He was no stranger to attraction, but Polly transcended physical lust. There was an emotional pull that he couldn’t ignore, yet he had to be cautious. They were still in the midst of negotiating their arrangement, and he needed to maintain his composure.
Walking through the station, Polly’s hand resting gently on his arm, Erzo felt a protective urge surge within him. The stares from others only intensified this feeling. Polly was unmistakably his, and he found himself casting warning glances at anyone who dared to look too closely at her.
As they settled into their meal at Folay’s, Polly deftly placed a cloth from her handbag onto her lap. Erzo watched the action with bemusement. On Charrovik, such gestures were unnecessary—they had more efficient methods.
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that some sort of protective ritual?”
Polly chuckled, her eyes sparkling with humor. “It’s a napkin, Erzo. On Earth, we use it to keep our clothes clean while eating. Don’t you have something like that here?”
Erzo couldn’t help but laugh, a deep, rumbling sound that turned a few heads. “We Charro have a different approach. Our clothes are made from self-cleaning nano fibers. Spills and stains? They vanish before you can say, ‘Oops.’ The idea of a cloth for protection seems, well, quaint.”
Polly’s laughter joined his. “Quaint? Wait till you see me drop something on this dress. Then we’ll see how quaint it is.”
Genuine happiness overcame Erzo for the first time in a long while, causing him to smile. “Does dining on Earth come with such surprises that one drops things upon themselves?”
“Oh, you’d be surprised. Earth food is kind of like us, I guess. Unpredictable and a little messy,” Polly said, her eyes twinkling.
He nodded, a warmth spreading in his chest. “And yet, here we are, navigating our way through the unknown.”
She looked down at her drink like it was suddenly the most exciting thing in the universe and took a sip. But then she became fascinated by the wrap packets that were brought to their table, likening them to Earth’s ‘sandwiches.’
“This one tastes a lot like chicken,” Polly commented, examining one of the wraps.
Her delight in discovering something that tasted like chicken—a term he filed away for future reference—was infectious. “It tastes okay.”
Polly laughed, her amusement easing the tension. “I like the spice on this one,” she said, gesturing to the brown packet that had a creamy spiced dressing around the proteins inside.
“Do you have these packets on your planet?” Erzo asked, pointing at the food on their table.
“Kind of,” Polly replied with a smirk. “We have sandwiches. They’re like your packets, but imagine if your packet had a fear of commitment and didn’t close all the way.”
Erzo raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t everything just fall out?”
Polly laughed. “Exactly! It’s like culinary roulette every time you take a bite. You never know what’s going to tumble out first.”
Erzo grinned, imagining the scenario. “I suppose I could always offer my tail as an emergency clean-up tool. It’s quite adept at catching falling objects. Consider it your personal spill prevention system.”
As she reached for the next wrap, her fingers brushed against his, sending a jolt of electricity through him. It was a simple touch, but in that moment, Erzo realized the depth of his attraction to Polly. She was more than a partner in a temporary arrangement—she was becoming a vital part of his universe. One spicy, unpredictable moment at a time.
She tasted the packet cautiously. “Whoa, this one’s spicier than my aunt’s salsa dance at family reunions! You’ll really like this,” Polly said as she reached for her drink.
Erzo tried the same packet, surprised by the sudden burst of heat. “That’s quite the kick,” he managed, coughing a little.
“Spicy like our first kiss, huh?” Polly teased, winking at him.
Erzo chuckled, the tension easing. “Indeed. But unlike Earth sandwiches, I assure you, nothing in our arrangement will fall apart unexpectedly. I’m all about keeping things together.”
Polly raised an eyebrow, still grinning. “Promises, promises, big guy. Let’s hope our fake relationship is less messy.”
Erzo nodded, joining in the banter. “Absolutely. And should anything fall apart, I’ll be there. Or at least attempt to clean up the mess.”
Polly’s laughter filled the space between them, making the moment lighter and more genuine. She was drinking her milk and just about finished it. “Well, that’s a relief. I’ll remember that next time things get a little too spicy!”
When their server returned, her hands trembled as she placed the drinks down, and Erzo sensed an undercurrent of something more. He looked at Polly, wondering if she felt it, too.
“Don’t drink that,” Erzo’s sharp tone halted Polly’s hand mid-air.
Polly looked at him, puzzled. “Why not? It’s the same milk I’ve been drinking.”
