Chapter 10
KITTINIR
“So, when exactly were you going to tell me that you’d been recalled to the ship?”
I winced at Carl’s disappointed tone and expression. He tapped his chin.
“If only there had been the perfect time to do it before you took off into outer space! Such as, oh, I don’t know, when we Facetimed at your hotel room the night before?
Or, right before you checked out in the morning?
Just a text, even. But nooooo, I had to hear it from Cecil.
Cecil! Your TA knew before I did, and I’m supposed to be your best friend.
” His lower lip slid out in an exaggerated pout.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you, but first I didn’t want to spoil the birthday evening any more than it was without me being there in person with you,” I began.
“Awww,” he cooed. “That’s sweet, so I’ll give you a pass for that night. But there was the next morning!”
“And I should have then, I agree.” I sighed.
“I wasn’t certain how to tell you. I kept hoping that they’d tell me never mind, as not all of us are being recalled, so perhaps they’d decide they didn’t actually need me.
Then I got swept up, letting my landlord know and packing my things up, and time sort of slid away from me. ”
”Rather like how your bowling ball slides off the lane and into the gutter,” he teased. “You know the guys are all certain that this is merely an attempt by you to avoid learning to bowl properly so you don’t join the league.”
“Well, it is pretty far for me to go now just to go bowling,” I joked back.
“Mmhmm,” he replied, sounding as sarcastic as possible.
“So, what is it exactly you are doing now? Or is it hush-hush? “ He waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve heard all the public announcement stuff about joint Dragonii-Mylos this and that. I need details.”
I shrugged. “I’m not certain exactly. I’m supposed to meet with my Dragonii counterpart tomorrow.
He arrives later today with the rest of their delegation, so we will be attending a formal dinner tonight to mark the start of our joint venture.
Hopefully, between tonight and tomorrow, things will become clearer, and we’ll be able to get started.
The sooner we do, and I can return to my students, the better.
” Carl shook his head, a look of genuine sadness crossing his face.
“I dunno. Somehow, I get the feeling you won’t be back.
That the distance class you’ll do for the short remainder of this term will be the last. You’ll create this new program and be working within it to make sure it succeeds. ”
”But Rivinder has been a partner in our exchange program almost from its inception,” I argued.
”And it might still be, but with you up there as an administrator rather than a professor.”
Fuck. He was probably right. By making me one of the architects of the new program, they’d all but guaranteed it. How had I missed seeing it?
Carl sighed. “Just let me know when you have a free weekend, and we can arrange for me to come up to see you. I can catch a ride on a supply shuttle, surely.”
”I’ll ask about that,” I promised. “I’ll point out that you’d be a valuable consultant too.”
“Gee, thanks. Maybe they’ll move me up there, too. If they do, they’d better let me bring Lulubelle and Francine.”
“I’m sure they’d let you move your cacti,” I replied dryly. “After going through decontamination.”
“Good. I’ve had them since I was in grad school. I can’t abandon them now.”
He really was ridiculous. It was part of the reason why I liked him so much, though. He brightened a room instantly. I really hoped they’d let him ride a shuttle up, as I was already missing my friend terribly.
“Alright,” Carl paused to clear his throat noisily. “I hate to break up our little chat, but I have a faculty meeting I’ve got to go to myself, and papers to grade. Talk to you later.”
“Later,” I agreed. I stared at the space where his face had been for a few moments after the call ended and the screen reverted back to wall.
I scrubbed a hand down my face, looking around at my new quarters.
I still had boxes to unpack, having declined the assistance of the males who’d brought me my belongings from the shuttle bay, beyond placing the pieces of furniture and carrying in the boxes.
I stood up. “Best get started,” I muttered.
Something told me that if I didn’t get it done today, I’d be living out of boxes for weeks.
I couldn’t be dealing with that stress on top of everything else.
I really had a hard time dealing with unknown quantities and this business with crafting a new course framework and whatnot was most definitely that.
Hopefully, tomorrow’s meeting would yield more answers and the Dragonii would prove easy to work with.
Despite Carl’s pessimism, I really did hold out hope that once this wrapped up, I could return to Rivinder.
I’d carved out a place for myself there and enjoyed the work I was doing.
I even had taken a shine to those awkward bowling lessons and found myself looking forward to watching those odd vids Carl was constantly scheduling us to watch.
Carl himself was a fixture in my life that I knew I was going to miss, even if we could work out shuttle rides for him.
Those visits would be around both our schedules and I knew eventually, he’d find another friend to fill up his spare time with, probably one who already knew all those vids he so loved and who was great at bowling and joined the team.
They’d be so great, they’d beat all the other departments and local teams, bringing home the league trophy.
I swallowed hard as I looked at the book I’d just taken out of the box.
It was a cookbook for kids, one his mother had given him as a child.
He’d gifted it to me when he discovered I was used to eating out or replicating food.
He’d written These are so easy a child could do these, even if the child was me.
As a grown up Mylos, I’m sure you can too. With much affection, Carl.
I opened the cover, tracing my hands over those words now.
I had indeed mastered the recipes within - the layered Jello-o dessert, the fudge brownies, the octopus shaped hot dogs, the homemade beef burgers grilled under the oven broiler, and all the rest. I regularly made the cheesy popcorn and the caramel and peanut popcorn when it was my turn to host Movie Night.
I sat down, my throat constricting, suddenly feeling oddly bereft.