Page 25 of Secretly Abducted
"Inappropriate?" I swing my legs off the platform, trying to understand the sudden shift. "Vel'aan, what's wrong? Did I do something—"
"Nothing is wrong." He's already moving toward his storage unit, pulling out work clothes with sharp, agitated movements. "I simply think it would be best if I returned you to your dwelling."
I stare at him "You're kicking me out?"
"I'm not—" He stops, takes a breath. "I'm being practical. We met yesterday. One day. People don't... this isn't how things are supposed to progress."
"According to who?"
"According to logic. To appropriate social parameters." He's getting dressed with his back to me, his movements quick and efficient. "I'll request a shuttle."
I stand up, anger starting to creep in alongside the hurt. "So that's it? I suggest we could have sex and you just shut down?"
"I'm not shutting down. I'm thinking clearly."
"Clearly." I look around for my clothes, remembering they're still damp in the main room. I'm standing here in borrowed shorts trying to have this conversation. "Can I at least have my clothes?"
"They're in the drying unit. I will get them for you."
He leaves the room without another word. I follow him, watching as he retrieves my clothes.
"I'm sorry," I say as I get dressed as quickly as possible. I've never been thrown out of someone's place before. "I shouldn't have pushed."
"You didn't push." He's at his communication panel, calling for transport. "I simply realized that yesterday's... activities were a result of storm-induced adrenaline and proximity. Nothing more."
"Nothing more?" I stare at his back, at the rigid set of his shoulders. "You let me sleep next to you. We cuddled."
"Mistakes in judgment."
His words hurt. "Right. Mistakes."
The shuttle arrives with depressing efficiency, hovering at his platform within minutes. The ride is excruciating. Vel'aan sits as far from me as physically possible in the small space, his body angled away, his bioluminescence dim and tightly controlled. I can see the transport operator glancing between us, clearly sensing the tension.
The morning is gorgeous—clear skies after the storm, the water that particular shade of turquoise that comes after heavyweather. I barely notice. I'm too busy trying to figure out what went wrong, what I did to trigger this complete reversal.
When we arrive at Tev'ra's dwelling, I turn to him one last time. "Is this goodbye? Or can I see you again?"
He finally looks at me, those golden eyes unreadable, his skin dim except for faint pulses at his throat. "Perhaps goodbye is for the best."
The words are quiet, final. I nod once, not trusting my voice, and exit the shuttle without another word. I don't look back, don't watch it leave. I just walk into the dwelling with as much dignity as I can manage.
The main area is empty, but as I pass the sleeping quarters, I hear sounds that make it very clear Finn and Tev'ra are having a much better morning than I am. Rhythmic thumping, low moans, Finn's distinctive laugh. Great. Perfect. Exactly what I need to hear right now.
Icatch sight of myself in the wall's reflective surface. I look tired. Rejected. My hair is still messed up from sleeping pressed against Vel'aan's shoulder.
Fuck this. I need ice cream.
I head back to the synthesizer, scrolling through options with more force than necessary. Ice cream. All the ice cream. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. Fudge sauce. Caramel. Whipped cream. Cherries. And a banana, because if I'm going to eat my feelings, I'm going to do it properly.
The synthesizer produces a truly magnificent banana split, and I carry it back down to my underwater bedroom. At least here I can wallow in peace. The fish drift past the transparent walls, completely indifferent to human romantic disasters. A school of the purple ones Vel'aan pointed out yesterday swims by, and I hate it.
I flop onto the sleeping platform with my bowl, shoving a massive spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. Brain freezehits immediately, which is actually a nice distraction from the emotional pain.
Twenty minutes later, I'm halfway through the banana split and watching a particularly large creature with tentacles investigate the window when Finn appears in the doorway. His hair is a mess, and he's wearing just sleep pants that clearly belong to Tev'ra—they're too long and riding low on his hips.
"Hey," he says, leaning against the doorframe. "Sorry if we were loud."
I smirk, though it feels hollow. "Never apologize for having a love life."
