CHAPTER 13
Now that you’ve decided you want to pursue a future together, how do you both want that to affect your official relationship status in the universe? This is an important question to begin thinking and talking about. There are several formal relationship designations legally recognized on an intergalactic level: Starbonded Partners, Chartered Companionship, Merged Household Affiliation, Polybonded Clusters, Contractual Wedlock, and more. Research your options and come to an agreement on what would suit you both best. While an official status is not required per se, it will provide you with greater recognition and protection as partners wherever you go in this vast universe.
—Ch. 6,How to Flirt Among the Stars: An Intergalactic (and Interspecies) Sapphic Dating Guide
Gemma
“Good morning, my wonderful friends! Look outside and behold my brilliant idea from last night,” Khephren announces.
We all stare out the bridge’s view window at the otherworldly sight in front of us.
“Welcome to Cosmic Kingdom: The Intergalactic Theme Park!” Khephren’s tentacles flail in the air with excitement.
“I amsonot in Kansas anymore,” I mutter to myself, unable to tear my gaze away from the surreal vista.
Luna wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I lean into her. The alien theme park hovers ahead, positioned within a stable ring of satellites around a vibrant nebula that performs an ongoing multicolored light show unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. It’s truly stunning, a sight I will never forget until my dying day.
“The Rainbow Nebula is so much more impressive than its name, don’t you think?” she asks softly.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. Even the Northern Lights on Earth pale in comparison,” I admit.
“Isn’t it so romantic?” Khephren sighs dreamily, tentacles flapping.
“Super romantic, babe,” Sasha assures him.
Najar sighs. “Of course you’d pick a theme park.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fun,” Felix says. His eyes sparkle. “Maybe I’ll get to see some new animals there too.”
I smile fondly at my brother and shake my head. Some things about him will never change. But that’s yet another reason I love him to pieces.
“Well, I, for one, want to find out how an intergalactic theme park compares to the ones on Earth.” I rub my hands together in anticipation.
Luna bounces on her toes, her green tentacles doing a kind of cheer move that makes me smile. “Hell, yeah! That’s my girl! Let’s enjoy this to the max!”
Khephren dances around the bridge. “We’re going to have so much fun. I can’t wait.”
“Rein it in a smidge, babe,” Sasha orders him sweetly. “Let’s not scare off our new crew members quite yet.”
Khephren blushes. “Sorry. I can get overly enthusiastic sometimes.”
Sasha pulls him in for a kiss. “And I love that about you.”
“Okay, enough schmoopy talk,” Luna says. “Let’s park this baby and get on with the fun.”
I can’t stop myself from grinning. She is so much fun, and ridiculously sweet too.
My mind wanders back to the handwritten note she sent me last night. At first, I was startled when it arrived via a delivery chute in the room that I didn’t know about. But her words melted my heart the moment I read them. Luna is thoughtful and attentive. She didn’t get upset or annoyed when I needed some time alone to think. Instead, she was quietly supportive and understanding.
My mental list of reasons Luna’s pretty damn perfect for me keeps growing by the hour.
I still haven’t arrived at any conclusions about what I’ll do with my future now that I’m part of the Sleigh Belle, but I feel less freaked out about not having a plan. I decided to take things as they come and wait for inspiration to strike. In other words, I’m going to trust in myself and the universe on this one.
“Luna’s right,” I agree cheerfully. “Let’s get this theme park party started!”
Khephren doesn’t waste any more time and docks the Sleigh Belle in the Cosmic Kingdom’s massive equivalent of a parking garage for spaceships, after which we disembark like a band ofkids hyped up on sugar and adrenaline. We’re practically racing each other to the park’s entrance, a slightly less excited Najar drawn along by my brother. Felix has his work cut out for him with his new boyfriend—but I know that’s the way he likes it.
Men can be such weirdos sometimes.
