Page 64 of Between Earth and Eternity
“Well, there’s the fact that I hate space. Like everything about it.” I pause, watching his reaction, but he continues to give me his full attention, unlike he did for that woman in the bar, so I go on, “It’s too unpredictable. I don’t particularly enjoy the idea that, any second, we could be swept up in nothingness.”
His eyes crinkle in thought. “True. That could happen, but it’s highly unlikely,” he says, rubbing his jaw.
“It’s not just that,” I blurt out. I have no idea why I keep talking, divulging my worst fears.
“No?”
I swallow nervously. What the hell am I doing? I don’t know why he keeps asking, but this is a man who probably doesn’t have to ask for much. As he lightly put it, a snap of his fingers, and it’s done.
“I never wanted to leave Earth,” I say boldly. The confession feels good to say aloud, a secret loosening itself from my bones more every time I share it. He leans back like he’s taking in the full impact of the statement.
“As in . . . you would rather die there?” he asks, mouth quirking upward in a smile, and the silliness of my statements turns mortifying.
I nod, heat spreading across my cheeks. I should have kept my mouth tightly shut, but then he surprises me, his curious eyes and smile appearing genuine, like he isn’t teasing me or finding me completely ridiculous.
He hums in thought. “Well, go on.” He gestures for me to join him in the seat across from him, and for some crazy reason, I do.
“You sure you really want to know?”
He gives me a single nod.
“I know it sounds strange. I can’t explain where it comes from, but I have a deep loyalty to our planet, like if Earth’s fate is to perish, then that should be our fate also. We were placed there for a reason, by what, I have no idea, but it’s where we’re meant to be.”
He drinks in my words, completely fascinated, and I can’t stop myself from blushing at the fact that someone like me could interest him. I don’t think even he could fake that reaction.
“I’ve never thought of it that way before.” He sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “But I gotta say, that is so . . . bleak.”
I cover my mouth to hide my smile. “I know. I can’t help it.”
He smiles at that.
“So, what do you believe?” I ask.
He taps his finger against the spine of the book still in hand. “What if we were meant to leave it? Maybe the universe is giving us a chance to prove we deserve to survive, that we are capable of more.”
I shrug.
“It’s human instinct to survive. Is it not?” he asks.
“Maybe it’s not about survival. Maybe it’s about accepting that humans can’t control everything. Especially the fate of an entire race.”
“Interesting.” He hums.
“Why is that interesting? Come to think of it, why do you care to know anything about me at all or what I believe?”
He sighs heavily. “Because maybe if I understand you, I can understand why you keep getting yourself into trouble.”
“I’m not that complicated.” I shake my head. He bites his bottom lip, and my body reacts that same way it did in the hallway.
“Oh, honey. I beg to differ. You are a mystery I haven’t been able to solve quite yet.”
That nickname again. Itfeelssmooth as honey whenever it leaves his lips.
“You’ve been under my skin since the day we met, and it’s . . . infuriating.”
The feeling is mutual, and it’s perfectly clear from his father’s not-so-subtle message that he isn’t the only one.
“I think it goes without saying, but I am not used to having to work so hard to get what I want.” He smiles again, but this time, it doesn’t create an undiluted attraction to him. I’m repulsed by how easy everything has been for him, probably since birth.
