Page 13 of Surrendering the Skies

Adele sat across from them and nodded. “I know it’s not as glamorous as soaring across the skies and exploring all sorts of far-off places, but I like it well enough.”

“Trust me,” Geneva said, “some of those far-off places aren’t very exciting. I hope we don’t spoil any illusions for you.”

“Oh, no! I didn’t mean to imply your job is nothing but one thrilling mission after the next.” Her brows knit together over her chocolate-brown eyes. “And I also wanted to say I respect and appreciate all the work you do with the Terran military. Only the strongest and smartest people can achieve what you’ve done.”

Ash smirked. “We won’t mention the idiot who backed over the communications tower on our last trip.”

Geneva winced at the memory. “Thanks, I guess. We all have our callings and sense of duty, when you think about it.”

“You may be right.” She fidgeted with the string of pearls around her neck. “I was always good at math—a real mind for numbers, they said—so accounting seemed like a logical choice.” Her face brightened and she folded her hands in her lap. “But I like working with people, too, from sharing projects with coworkers to meeting new clients. So I also feel very fortunate that I find satisfaction in what I do.”

Marcus entered the room, holding a platter of meat in one hand and a steaming basket of bread in the other. “Speaking of people I love seeing and spending time with,” Adele said, beaming at him.

He set the dishes on the table and gestured to a large bowl of salad. “You could have gotten started without me.”

“It’s okay. We don’t mind waiting,” Geneva said. “We were about to hear some captivating stories about the financial goings-on of the capital.”

Spots of pink appeared on Adele’s cheeks. “I wish I could make it sound interesting. But while we do deal with some colorful characters, talk of my day-to-day work probably won’t sound too remarkable, especially when compared to everything you do.”

Ash tossed a slice of warm bread onto his plate and reached for the salad bowl. “We spent the last nine months stuck on the most drab, lifeless planet you could ever imagine. Believe me when I sayeverythingsounds remarkable right now.”

She laughed, raising a hand to her glossy lips. “Now, Geneva, I know you and Marcus grew up together here on Pasurea.” Her smile widened. “I’ll be sure to ask you for some fun memories later on, but first, Ash, remind me where you’re originally from?”

He swallowed his mouthful of food. “Dorann, which is at least half as far away as Kasarad from here, but in the opposite direction.” Setting down his fork, he rubbed his chin. “Lots of sprawling farms and quaint villages. Nothing nearly as glitzy as the cities in this sector, but it’s got its own charms. Humans and the native Doranners coexist peacefully, which was a nice environment to grow up in.”

“It sounds lovely.”

Engaging in idle small talk wasn’t Geneva’s favorite way to spend an afternoon, but she’d agreed to make an effort to be sociable. “Are you from Pasurea, Adele?”

“No, I was born on Curo, just a hop, skip, and a short flight away.” She sipped her water, and Geneva took a moment to marvel at how none of her lipstick smeared on the glass. “It’s so close, I didn’t mind when my firm asked if I’d like to transfer here.”

While she and Ash exchanged more descriptions of their respective homes, Geneva glanced in Marcus’s direction. He’d been listening to the ongoing conversation but soon noticed her looking at him. One eyebrow arched, and he tilted his head toward Adele with a movement so slight, she thought she might have imagined it. Pursing her lips together, she was tempted to ignore his silent question, but after a prolonged pause, she offered him a conciliatory shrug and nod.

Some of the tension flowed out of her muscles as she ate her meal and made relevant comments at the appropriate times. Part of her still ached to return to the way things had been when they’d last seen each other, yet something about the way Adele’s eyes lit up every time she gazed at Marcus helped ease some of her disappointment. Ash’s reminders to her drifted through her mind. Even if the nature of the love between them had changed, she needed to support Marcus’s decisions as he had done for her in the past.

Adele dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin then stood. “I’ll start cleaning up.”

Marcus half rose out of his chair. “You don’t have to do that.”

“No, it’s okay. You worked so hard preparing all the food, it’s the least I can do.” She picked up his plate, along with her own. “Geneva, can you give me a hand carrying in some of these dishes, please?”

“Uh…okay.”

Ash rubbed her arm as she reached past him to move his cutlery onto his empty plate. Stacking it on top of hers, she carried the pile into the kitchen behind Adele. She moved around the room with efficiency, wiping off plates and arranging tidy rows in the dishwasher, slipping back into the domestic routines she’d performed so many times in the past.

After sorting the forks, knives, and spoons into their separate compartments, she straightened. “Want me to go grab the rest of them?”

“Wait a minute.” Adele stood at the sink, facing away from her. “I didn’t want to say anything out there in front of everyone and make things awkward, but I wanted to let you know I’m aware of how you and Marcus used to date, and there’s a romantic history there.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “And I wanted to tell you it’s not a problem for me, and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to get in the way of your continuing friendship.”

Geneva blinked, startled by the abrupt change in topic. “Thanks, I appreciate it,” she finally said. “I don’t want to be an issue that might drive the two of you apart, either. This was all his idea, you know.”

Her shy smile reappeared as she turned around. “Wonderful.” She exhaled. “I feel so much better getting everything out in the open, don’t you?”

“Sure.” She leaned against the countertop. “What about Ash?”

Adele clasped her hands together at her waist. “Marcus told me he’s a good friend, too, and I think it’s terrific how you and he have such a loving relationship now. It must make your tougher assignments a lot easier to deal with, knowing you have each other to rely on.”

A muscle in her jaw twitched. “Did he say anything else?”

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