Page 65 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space

“I’ll probably do what I’ve done all summer. Doctor Brown has been helping them when I’ve been unavailable, and I’ve been teleconferencing with them weekly or more if necessary.”

“I’d prefer you to have more regular contact with them if possible. But given the circumstances…” his eyes shifted to Eashai.

“Understood. I’ll see what I can do.”

He turned back to me and gave me another nod. “Let us know when you are ready to discuss options for the spring semester.”

“Will do.”

He turned to Eashai. “It was… ummm… it was nice to meet you…” There was a pause. “Apologies, I forgot your name.”

My gorgeous mate laughed. “I am Eashai.”

“Thank you. I may struggle with names, but I know that the rest of our meeting has been memorable.”

Floyd snickered from where he waited with the general by the door.

“Eashai,” Bob said, sticking out his hand. “I hope I get to see you again as we figure out what needs to happen to get Gene safely to and from my land.”

Eashai smiled. “I can make no promises. We have agreed to some terms that limit our movement; however, that might need to be adjusted temporarily.”

Bob laughed. “I should expect so.”

Both he and the dean then headed toward the door.

“Gentlemen,” Floyd said. “If you’ll follow us, we’ll return to the administration building.”

He then paused in the doorway and turned to us. “And you two. Go enjoy the rest of your fucking honeymoon.” A pause. “Or the rest of your honeymoon fucking. Either way, I don’t want to see you in this building again until tomorrow. Is that clear?”

“Uh, ok,” I replied.

Eashai laughed. “We will do that.”

Floyd gave a long sigh, then followed the others out.

Eashai and I looked at each other, then it was like a weight was lifted. I closed the distance and slumped against him.

“Gene?” he asked softly.

“Did that really just happen?” I murmured. “Do I get to have everything?”

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my temple. “That was my impression.”

My breath caught in my throat as my emotions couldn’t decide whether to cry with relief or shout with joy.

In the end, my warring feelings left me trembling in his arms for several minutes.

I didn’t have to leave the job I loved in order to have a life with my mate.

Eventually, my emotions settled again, and I took a moment to simply enjoy how he’d held me when he knew I needed it.

“We should go before Floyd returns,” he murmured. “We did assure him that we would not be in this building until tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Ok.”

“What would you like to do with the rest of our… honeymoon?” he asked, his inflection indicating that he was unsure about using the word ‘honeymoon.’

I chuckled against him. “Option B sounds nice?”