“Seemed like a date to me.”
“No! That was a hookup. That’s completely different from a date.”
“Fine. It was a hookup. So, we will have a ‘real’ date in…” I glance back at the time on my computer, “three hours. Then I will restate my desire for a lifetime commitment, as you call it.”
Lowering to my knees, I slip my arms around her waist and jerk Trinh against my front. Between her wide-spread thighs, I press myself against her front. Trinh curls herself around me. I can feel her press her lips to the top of my head.
I rub my nose back and forth in the valley of her breastbone, inhaling her sweet fragrance. A hum of contentment rumbles up my throat.
Turning my face up, I stare up into Trinh’s dark eyes. I let her see exactly how I feel about her. Stripped of all pretense and veneer, I show Trinh how much I love her through the raw emotions of devotion and love evident in my eyes.
A chime from my tablet lets me know an important message is waiting for me. I groan in disappointment but get off my knees to check my device.
“Everything okay?” Trinh asks.
“Yes. The command council has summoned me to a meeting. I have to leave in a few minutes,” I tell her.
“Do they need to talk to me about what happened with Harrison?”
“I don’t believe so. They will send you a message if they want to talk to you.”
“Well, then I’ll head out and let you get back to work.”
I tug her in for a quick hug and kiss, then, holding her hand, I lead her past L’Wrayth, who is pretending to be busy but watching us avidly.
“I will stop by your dorm room in three hours to escort you on our date. Can you try to stay out of trouble until then?” I ask when we get to the door leading out of my office.
“I make no promises,” she sing-songs, making me huff in equal parts amusement and exasperation. “I’m looking forward to tonight.”
“Me too,” I confess.
Trinh squeezes my hands, then turns and starts to head back towards the bride volunteer section of the ship. I cannot look away as she heads out to wreak whatever havoc is on her agenda.
“What am I going to wear?” I hear her mutter just before she turns the corner and disappears from my sight.
Chapter 13
Trinh
Man, I’ve got it bad. I’ve been away from L’Corte for ten minutes, and I’m already jonesin’ for more time with him. Just the thought of heading back to my dorm and waiting three hours for our date makes me want to climb the walls. I need to keep myself busy. I don’t have anything specific on my schedule, so I decide to check on Laney because I forgot to see if the tea helped her morning sickness.
As I pass by the Requisitions Office, I hear someone call my name. I head inside to see Natasha and D’Merx are just as adorably smitten as the last time I was here. Natasha asks my opinion about sending out a ship-wide email stating that anyone who wants to be included in the Presenting Ceremony needs to come to the Requisitions Office tomorrow morning. This way, they can get a confirmed order and quantities for dresses, flowers, shoes, accessories, and the dozens of other items each bride will want. It sounds like a great idea to me, and I promise to be there if they need help. It’ll give me a chance to be a fashion consultant. I love shopping, even if it’s for someone else. I would have made a great personal shopper, maybe even better than a wedding planner. I missed my calling in that regard.
They also show me the final flower options they received from the floral vendors.
“I love the selection. This is going to be great. I wish we could get more colors than just pink or white tulips, but considering the timeline, the vendors are really coming through,” I exclaim.
“Which one’s your favorite?” Natasha asks, pointing at the display of bridal bouquets.
“Me? Easy. I would get a bouquet with blue hydrangea and white gardenias to match the ao dai dress we saw yesterday,” I say, already picturing it in my head.
“Oh, that would be pretty. I would get sunflowers. I love how happy they are,” Natasha says with a wistful sigh.
“Flowers are happy?” D’Merx asks with a bemused look.
They start bantering about the different personality types of flowers, and I begin feeling like a third wheel.
Seeing them together reminds me of Krystal and her crush on D’Uhurn. I make a quick exit from the Requisitions Office and head down to the Maintenance department. Admittedly, I have very rarely ventured into this section of the ship. I’ve only been here once when I asked them to replace a broken light fixture in my room.
