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Dace laughs. He ignores my hand and, bracing his palms against the rocky edge, pushes his body up and onto the shore. “Freaked you out, did I?” He shakes his head and droplets spray in every direction.

“Gee, thanks.” I wipe the water from my face.

“Did you see what the Selk did?” Dace grabs his equipment pouch and fishes out his data recorder. “They saved me, without hesitation.”

“I saw.” I twitch my lips as Dace starts entering data. “It was pretty awesome.”

“Yeah, it was.” Dace glances over at me. “Were you going to jump in to rescue me?” He gestures toward my dangling feet.

“Considered it.” I pull my knees up to my chest. “You’re my ticket off Eco, don’t forget.”

“I think maybe you’d do it anyway.”

“Maybe. Now, lean over here so I can examine your head. Although,” I part his thick hair with my fingers and feel for any bumps, “it is pretty hard. Probably take more than a lake bottom to crack it.”

“Hey.” Dace winces as I touch a spot near the base of his skull. “Hard heads are actually pretty useful.”

“That’s what I tell my parents and grandparents. They don’t find it amusing either.”

Dace lifts his head and my hands fall away. The smile on his face transforms into a very different expression. “You know that thing I said earlier? About not wanting a girlfriend?”

“Hmmm,” I murmur, staring into his dark eyes.

“I may have lied.”

“You? Hard to believe.” I consider sliding back to remove myself from the temptation of his rather luscious lips.

“Honestly, I would love to find a girlfriend. The thing is, when I was younger I spent so much time studying and working to pay for my scientific equipment, I never had time to hang out with anyone, much less girls. So I’m sort of … behind where people might expect me to be at my age.”

“You mean inexperienced.”

“Yeah.” Dace sighs. “I just worry I’ll kiss a girl and she’ll think I’m a total idiot. Like, I’ll do it all wrong, and she’ll never want to see me again.”

I choke back a bubble of laughter. “Don’t think it would be that drastic, but yeah, could be awkward. So, you want to give it shot and see how you do? I mean, I assume that’s what you’re asking.”

Dace ducks his head. “If you don’t mind. I thought you’d be okay with it, since you did kiss me first.”

“To shut you up. But sure, give it a try.” I concentrate on maintaining a neutral expression.

Dace glances up at me. “You probably think I’m crazy, but you seem so independent, and you already have a boyfriend, and I—well, I just want to avoid complications.” He scoots closer to me. “Since I have a plan for my life.”

“I have a plan too.” It occurs to me that if Connor Patel does honor his word, I will be spending a great deal of time on a crowded spacecraft with Dacian Keeling.

“That’s the thing. You’re different than most girls I know.” He lifts one hand, examining his fingers for a moment before touching my face. “They always seem to want forever right away. Don’t think you’d be like that, somehow.”

“Not sure I’m good with now, much less forever,” I reply, as Dace leans in and searches for my lips.

It’s a clumsy attempt—so unlike Raid’s smooth, practiced approach. I place one hand behind Dace’s head to help guide his effort.

After a few moments Dace sits back on his heels and stares at me.

“Okay?”

“Not bad.” I smile. “Just need practice to perfect your technique.”

Dace smiles in return, but there’s a shadow in his eyes. “I promise not to ask you again. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t a total loss. Now that I know I’m not, I can think about trying it on some other girls. I mean, kissing you is nice, but I don’t want to come between you and your boyfriend. I really hate that shit.”

“Never fear.” I lean in and give Dace a swift peck on the cheek. “I’m not into the drama. What’s a kiss between friends, anyway?”

“So we’re friends?

“I guess so.” I tap him on the chest, over his heart. “Seems to be the right word.”

“I like that word.” The color highlighting Dace’s cheeks betrays his embarrassment, but I have no intention of mentioning it.

“It’s really the best thing, don’t you think?” I press my hands against the ground and push myself into a crouch then rise to my feet. “I know it’s early, but maybe we should head back? It wouldn’t hurt you to rest a bit. You have a definite knot on your head.”

“Alright.” Dace stares at the hand I’ve offered him. “I can spend the afternoon analyzing my data. As long as we can come back tomorrow.”

“We can, as long as you don’t plan to tumble into the lake again.”

Dace takes my hand and grips it tightly as I pull him to his feet. “No, I plan to jump in, quite deliberately. Dressed for swimming, and with a waterproof pouch to hold my equipment.” He faces me, his gaze unwavering. “I’m going under that wall to explore the next cavern, Ann. With you or without you.”

I gaze down my nose at him, hoping to replicate my grandmother’s intimidating glare. “I’d better review my holo swim lessons then. ’Cause you sure as hell aren’t going without me.”

“Don’t worry,” Dace throws his arm about my shoulders as we move toward the inclined pathway that leads out of the cavern. “I’ll keep you afloat.”

Arriving back at the compound, I suggest Dace sneak onto the Augusta Ada and change clothes before doing anything else. “Don’t want people asking questions. You’ve mostly dried off, but your jeans are still damp.”

“Good point.” Dace throws his arm over my shoulders and offers me a quick hug before heading off. “Thanks, Ann, for everything. Same time tomorrow?”

“Sure. And no thanks needed. Just be on time and ready to go.”

Dace grins and sketches a mock salute. “At your command, fearless leader.”

I wave him away. “Idiot.” But I don’t try to hide my smile.

“Thanks for everything?” Raid’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “What’s this ‘everything’?”

I turn to face him, freezing the smile on my face as I wonder how much he overheard. “He’s just grateful I’m escorting him about. Showing him where to find all the little plants and animals.”

“Really?” Raid’s eyebrows disappear under his long bangs. “Thought maybe you were sharing more personal discoveries.”

“Now, Raid,” I conjure my most charming smile, “don’t be silly. That kiss in the game room? Nothing but a friendly wager with Emie. She bet me he’d completely flip out.”

“Emie wasn’t in the room.” With his arms crossed over his chest, Raid doesn’t look amused.

“I know.” I add a little pout. “She won’t pay up, either, ’cause she says she didn’t see anything. But I won, fair and square.”

Raid examines me, his stern expression softening. “I can vouch for you, if it comes to that. Didn’t look like Dace was too upset.” He drops his arms to his sides.

“Nope. So Emie’s conclusion was way off.” Dace’s kiss in the cavern slips into my mind. “She claims he’s a total innocent, but I don’t think so.”

Raid strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. “Rather cruel, wasn’t it? That bet? The poor slob might get the idea you really like him.”

“I do like him. Oh, don’t make that face. As a friend. He’s pretty cool, all in all. You’d like him too, if you’d give him a chance.” I lay my head on Raid’s shoulder.

“Maybe, but by now he’s probably terrified I’ll punch him.” Raid wraps his arms about me and brushes a kiss across my temple. “A bet? Really, Ann. Poor guy. Why didn’t you tell me this last night?”

Because I hadn’t thought of it yet. I adjust my smile. “You stormed out so fast, I didn’t have a chance. And before I could track you down I had to locate Emie. Who made an early night of it—I found her in her family quarters. Then we started talking … ”

“That explains it. You two talking—probably took all night.”

“Not quite. But it was late.” I allow my body to sink into the warmth of Raid’s embrace. Beneath my ear, his heartbeat thumps a steady, reassuring rhythm. “Mmm, you smell nice.”

“Flirt. Poor Dace. Poor, poor, Dace.” After a moment Raid takes hold of my elbows and forces me to walk backwards until we’re standing under the metal overhang of the living quarters’ roof.

“What’s all this?” I slip out of his hands and bend over to shake the dust from the hem of my jeans.

Raid’s fingers light back on my wrist. “Listen, Ann, I know your dream is to leave Eco. But could you consider waiting for a year or two?”

I straighten and tilt my chin to look up into his face. Lacing my words with a teasing tone, I tap his chest with my forefinger and say, “So you can fool around with me for a few more years? Or, at least, until the under-fifteens reach the proper age for seduction?”

Raid doesn’t offer his usual slow smile. His dark eyes are shadowed beneath lowered eyelids. It’s almost as if he’s embarrassed, which is impossible. Raiden Lin, acting nervous in front of a girl? Ridiculous. I stare into his face, trying to decipher the meaning behind his serious expression.

His fingers encircle my left wrist. “So I can figure out how to acquire enough credits to get off this planet.” He lifts my hand to his lips. “So we can fulfill that goal together, Ann.”

I stare at him, my eyes widening. “What?”

“I have dreams too, you know.”

“You never said.”

Raid kisses each fingertip on my captured hand before answering. “You never asked.” He tilts his head to study my face. “I guess maybe seeing you kiss someone else, I realized how things could change. How I could wake up one day, and you wouldn’t be in my life. How we never talk about the future. Or any important stuff, really.”

I don’t want to discuss this. Not now—not when looking at him just makes me wonder if he carries the same genetic anomaly as I do. Not when I’m about to hide that fact and leave Eco. “Well, this is a shocker. Raiden Lin, serious as death, planning a future with me. Who’d have thought?”

“You should have.” Raid presses a kiss into my palm and releases my hand. “But I’ll make allowances, since I haven’t really been open with you. And I’m sorry about that, Ann. I thought I had all the time in the universe. Last night I realized I was wrong.”

I lower my head, embarrassed to meet the honesty in his eyes. Raid, confessing his love for me—it’s spun my thoughts about like a sandstorm. It’s not something I’m prepared to handle. Not today.

“Raid, I don’t know what to say.” I take a few steps back and bang into the side of the building. “This is something I’m going to have to think about for a while.” I finally steel myself to meet his gaze. “We’re still young. I don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow, much less years from now. And I never want to make promises I can’t keep.”

“I know.” All the usual bravado has fled Raid’s handsome face, replaced by something I’ve never seen before—pure, naked emotion. Desire, but not just that. Something more. “But as I told you, I have dreams too. And they all include you. So … just keep that in mind, would you? That’s all I ask.”

“Sure, I can do that.” I curse my cheery tone.
Sure
, I tell him, knowing I plan to abandon him in a week or so. With no goodbye, because of course now there can’t be any proper goodbye.

“All I ask.” A warm smile illuminates Raid’s face.

Maldición. Once a chicken-shit, always a chicken-shit. I smile and turn toward the building door as if nothing’s wrong. As if I have no intention of ripping out his heart and tossing it into the trailing flames of the Ada as she, and I, rise off Eco.

“Catch you later,” he calls after me.

I duck into the living quarters, mentally planning a day that doesn’t involve running into Raid again.

***

As I make my way down the hall, I consider my options. I suppose I can simply hole up in my bedroom and read. Or ask Emie to stop by after work and have another talk. Maybe even drop a hint about my plans. I’m beginning to feel I should prepare her somehow.

I stop short as I reach the entrance to my family quarters. Loud voices roll out from under the door. I can’t understand the words, but there’s no mistaking the speakers—my mother, father, and grandparents. One less familiar voice breaks through, identifiable by its deep resonance and accent. I can’t imagine what Captain Connor Patel is doing in my family quarters at this hour, but it doesn’t sound like a friendly visit.

Plastering a smile on my face, I throw open the door and saunter into the living area.

“So you think we should dismantle perfectly good equipment to build some sort of drill?” My grandfather’s sitting at the dining table, his back not touching the chair. His black eyes are focused on my mother, who’s perched on the edge of the table.

“Yes, Zolin. As I said, this mineral Dacian found is worth the risk. Could make all our fortunes.” Mom swings her legs like a child as she faces down the people on the other side of the table.

It’s easy to see how the lines are drawn. My grandfather is flanked by my father and grandmother. Connor Patel stands near my mother, close enough to touch her, although he’s judiciously clasped his hands behind his back.

“Hello,” I say, moving to the middle of the room.

“Ann.” My mother slides off the table and hurries over to me. “Come and join us. What we’re discussing affects you as much as anyone.”