“Knowing it and living it are different things.”
“Hey.” Juni let go of the crumpled wrapper and crossed to Finley’s bunk. Sitting down next to her, shoulder to shoulder, she bumped her gently. “We’ll be okay.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No. But I’m choosing to believe it anyway.”
Finley turned to look at her, green eyes too wide behind her glasses. “How are you so calm?”
Calm wasn’t the word for the tight knot in Juni’s stomach or the way her heart kept skipping beats. But she’d learned a long time ago that falling apart didn’t help anyone.
Her mom had taught her that. Joy is a choice, Juni-bug, she’d always said. Especially when everything’s falling to pieces. That’s when it matters most.
“I’m not calm.” She squeezed Finley’s hand. “I’m terrified. But I’m not going to let that steal my joy today.”
“Today’s not exactly a party.”
“Sure it is. We’re about to land on an alien planet and start new lives. That’s either the worst decision we’ve ever made or the best adventure we’ll ever have.” She grinned, big and bright and only a little forced. “And I’m on Team Adventure.”
Aida snorted. “Team adventure. Right. That’s one word for getting assigned to a random alien dude through a lottery system.”
“A hot alien dude,” Juni corrected. “Have you seen them? They are so hot!”
“We have. We all have.” Anja’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “And you’ve mentioned it. Repeatedly.”
“Just saying.” Juni shrugged. “If I’m going to get shipped off to the edge of colonized space to participate in an experimental breeding program, at least the participants are easy on the eyes.”
Val shook her head, but her expression had softened. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m a delight.”
“You’re something, that’s for sure.”
The datapad on Juni’s bunk chimed.
Then Aida’s. Then Finley’s. All six, one after another, a cascade of electronic beeps that sounded way too cheerful.
Nobody moved.
Juni’s throat went tight. This was it. The moment that would determine everything. Where she’d live, who she’d live with, whether she’d be near any of the women who’d become her friends over the last six weeks crammed on this transport.
“Okay.” Val stood, moved to her bunk and picked up her datapad. “On three, we all check.”
Anja nodded. Autumn’s hand trembled as she reached for hers.
“One.”
Juni’s fingers closed around her datapad. The metal was cool against her palm, smooth and impersonal.
“Two.”
Please let it be okay. Please let me be strong enough for this. Please…
“Three.”
She tapped the screen.
* * *
