He sighed deeply. “Not quite. I’m on call. Crossing my fingers that everyone behaves themselves tonight.”
I gave him a dubious look. He sighed even more deeply. And we both laughed.
“Well, it’s good to see you out of the med bay,” I said. “You work too much.”
His silver brows crowded into a concerned furrow. “I don’t think I’m the only one.”
“Empaths,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Don’t look at me like that, Doctor. I’m fine.”
While his unease gave way to something softer, lighter, he murmured, “Hmm. I think you’re right.” Pointing his chin at Freddie across the room, he said, “He makes you happy. Wait,” he reconsidered, his eyes narrowing, his focus sharpening. “He does more than that. He gives you the space to feel whatever you need to feel. Happy, but also sad.” His gaze slid to meet mine. “That can be hard to find in a partner. Oh, crud. Sunny, are you okay?”
Tears had swelled to hover over the brim of my lids. “Yep,” I said, refusing to blink, refusing to cry at a party.
“I’m sorry.” His blue lips pressed together apologetically. “I was way out of line. It’s just, well, it’s wonderful. Seeing you like this.”
I knew what he meant. He’d been my physician for years. He’d read my past medical history. He was an empath. He knew what no one else did, and yet he’d never said a word, never asked me a single question about Jonathan. Because empaths also knew when a being wasn’t ready to speak. “Thank you, Sem,” I said, my eyes dry enough now to risk a blink. “You’re right. It is wonderful.” I looked over at Freddie, watched him place a hand on Garran’s forearm. “He’s patient and understanding, and he’s a good listener. He’s helping me…work through some things.”
“Sometimes that’s all we need,” Sem said with a firm nod—an appreciative period on the end of this conversation. “I’m going to try to enjoy myself for as long as I can before at least one of these beings needs IV sobering fluids.”
Kissing his cheek, I wished him a long night out of the med bay, then I turned to scan the room. I searched for them, but I didn’t see Sonia or Lena. I thought they’d come tonight, but although we celebrated New Year’s aboard theIgnisaron this date, it was only because all LunaCorp ships followed the Standard year calendar. The actual date of the New Year varied wildly from planet to planet, and on Tranquis, it wasn’t for another several months. Perhaps they’d decided to sit this party out.
As I made my way toward the Kravaxian’s table, Freddie commed,
I replied.
I stalled out, my heart giving a little hiccup.
Freddie said.
Seeing guests off after their stay was a normal part of my life. But Garran was different. Garran, I would miss.
Muttering over the comm, he added,
His laughter brushed between my ears, stirring the hairs on the back of my neck.
Aside from Reya—who’dspent the entire evening in the control booth with Tig—the Kravaxians all sat at their table, watching the party unfold while they nursed their drinks.
Elanie commed.
I glanced around the room until I spotted Freddie sitting at the Blurvans’ table, his arm slung around a young male’s shoulders as they swayed side to side, the Blurvan’s gelatinous belly wobbling with laughter.
—I squinted—
Standing next to the table with her arms crossed over her chest, Elanie commed,
Just to Elanie’s side, I noticed a bionic with bright-blue eyes and jet-black hair sitting at a table of other young males and staring brazenly at her ass.
