“Yeah, I’m just waking up.”
Pigeon set down his cup. She glanced up to find him scrutinizing her. Alexa stopped from shrinking away, afraid that he saw through her lies and to the secret she kept so close. That if he stared at her long enough, he’d see what she really was under her fake hair, fake…everything.
Suddenly, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to blurt out everything. She wanted someone else to share her burden. Alexa shook, stamping down her wants. She couldn’t afford to trust anyone, especially someone she barely knew. One small mishap and her life—her quest for vengeance—was on the line. Years and years of patience…over.
She’d also be putting Pigeon’s life at risk if she came clean. She couldn’t do that.
“You know you can come to me if something happens. I’m not like these young men. I’ve been there and done that, and found it tiresome. You remind me of my daughters.”
Alexa perked up. “You have daughters?”
“Three, in fact. They’re on Earth living their lives.” He waved his hand. “They’re grown now, have families of their own. My ex hates that I no longer have to pay child support. She hates it even more that I won’t return to Earth and be with them where I’m an easily accessible cash cow. I took crew work to pay for my children, and now it’s all I know.” Pigeon shrugged. “They’re better off without me.”
“How can you say that? Do you know?”
“I’m a geezer. I’d just be a burden to them.”
“I would kill to be with my father. If they want you home, you shouldn’t assume they’re lying.”
Pigeon’s face shuttered. “Is he gone? Your father?”
Alexa dropped her eyes to her cup again. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I lost my parents a long time ago, and I still miss them to this day.”
“It’s fine.” Alexa swirled her coffee some more. “I’m sorry for your loss as well. I miss mine too, though I never knew my mother.”
Why had she said that? Alexa sucked in her lips. She never talked to anyone about her parents.
“Makes sense.”
Her eyes snapped to Pigeon’s. “What? What makes sense?”
“That you’re here, doing a job like this, when you could be anywhere else in the universe.” Pigeon smiled, and it almost brought a smile to her own lips. “My ex would never have let our kids leave Earth.”
“That’s a shame. Earth sucks.”
“Yeah,” Pigeon laughed. “It does.”
Someone cleared their throat, and Alexa and Pigeon turned in unison. Standing in the doorway was the last being she wanted to see. Hysterian’s black eyes—the ones she knew—were watching them.
How long?
“Captain,” Pigeon greeted. Both he and Alexa stood, straightening out their uniforms.
“Captain,” she said as well, nodding.
“The day shift is about to start,” he warned, making her stiffen. “You should be at your posts.”
“Yes, sir,” Pigeon agreed, walking to the door; Hysterian moved to the side. Pigeon turned back and met Alexa’s eyes. “It was good talking to you, Dear. Come with us to get a beer next time. It’ll do you good. I’ll make sure you get back to your bunk safe afterward.” He smiled and left, strolling past Hysterian before she could respond.
Silence filled the lounge as she listened to Pigeon’s footsteps recede, wishing she could escape just as easily.
“Sorry, Captain,” she mumbled, dashing for the exit.
“Stop.”
She came to a halt. Tall and stiff, and ever watchful, Hysterian glared at her when she met his eyes. Now she remembered why she never left the menagerie if she could help it.
