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Lochdon is waiting for me, just like he said he would be.

This time, I do run to him.

I feel silly… Like a schoolgirl with a crush, but honestly, I don’t care.

I especially don’t care when he scoops me up into a hug and kisses me all over again.

Even if it’s just so we can talk again, I relish that kiss, knowing I won’t get to see him again for another few weeks.

“I asked the bot on the way out where we could go for coffee. They suggested a cafe that doesn’t have a name. One of the other humans who works here gets something called cappuccinos there?”

“That is definitely coffee. Will they have something for you?”

“I have been told yes.”

He holds my hand as we walk through the station and I let my eyes wander around the various shops and stalls and business entrances.

Feather’s right. I should have explored more.

When we reach the unnamed Cafe—There is no signage, just people seated at tables merrily eating and chatting as they sip various beverages—I see Cherry with a group of other aliens and I smile at her, but I don’t wave.

I don’t say “hi”…

I don’t know if the others in her circle know what she does and I don’t plan on outing her if they don’t.

But it does answer the question of which of my coworkers gets cappuccinos here.

A little alien asks if we know what we want and I ask for a latte, assuming it’s on the menu while Lochdon asks for something that doesn’t translate. The alien throws a slack-fingered hand toward the tables and tells us to sit wherever we’d like.

Lochdon leads me to one of the tables, but he doesn’t sit across from me this time.

Scooting into the bench seat with me, he wraps two arms around me, holding me close while we wait for our drinks.

“Did Tillie recover from her honeymoon sunburn?” he asks and I have to laugh at the memory of explaining both honeymoons and sunburns to him.

My sister had the time of her life in Jamaica and then paid the price of forgetting to reapply her sunscreen on the final day.

The return flight sounded like hell.

“She is still a flakey mess.”

He laughs and brushes his fingers along the back of my hand. “Do not burn your skin, as a favor to me.”

“I promise I won’t.”

The waiter brings our drinks, and I thank them, but when they step away, I flinch.

Lochdon follows my gaze and he also scowls at the sight of Terjen.

“He wasn’t supposed to be here.” Lochdon says with something that sounds like suspicion, but I can’t be sure.

But he has, unfortunately seen us and is headed our way.

“I wish he wasn’t.” I sigh, despite not wanting to let him make me feel any sort of way. “He really kills my mood.”

“Lochdon,” Terjen says before his gaze slides to me. “And Peach… what an interesting repeat performance.”

I tense at the last word and hope that he wasn’t on the other side of that wall.

“So this is why you spend more time on MiNo than you do at home anymore.”He laughs and his gaze traces over me. “I’ll be sure to tell your mother you’ve got a piece of alien ass that’s more important to you than the clan.”

I sip at my coffee to hide any expression I might make.

I don’t trust him. I can’t put a finger on why, but I don’t.

Lochdon says, “She already knows.”

That wipes the smile from Terjen’s face and he glances at me as though he doesn’t really want to look at me.

“That’s almost as illuminating as her skin.”

I knew he could see the marks from where Lochdon has touched me, but I don’t like knowing he’s looking at them.

“We have plans that I can’t invite you to join.” Lochdon says and the diplomacy of it makes me inwardly cringe.

I want to say, “Go away, creep.”

Taking another sip of my coffee instead, I wait for them to exchange their goodbyes and then set my cup down.

Lochdon’s hand goes to my shoulder massaging at the tensed muscles and I force my shoulders down.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was on station.”

That reminds me. “You don’t live here?”

“I don’t really live anywhere. I stay in a hotel while I’m here, single members of the clan have joint housing, so I stay there if I go home, but the majority of my time is spent in bunks on whatever ship I’m sent out on.”

“Oh.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No… I just forget that we’ve only spent a few weeks talking and the few times in the booth.” My smile twists and I feel so sheepish. “It feels like I should know you better than I do.”

Dipping his head down, he brushes my lower lip with one of his thumbs. “I will try to think of everything you might want or need to know about me and tell you every little thing. If you ask me, I will tell you. No matter what it is.”

“I’ll try to do the same.”

“Would it be okay to call you at other times during this trip?”

“What do you mean?”

“I called you before bed because I thought it was all I was allowed.”

“You can call me whenever you want.”

He chuckles and kisses me. “You may come to regret that offer.”

“I don’t think I will.”