Hi Killan, it’s great to have some time to chat. I saw this morning that you had your first introduction to the three female contestants. But I sensed you were at a loss to know what to say. That’s perfectly normal. It can be an overwhelming experience meeting the potential love of your life. How are you feeling now that you’ve had some time to adjust?
Farmer Killan leans back in his chair, crossing his upper arms over his chest and watching Commentator Chloe through narrowed eyes.
Commentator Chloe laughs.
COMMENTATOR CHLOE
Still tongue-tied. Well, there’s nothing to worry about. Humans are a friendly species, and we’re so new to intergalactic travel that it doesn’t take much to impress us. Show a girl a good time and make sure to feed her, and you’ll have your pick of the bunch. Between you and me, which of the three females caught your attention? I know Sorin has already put in a claim on Briar, but considering you’re the eldest, I’m sure you could get him to back down, if that’s where your interest lies.
Lydia
Pick of the bunch!I repeat to myself.Swooning at his feet!
I’m lying on the kitchen floor, Killan’s tablet on the ground beside my head, as it reads aloud the search results. I’m feeling a confusing mix of disgust at hearing what Chloe said in one of her numerous sham interviews, and tiredness, lulled toward sleep by the computer’s hypnotically monotone voice.
Most of what I’ve listened to so far hasn’t been of any help. Apparently LOVE GALAXY was the only TV show Reality Investments funded, and after seventy-five seasons, there are alotof contestant interviews online, including a few from our unfinished season, which Smith must have published during filming in the hopes of hyping up audience awareness.
“What are you doing?” Chloe steps over me, crossing the kitchen to the sink, where she refills her cup with water.
Ugh. I don’t bother sitting up. She’s the last person I want to see. Well, the second to last person, counting Killan.
“Kind of pathetic, don’t you think?” she says, coming to stand beside my head so she can stare down at me. “Lying on the floor.”
“Better than being in hiding,” I retaliate.
At first, we kept her locked in one of the spare downstairs bedrooms in Killan’s house, but none of us liked having to act as her prison guard, bringing Chloe her meals and making sure she always had water, so we let her out again.
Now, she spends most of her time hiding in that same room, but with the door unlocked. Where else is there for her to go? The algae farm? Sorin’s house? Being on Ril II is a whole new type of punishment. One that we’re both suffering.
“I’m not hiding,” she says, tapping the toe of one high heel on the floor.
She’s wearing the same strapless dress she had on when Smith escaped, because all her spare clothes were on his ship. There are finger smudges on the lenses of her usually clean glasses, and her blonde hair, which she used to keep gelled back in a sleek ponytail, is hanging limp around her shoulders.
“Yeah, right,” I scoff. If I knew how to turn the tablet volume up, I would, just so I could drown out her voice.
“I’m planning something. Somethingbig.” She steps over me again, heading for the stairs that lead to the underground bedrooms. She’s only baiting me, I tell myself, pushing for an argument because she’s bored.
I’m bored too, but there’s no way I’m admitting that to her.
“Keep dreaming.” I roll over to face Killan’s tablet, presenting Chloe with my back.
She’s no closer to escaping Ril II than I am. There’s no way she’ll come up with a working plan. Neither of us knows the location of Earth. And if we don’t know where Earth is, then there’s no way to return.
She stamps her way down the stairs, as if she thinks that’ll get a reaction out of me, but her fits of grumpiness have nothing on Killan’s, so I pay her no heed. Tucking my hands under my cheek as a pillow, I let the computer voice wash over me. Maybe if I’mlucky, I’ll fall asleep for a few hours. Anything’s got to be better than this.
“I’m engaged!” Harlee squeals as she comes running into Killan’s kitchen. “Lydia?—”
She stops when she sees me clambering to my feet, brushing dirt from my jeans. I quickly pick up Killan’s tablet before someone accidentally steps on it. It’s still reading aloud, but I don’t know how to stop it, so I abandon the tablet on the kitchen counter and plaster a smile onto my face.
“Congratulations!” For a second I think I’ve overdone the excitement, because Harlee gives me a searching look. But then she grins, holding her arms wide to hug me.
I bury my face in her silky black hair. “Congratulations,” I repeat, and I’m relieved to hear I sound more like I actually mean it this time. “I’m so happy for you.”
Roan wasted no time asking. I’d thought…I’d stupidly thought he’d wait a few days.
She pulls back a fraction so she can see my face. “This doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on our mission. I’m still going to help you get home.”
“I know,” I lie. I hold her tighter, squeezing her to me, before releasing her and letting my hands fall back to my sides. What I know is that she won't have nearly so much free time to spend with me now that she’s got a wedding to plan. And after the wedding, she’ll have a whole new life ahead of her.
