on you,” he says.
“Yes, it is quite impressive that I didn’t even know how to operate a garbage can,” I say, reminding him of our first encounter when we first landed. My words blur together, making me sound more intoxicated than I am.
“That’s not the first time I saw you,” he says.
“It’s not?”
“Nope. I saw you on Earth. I knew right then.”
“That’s right—you were creeping on me from across the room at the treaty reception.” I playfully jab him in the ribs with my elbow.
He grabs my elbow to prevent me from pulling it away and tucks me into his side. Clearly not caring if anyone sees us like this. Maybeit’s the lowered inhibitions or the realization that my time here is coming to an end, but I don’t care if anyone sees us either.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were so beautiful and nervous. I did not like that man who dared to stand so close to you,” he says quietly next to my ear.
“Really?” I say with a yawn.
“You have no idea. Time for bed. Let’s go,” he says and helps me up.
I look around and note that we are the last ones awake in the rec room. It’s the first time I’ve ever shut down a party. I’m usually the first to leave. Tonight, I wanted the party to go on all night. Because it marks the beginning of the end. Soon we’ll be packing up our equipment and heading back to Earth to complete the final stages of our work.
In the quiet moment, I think of all the shoulds that have been plaguing me all day. I should say goodbye, but I can’t bring myself to say the words to end whatever it is Aro and I have with each other. I look over at him, but the words refuse to come out. I can’t do it.
“These idiots can’t hold their alcohol,” Aro says as we step over a passed out Tilak. I find a flattened pillow that hadn’t been claimed and tuck it under their head. We pass by a couch where Bri is snuggled up with Tai.
“I did not see that coming.” I point Aro’s attention to our friends, the last two I would have expected to see in such an intimate position.
The floor is littered with knocked-over cups. Maak is lucky enough to have grabbed a cushion from the couch to get comfortable on the ground. Others are propped up to a sitting position against the wall, heads drooping at uncomfortable angles.
Seeing Maak reminds me of the awkward exchange we had the other night when he caught us sneaking back into the muradome. Maak kept his distance from us all night, choosing to celebrate on the opposite end of wherever we were. I’m sure Aro noticed, but he never said a word about it. Now that I think about it, Tai also kept his distance.
We walk hand in hand down the hallway. It doesn’t seem that important to hide now that I’m leaving soon. Suddenly he stops and lays his palm on a door panel. I've probably walked past this door a hundred times and never noticed it. He pulls me inside and the dark supply closet lights up, sensing our movement.
The door slides shut behind me, and my back is against the closed door. Aro’s forearms cage me in. He leans down and presses his lips against mine. I kiss him back, pulling him closer to me. I’ve been wanting to do this all night. His mouth trails down my jaw and throat. Small, punctuated kisses all over.
“I have one more adventure for us,” he says between kisses.
