Dove keeps reading softly, finishing the chapter even though our audience is unconscious. When she’s done, she closes the book carefully and meets my eyes over Tavia’s sleeping form.
“She’s wonderful,” Dove whispers.
“She is.” The words emerge rougher than intended. “Thank you. For tonight. For making her this happy.”
“She made it easy.” Dove gently shifts Tavia toward me, careful not to wake her. “I should let you do the tucking-in part.”
I gather my daughter carefully, settling her into proper sleeping position with practiced ease. Dove watches from the doorway, something soft in her expression that makes my chest tighten.
When I emerge from Tavia’s room, she’s waiting in the corridor.
The lighting is dimmed for evening cycle. We’re standing closer than necessary in the narrow hallway. I can smell vanilla and warmth and something uniquely her.
“That was really nice,” she says quietly. “Thank you for including me.”
“You improved the evening considerably.”
The bioluminescent tracery along my neck and shoulders flares bright enough to cast shadows in the dim space. She notices, her eyes tracking the patterns.
“Do they always do that?” she asks softly.
“The patterns respond to various stimuli.”
“What kind of stimuli?”
Emotion. Temperature. Atmospheric pressure.
Proximity to curvy human couriers who smell like vanilla and fit into my life like missing variables finally calculated.
“Environmental factors,” I say instead.
“Environmental factors.” Her smile suggests she doesn’t believe me. “Right.”
We’re standing too close. I should step back. Should establish distance.
Neither of us moves.
“I should let you get some rest,” she says, but doesn’t move.
“Yes. Tomorrow we’ll address the sensor issue. Early.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Still neither of us moves.
“Cetus—”
“Dove—”
We both speak simultaneously, then stop.
“You first,” she says.
I should say goodnight. Should be professional. Should remember all the logical reasons why this is temporary.
“Your technical expertise will be valuable tomorrow,” I say, which is true but not what I was going to say.
“That’s very formal for ‘thanks for offering to help.’”
