“I’m a seven. If I had to guess, I would say you are an eight and a half,” I say, taking a look at her ring finger. “However, this is your wedding ring. We need to make sure. D’Uhurn, could you find us a tape measure or something so we can figure out the circumference of Krystal’s ring finger?”
As D’Uhurn hurries off to find something, Krystal turns back to me with a dopey grin. “Isn’t he the best?” Turning back to the computer monitor, she starts scrolling through the rings a second time. I hope she isn’t about to change her mind again.
“Which one would you pick? Oh! I bet you’d get this one,” Krystal says excitedly, pointing out a tacky monstrosity in rose gold.
“Do I look like a Vegas trophy wife to you?”
“Well? Which one would you get?”
I already know which one I would pick, so I quickly scroll back a few screens.
“This one,” I say, pointing out a round-cut diamond, haloed with a ring of smaller stones in a unique hexagon setting. It’s gorgeous, unusual, and distinctive. Maybe I’ll print out a copy of this ring and ‘accidentally’ leave it somewhere for L’Corte to find.
D’Uhurn strides back with a tool to measure Krystal’s finger, letting us figure out what size ring she needs.
* * *
It takes mostof the day, but we finally get through every anxious bride. As the last woman exits the mess hall, clinging to her slightly bewildered alien groom-to-be, I smile as I watch her practically bounce at his side in excitement. I fall back in my chair with a long, tired exhale.
I’m exhausted but pleased. We didn’t run into too many problems. The closest thing we had to a blow-up is when two brides noticed they had picked the same dress. With some careful maneuvering, I was able to get one of them to choose a different design before it became a hair-pulling brawl. The Cerasteans looked completely mystified why each bride would care about walking down the aisle in a unique dress. When the third male asked me about it, I finally started telling them that it’s a human female thing.
I swallow my sigh when D’Merx waves me over to where he and Natasha are still working. Together, we sit down to review the full order to make sure it all looks right before submitting everything to the vendors. I lost count of all the items we need to order, but D’Merx and Natasha took meticulous notes, so I have every faith that the order is correct. Even though I’m trying to pay attention, my eyes start to droop, and all the numbers on the screen begin to run together.
“Here, you look like you could use this.”
Looking to my side through blurry eyes, I see L’Corte is holding out an iced Vietnamese coffee for me. Maybe it’s just being worn out from the long day and not getting much sleep last night, but I have the strangest urge to cry. All day long, L’Corte has been nearby helping in little ways. He made sure I ate lunch, would fetch small items I needed without complaint. He even managed to track down a measuring tape to make sure we got a bride’s waist size correct. Whenever he was walking past, he would brush a hand along my shoulder. All his actions let me know he cares, how he is always thinking of me. It’s such a good feeling, and a scary feeling, to know that his every action is an unspoken vow of devotion. I can see how deeply L’Corte cares about me in his eyes, and his actions reinforce those feelings. It’s a little overwhelming.
I mentally give myself a rough shake. If I don’t take the drink and keep acting normal, I will freak out my alien man.
“You’re my favorite person in the whole universe,” I declare earnestly, taking a long savoring sip of the coffee.
“You’re my favorite person, too,” he says, looking very pleased with himself.
The coffee is delicious. I can almost feel the sugar rushing through my veins and waking up my sleepy brain.
We finally finish confirming everything the women ordered today, and D’Merx hits send on the order with a flourish.
When L’Corte gently steers me to his apartment, I’m so tired I don’t even consider wanting to head to my dorm.
L’Corte helps me get undressed and tucks me under the covers like a toddler. Nestled on my pillow, I watch as he strips and climbs into the bed. It feels so good when he spoons up behind me that I can’t help the happy little sigh of contentment. What a gift today was.
Chapter 16
Trinh
The buzz of my alarm wakes me. Groaning, I reach over to L’Corte’s nightstand and silence my tablet. L’Corte’s arm snakes around my waist and tugs me back into the warm curve of his body. His sunrise salute pokes me in my butt cheek, making me grin. I’m about to roll over in his arms and have some fun when I remember what today is with a gasp.
“What?” L’Corte asks in alarm, sleepiness making his voice low and rough.
“Today’s the Presenting Ceremony! I have so much to do!” I exclaim. Sitting up, I start to crawl my way out of the tangle of blankets and sheets.
“You have plenty of time. Come back to bed for a little bit,” L’Corte requests warmly. I giggle when he tightens his arm around my waist and drags me back under the covers.
If every day is a gift, L’Corte’s the best present I’ve ever received.
I emerge from L’Corte’s quarters a half-hour later in yesterday’s outfit. I’m going to need to start keeping some clothes at his place if this keeps up. Oh, who am I kidding? I haven’t spent a single night in my dorm this week. I need to just accept defeat and move everything into his place once I get through today.
On legs that feel a little bit like Jell-o and a stupid grin on my face, I head back to my dorm. I can’t seem to help my blissed-out look. My friends have been teasing me all week about how my sex-afterglow could power the ship’s engine.
