Page 16 of Sky Song
Yeah, well. “This lab has restricted access. Kim’s upset that you came without a proper escort. She feels responsible.”
“And you are being very tactful, like always.”
It made Cricket smile. “I wish my mother heard you now. She’s always complaining that I have a big mouth. You don’t know me all that well, Lyle.”
“I think I’ve got the main points figured out.”
“Oh?” She punched the elevator button.
“You hate to lie, but will do so for the sake of preserving peace.”
“How about I’m just naturally polite?”
“Certainly.”
The elevator brought them to the main level, and Cricket took Lyle to the grand double doors.
“Well,” she turned to him. They stood face to face next to the doors behind which a deep discussion on trauma outcomes or maybe neuroscience was surely wrapping up by now. Lyle had only to reach for the doors, yet he made no attempt to open them.
Cricket fought and lost to the desire to take another quick peek at his perfectly sculpted upper lip with the ugly jagged scar just off the center to the right. The scar looked painfully deep, and she wondered what had caused him to get it.
“I fell off my bicycle when I was a kid,” he murmured. His native accent made the sounds of Universal come out smooth and rounded, like river pebbles.
Her eyes flew to his. “Lyle.”
“Hmm.” Those fine eyebrows twitched.
“Do Rix have bicycles?”
“No.”
“Then how do you even know the word?”
“Yesterday, your good doctors took us to a children’s facility, as part of the human child development series. Some children were out on bicycles. One of the dumb Kessas tried riding one and made one hell of a mess.”
Cricket gasped. “Of his lips?”
Lyle grinned. “Of the playground equipment.”
Cricket chuckled, and the tension within her eased. He had an innate ability to calm her. When she looked at him, she knew that everything would be alright, even if things turned out differently.
“I’m glad I’ve met you, Lyle. Have a safe flight home. Don’t get lost!”
He grinned again, showing a hint of dark teeth. “My hearts, I never get lost.”
She blinked. Did he just call her his heart? And he neatly avoided telling her where he got his scar. Oh, Lyle. The unpredictability, the evasiveness, the subtle dissonance of him were so delightful and… she’d miss him.
“Goodbye.” Melancholy was like a cool draft gusting inside her chest. But it was her secret and he wouldn't know it.
His eyes were gentle, like he guessed anyway. “You don’t think we’ll meet again?”
“Who knows? But unlikely.”
“Unlikely.” He cocked his head. “I’m happy I’ve met you, too. Although I must say this look isn’t my favorite.” Still smiling, he finally pushed the doors open, disappearing inside.
Cricket raised her hand to touch her face, and instead of skin her gloved fingers encountered hard plastic. Laughter bubbled forth. It hadn’t even occurred to her that she was still decked out in her full biohazard gear, with a face shield and gloves and double-soled bahils over her shoes - Lyle’s last image of her.
Chuckling, she went downstairs, her mood light despite the lingering sadness over saying a final goodbye to him.
