18. Bikar
BIKAR
Having the fast-breaking meal with my mate and her friend was an eye-opening experience.
The two females have many similar personality traits when they are together, but react completely differently in the presence of males.
It is obvious they have grown extremely close, and for that I am glad.
It is good that Bambi has a friend so dear to her after all she has been through.
Secretly, I think Heather is the real reason my mate is giving me a chance to woo her, though I am certain the sharp-tongued female would never admit to such a thing.
For that, I will always treat her with the utmost respect.
In hindsight, I am glad I did not follow through with trying to separate my mate from her friend.
I also did not realize there was such diversity to a human’s diet until Heather prodded me into adding everything she firmly suggested to the replicator catalogue.
Not that I was going to deny her requests.
Though she is much smaller than me, I have no doubt she would follow through with her threats of bodily harm.
My calculations determined she would be wildly successful at making me suffer.
The growl she let out when I handed her the Starbucks she wanted made my dorsal spines rattle.
Even though she keeps threatening me with gratuitous violence, I am fairly certain it is how she shows affection.
Heather further instructed me on an iced coffee beverage with something called cold brew in it, which she assured me my mate would adore.
Watching Bambi’s eyes widen in pleasure at her first tentative sip made my chest swell with pride.
It solidifies what my brain quantified earlier: Heather is to be kept content, as she is a valuable ally in the campaign to woo my Starshine.
Watching Bambi savor the first meal of the rotation, along with her fancy coffee, fills me with primal satisfaction.
I finally did something correct.
After the females finish their food, I reach for their plates despite their insistence that I do not have to clean up after them, and take the residue back to the replicator.
Resuming my seat next to my mate, I voice the question that has plagued me for most of the meal while they chattered happily back and forth.
“What do you and the other humans do for entertainment?”
Bambi and Heather pause mid-conversation.
Clarifying, I continue. “I know that Rowan, Ruby, and Gwen have tablets they are using to learn more about their new world, but I do not know what either of you have access to for entertainment purposes. I have not seen you with a data pad or tablet to date.”
They look at each other before my mate shrugs.
“Gwen’s let us borrow her tablet a couple of times, but other than that, not much.
” Bambi waves over at Heather. “Neither of us knew Rowan and Ruby well enough at the time to ask favors, so we didn’t bug them about getting tablets of our own.
It seemed a little ungracious to ask for extras after all the work y’all did to save our lives. ”
Bambi falls silent, and Heather somberly picks up where she left off. “Bikar, we were still mostly in survival mode the entire time we were on the Zenith. Our minds weren’t worried about anything other than healing, resting, and acclimating.”
My brows crease in a frown as I consider that my mate and her bestie did not feel comfortable enough to ask for something as simple as a tablet. “What about when we arrived at Deapra? Surely, by then, you knew we would not deny your request for something like a personal tablet.”
“There was always something to do on Deapra. Shagar’s insistence on not being reliant on the inventory in the plunderdome on the Zenith meant we all stayed pretty busy.” Understanding registers at Bambi’s words.
“Here on this shuttle is the first instance since you awakened with the Jega that you have had leisure time? Is that what I understand you both to say?”
Nodding in unison, both females silently answer my query. Making a quick decision, I push my chair back and jump to my feet. “I will remedy this situation at once.”
Offering my mate a lascivious leer designed to make her laugh, I am rewarded with the sweet sound of her giggle at my absurdity, even if she also rolls her eyes in exasperation. Inclining my head in farewell to Heather, I turn on my heel and wordlessly stalk away.
BAMBI
Staring at Bikar as he marches out of the dining hall, I turn back around to see Heather waiting for me to acknowledge her existence. “Well…” Her expression is quite pleased.
Trying desperately not to be defensive, I tug at the ends of my shirt sleeves, needing something to do with my hands so I don’t fidget. “Well, what, Heather?”
Tsking at me, she reaches over and smacks my arm.
“You damn well know what. You watched him walk out of here the way the main female role in a Hallmark movie longingly watches her love interest from across the room. Spill the tea, sis. I need to hear all about your date and why you were fire engine red when you got here this morning.”
“Oh… that…”
“Yes, that. Now spill it!”
“Imayormaynothavekissedhimlastnight.”
Freezing in place, she tips her head to the side, glaring at me in exasperation. “Try again, because you know I didn’t understand a bit of that word vomit you just spewed all over me.”
Forcing myself to slow down, I repeat what I said. “I may or may not have kissed him last night.”
Heather’s exuberant shriek causes the Ruks lingering in the dining hall to look our direction, and I have to force myself not to hide under the table.
“Sheesh, Heather. Would you stop making us the center of attention?” I mutter.
Waving one of her elegant, long-fingered hands, she dismisses my timidity. “They have no clue what we’re talking about; it’s fine. Tell me more about this kiss. Was it good? Did you use tongue? How long did it last?”
“Heather!”
“What?” Her indignant tone makes me glare.
“Do we really have to talk about this?”
Her eyes blink slowly as comprehension develops, and sympathy fills her face.
“Yes, honey. We do. You’re not comfortable enough with Bikar to discuss stuff like this with him yet, so you need to talk out your feelings with me.
Communication is key to all successful relationships.
Eventually, you’ll be able to talk about all of this with him, but until then, you’re going to practice having the tough conversations with me. ”
Frowning in frustration, I cross my arms over my chest. “You know I hate it when you make sense.”
Smiling, she grabs my empty coffee cup. “I know. Now, let’s get us a fresh coffee and then dive into the nitty-gritty.”
“Yay…”
My lack of enthusiasm is apparent. But Heather just laughs at my pain like a true best friend while making our drinks.
“I think it was good,” I tell her. “And no, I did not use tongue, and… not long. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Honestly, I’m not really sure why I kissed him, and I’m pretty sure Bikar was even more shocked than me.”
Setting my cup in front of me, she resumes her seat. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with any of that. I think you’ve made some damned good progress considering you were terrified of him a couple days ago. I’m going to guess the date went well if you were comfortable enough to initiate a kiss.”
Smiling, I nod and tell her everything about last night.
The flowers.
That he researched what to prepare for our meal.
My freak out.
His patience with me.
Surprise ice cream.
And most of all, how he listened to everything I said like it was the meaning of life itself.