Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Actually, now that I think about it, I’ve never gone to visit the ship, either.
That makes me pause. I wipe my hands on a nearby towel and lean against the counter as Ruth-Ann emerges from the shower. She stays here with me every night, and I sometimes drop by the cantina when they’re busy to see if they need help. Ruth-Ann always shoos me away and says it’s because I’ve already worked a full day. That she doesn’t want me to tire myself out.
But…what if it’s something else?
Ruth-Ann yawns and gives me a sleepy smile, heading to my bedroom. I follow after her, pulling a fresh set of clothing out for myself while she dresses. “What’s the plan today?” I ask casually. “You working until close again?”
“For now,” she agrees. “Once we get a good idea of how much we’re going to bring in regularly, we can determine wages and how much help we can hire. We’re being a little extra cautious at the moment because I don’t want us to hire someone just to let them go again if things slow down. That seems unfair.”
“You want me to come by and help out after work? You know I don’t mind.”
She steps into her one-piece jumper with the SUNRISE CANTINA logo on it and taps the auto-fastener. It zooms up her body, zipping and molding the clothing to her form. “You’ve got tons to do for your cart. It’s not necessary.”
“Just thought I’d offer,” I say casually. “You ever going to take a day off? I wouldn’t mind seeing your quarters back on the ship.”
“They’re nothing special.” She pulls out a pair of socks and lifts a foot to put one on. “Just a bed and a trunk with clothes. I used to share quarters with Ruthie, but she moved in with Kaz.”
“I’d still like to see where you live.” I can’t decide if she’s being classic Ruth-Ann and demurring or if she truly doesn’t want me on board the ship.
She puts on her other sock and then bends down to scratch Pluto’s jowls, just the way he likes. The heavy carinoux pushes against her, and I realize he’s going to be bigger than her soon. Her wet hair clings to her scalp, and between that and the carinoux, she looks like a waif lost in a thunderstorm. “I practically live right here with you.”
I chuckle at that, because it’s true, and dismiss my prickles of concern. I’m just being paranoid. There’s no reason to hide a relationship, not on this end of the universe. No one cares if we’re lesbians.
…do they?
We pack up for the morning, discussing the weather and the new recipe that’s been a huge hit. It's smaller versions of the popular cake, with a sandwich filling of the honey-cheese icing, and I swear I want to eat them all myself, they’re so good. I carefully bag up the prank cookies separately and then wheel my laden cart out to the street while Ruth-Ann carries the enormous cantina sheet cake in her arms. Pluto walks between us, as he always does. It’s like he’s trying to protect us both, which is sweet.
Once my cart is on site in my usual location, Ruth-Ann lifts her face for a kiss. “See you later?”
“I can help you carry that,” I offer after we kiss. “No one will steal from the cart if I leave it unattended for a moment.”
“Not necessary,” she says, and bends down slightly to address Pluto. “Be a good boy for your mom.”
Then she walks away.
Seeing her leave pricks my doubts all over again. I call after her. “Are you hiding us?”
That makes her pause. She turns around, hefting the heavy cake in her arms, and frowns at me. “Simone, this thing is getting heavier by the moment. I need to go—but tell me what you mean. Hiding what?”
“Us.” I gesture at myself, then at her. “You and me.”
She makes a face. “Seriously? That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it? You don’t want me to come back to the ship to see your room. You don’t want me to come work at the cantina. Is it because we’re both women and your sisters are with men?”
Laughter bubbles out of her, and Ruth-Ann’s face is incredulous. “What? No. Don’t be silly.”
I cross my arms. “Then what else is it? What’s the big deal?”
“There’s no big deal—”
“So why not let me help if you guys are so shorthanded? Why not let me visit your quarters on the ship if there’s nothing to see? Just to humor me?”
Her expression turns cagey, and my heart sinks. It’s not just my imagination, then. There’s something going on and she’s deliberately avoiding bringing me around. She glances down at the cantina, then back at me. “Can we talk about this later?”
“Maybe there shouldn’t be a later.”
She flinches. “I don’t want that—”