“Sure. Do you need me to start looking into when we can get you home? Or is someone else already working on that.”
My mind goes blank for a moment…send me home. “Is that an option?”
“Do youwantto go home?”
“I honestly hadn’t even considered it.” I glance toward the hallway they’ve disappeared down to give me space. “Everything happens for a reason, right?”
And if the universe dropped me in their laps… obviously, it wants me to have them.
“Chrys?”
I shake my head and look at her again. “Sorry.”
“Take the week to figure things out. We’ll talk about this when you’ve got your feet under you, okay?”
“I have three deliverables due this week.”
“I’ll push them back or get them from someone else.”
“Okay.” I swallow and glance down at my thumb. I’ve almost managed to pick all the nail polish off of it. “I have some prescriptions I’d like to get filled. Like, I can live without them, but I’d rather not.”
“Sure. I can get the requests sent through one of the local clinics and they can get the info from your Earth doctor.”
“Great, thanks.” I give her the list and Mary doesn’t even blink.
“I’ll shoot the request and your file info over right now. You should be able to get some of them before the end of the day.”
“You are a lifesaver.”
“Pretty sure I still owe you a dozen favors.” She pauses and glances behind me, like she’s looking for eavesdroppers. “I have two unbonded women staying with me right now… do you want to meet up to discuss options in a week or so?”
“Didn’t realize there would be other bachelorettes on the planet.”
“There are usually one or two floating around. We can talk about that later though.”
She reaches out like she’s about to hang up and then her brows furrow. “Hey. You’re okay right?”
I smile, thinking about the bruises, and try not to wince. “I’m going to be.”
When the call ends and the quiet settles in, it’s not the cold that makes me shiver.
“I’m done,” I call out, because I don’t want to get up, but I don’t want them to think they can’t come back.
Shock is the first to return to me. Then Arc, but he makes a detour and Risk watches him go with a curious smile before he sits down on the perpendicular couch seat.
Arc joins us bearing gifts.
He places a box on the table in front of me. “It’s a bondmate kit. Aside from the irrelevant items, it has some information you should have and… other things.”
I open it while he sets a bag of other things beside it.
The irrelevant items, I assume, are the bottle of Vitamin S and the information pamphlets on inevitable pregnancy.
I manage to not think too much about those as I pull out the other things.
The infamous Margot’s number is on a card with a note to call for any help, instructions, lessons, or advice. I talked to her once, for a Playlien piece… she’s gorgeous and terrifying.
Lists of emergency numbers, and… cooling pads and chafing cream.
