Page 22 of Surrendering the Skies

Geneva let out a loud noise of exasperation, somewhere between a groan and a scream. “No, this is not about her. I feel like I’ve said it a hundred times already, but I don’t dislike Adele. She’s fine. Great, even. Nice. Smart. Pretty. Friendly.” She gritted her teeth together, but then let her confession slip out. “No, Marcus, it’syouwho I’m not harboring a lot of kind feelings toward at the moment.”

He exhaled again. “I’ve already apologized for—”

“It’s not because you found someone else while Ash and I were stationed out in the middle of nowhere for the better part of a year. I get it, I do, and I don’t fault you for it, as much as it may sting.” She debated saying the next part aloud and figured she’d come too far to turn back. “And yeah, I thought it was a little crass for you to bring Adele to the memorial service. But what do I know about current social norms, being away from that scene for so long, right?”

“Well, then I’m dying to know what your problem is,” he said dryly.

“I’m sure you noticed how on the day we met, Adele and I had a quick private chat in the kitchen.” Her fury started to rise again. “Imagine my surprise when I learned you’d told her about our history together, but you’d forgotten to mention Ash is—was more than a very close friend.”

“What was I supposed to say to her?” he snapped.

“How about the truth?” she answered, matching his tone. “You know, since you’resoconcerned about honesty.”

“Explaining an ex-girlfriend is one thing.” Marcus hesitated. “Explaining the three of us, or even how Ash and I…”

Rage morphed into sorrow as all her hurt feelings resurfaced. “It makes it seem like you’re embarrassed, or ashamed of what we had.” Geneva rubbed her eyes, determined not to let him hear her cry. “I could have gotten past feeling like you tossed us aside, because, like I said, I do understand how it must have been hard for you to be alone. But I don’t know if I can move beyond you pretending what we all shared never happened.”

He didn’t answer.

The cyclone of emotions continued to whirl through her, and she tilted her head back. “You’re lying to Adele, and you’re also lying to yourself. I don’t know if one is worse than the other, but they both sound kind of shitty to me.” Closing her eyes, she grimaced. “So, for right now, I don’t have anything else to say to you, either about us or in general. Good-bye, Marcus.”

Geneva ended the call before he could respond then hurled the communicator to the floor. Flopping back onto the seat, she hugged her knees to her chest and prayed it wouldn’t ring again.

***

At the rear of the Greysons’ estate stood a colossal tree, its countless branches curving upward in gentle arches and casting a shadow on the surrounding grass. Geneva trudged over the arid lawn, the blades crunching beneath her shoes, and stood at the base of the thick trunk. Reaching for the lowest limb, she hauled herself up and climbed toward the skies, using the same footholds she’d memorized as a child.

Wedging herself in the fork between two branches, she looked back and forth between the skyline of Triayda in the distance and the surrounding residential areas. The two suns floated high in the sky, filling the world with bright golden light, yet she could visualize the expanse of stars that would be visible hours later. No one place appealed to her, beckoned to her, begged her to call it home. Despite her knowledge of so many planets and star systems in the galaxy, she felt lost and alone.

So many times, she’d sought solace hidden under the canopy of the tree, from when she was plotting her future as a teenager to working through issues in more recent years. She waited for a flash of clarity, some brilliant insight to solve all her problems, but none came. Sighing, she leaned her head back against the trunk and tried to clear her thoughts, attempting to focus on the tranquil beauty around her instead.

The beep of an incoming text message disrupted the picturesque scene. She pushed a button on her communicator and angled her wrist so the shadows of the leaves would let her read the display with ease. The message came from an unknown sender, and she raised her eyebrows as she read the contents.

Hi, Geneva, it’s Adele. I heard you were on Pasurea for a few days. If you’re not too busy, do you think we could get together sometime before you leave? Maybe lunch, or whatever’s convenient for you. Let me know—thanks!

The side of her mouth twitched as she contemplated a response. The temptation to pretend she never received the message hovered in her mind, but part of her was curious about the motives behind the invitation. She didn’t have any other plans for her leave, and the idea of spending the entirety of her trip cooped up with her parents didn’t sound enticing. Before she could change her mind, she tapped out a reply in the affirmative and sent it.

The following afternoon, her parents’ driver dropped her off at a rooftop restaurant in the center of Triayda. As the hovercar pulled away from the walkway, Geneva smoothed the front of her blouse and approached the podium at the end. After giving her name to the staff, an employee led her to the end of the seating area, beneath a red silk awning.

Adele waited for her at a small table. “Hi, Geneva,” she said. “Thanks so much for coming today.”

She sat down across from her. “It’s a nice place.” Sliding her chair closer, she looked around. “I haven’t been here in years. It’s funny how some things never change.”

“It’s a popular restaurant with my coworkers.” Her fingers slid along the length of her necklace. “Good food, fast service when we only have time for a quick break, and so on.”

Geneva had no patience for another round of meaningless small talk. “So, why did you invite me out to lunch? Somehow, I don’t think you just want to get to know me better.”

Her gaze dropped to the napkin in her lap. “You’re right. We might as well get straight to the point.”

A waiter arrived with a pair of water glasses. Adele thanked him and waited for him to leave before continuing. “Marcus and I had a long talk last night. He told me…he told me everything.”

She attempted to maintain a neutral expression. “I want to make sure we’re on the same page here, so why don’t you tell me your definition of ‘everything?’”

A long breath left her lips, ruffling the blonde curls falling across her forehead. “He explained how you, him, and Ash were together at the same time. First, I thought he meant, like, you’d see him when you were home, and then have your own thing with Ash while at work.” Her shoulders twitched in a tiny shrug. “Don’t worry, he cleared up the miscommunication right away.”

Geneva toyed with the hem of her blouse and said nothing.

“He wanted to be completely honest with me, so he also told me how it wasn’t each of them with you, but the two of them would…” Her cheeks flushed scarlet and she groaned. “I’m sorry, I amsoout of my element here. Part of me can’t even believe I’m having this conversation—in a public restaurant, no less—but I needed to talk to someone else about it, someone who would understand.”

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