Page 119 of Commander’s Mate

“What did you wear before the war?”

“The same.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Zared.”

He sighed.

“There was a red formal coat.”

I stared.

“Red?”

“Yes.”

“You owned a red coat?”

“It was traditional.”

“Was it dramatic?”

“No.”

“Was there embroidery?”

Silence.

I gasped.

“There was embroidery.”

“Minimal.”

“What color?”

“Gold.”

I nearly fell out of the chair.

“You owned a red-and-gold embroidered alien commander coat.”

“It was not an alien coat.”

“On Earth, extremely alien.”

“You are intolerable.”

“You love me.”

The words came out before I thought.

Silence.

My entire body froze.