Timber took the phone with care. “It won’t, like, explode or anything, right? You said you can’t make an incendiary device from this thing …”
I smiled. “You are safe.”
“Cool. So, back to the con.” She pointed at a listing on the pamphlet. “This panel has a few of the main cast from that cop show you’re so crazy about. The one with the dolls that look like me. Do you want to go?”
“Will your … twin be there?”
“Let’s see.” She held the pamphlet closer to her face as she read the listing. “Looks like! And she’s doing photo ops and signings later on today in the vendor hall. Would you like to meet her, too?”
I paused to consider. It might be interesting to meet an Earth celebrity, but she would be a poor substitute for Timber. I did not wish for Timber to think that I favored this actress over her.
“No, thank you. The panel will suffice.”
Timber laughed. “You bought all that merchandise, and you don’t even want one thing signed?"
“Wouldyousign something?”
“That would decrease the value of it! I’m not the actress. If you have me sign it, you’ll never get full price if you want to try selling it.”
I did not understand. “Why would I sell any of it? I purchased those items because I wanted to keep them.”
“You know what? Never mind. You don’t have to sell them.” She shook her head with a smile. “Okay, I guess I’m game. Which one do you want me to sign?”
Just one item? I knew I had to choose wisely. I pondered the assortment of items on the couch for several moments until finally selecting the paper tube containing the drawing of the two of us. Timber had said that I could get this item framed for hanging on a wall, and it would please me to see her signature hanging in our future home.
Our future Earth home.
Timber picked up a writing utensil from the bedside table and unrolled the drawing. She tapped the end of the utensil against her luscious lips for a moment before her face lit up, and she began to write. Once she was done, she handed me the paper to read.
To N’kal: Thank you for showing me that security detail doesn’t have to suck. Thanks for being so sweet and kind, and for all the fun. I hope you can stay here for a long, long time.
-Your protector, Timber
My face fell as I read her words. I had been hoping for … what? Declarations of love and devotion? Descriptions of my sexual prowess? Perhaps nothing so obvious, but at the very least something more personal than “your protector.” Something more like “your mate” or to use an Earth term, “your girlfriend” maybe. Was this all she thought of me? A charge to be watched?
“It is …” I tried to think of an adjective that would not offend her. “Nice.”
Timber frowned. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing. It is nice.” I rolled the paper back up and carefully deposited it back in the cardboard tube.
“You’re a terrible liar. Don’t ever play poker. You’ll lose everything you own.”
I shrugged and stood to get dressed for the day’s activities. “There is nothing wrong with it. You enjoy guarding me. That is nice.”
Her hand fell on my arm, and I froze, unable to meet her gaze.
“Idoenjoy guarding you, N’kal. I enjoy spending time with you. I just can’t write how I really feel, especially not when things are so complicated. You’re still here illegally, and despite my emotional attachment, thisisstill a security detail.For now.Who knows? Maybe we’ll get to the intake center in a few days, once the whole assassination plot is resolved, and maybe you’ll get your papers, and maybe we can arrange for you to stay in Chicago for your schooling. That’s a lot of maybes though, and not much of it is certain. I can’t bank on uncertainty right now.”
“Is that how you feel about me?” I asked quietly. “Uncertain?”
“N’kal, that’s not what I said.”
I picked up the pamphlet listing the panels for the day. “I no longer wish to see the panel on the police drama. Let’s go to this one.”
Timber took the pamphlet from me and read the title of the panel.
“‘Xalanites: Friends or Foes’?” A worried frown crossed her face. “N’kal, I’m not so sure about this …”
