Chapter 28 #2
This time, when he tugs at me, I let my hands fall.
I don’t know how I look, but I’m certain it isn’t good.
Banjo smiles at me regardless. “There you are.” He’s kneeling in front of me between my spread legs.
Right where he belongs. The emotion I had managed to swallow down comes right back up again.
I take in a sharp breath, unable to help myself.
Banjo doesn’t say anything. He just pulls me down into his lap and cradles me against his chest. I immediately melt into his touch, burying my face against his neck. One corner of my hat bumps against his cheek, and he lets out a broken little laugh.
“Mind if I get this outta our way?” Banjo asks. I shake my head, and the hat soon goes clattering to the floor. I don’t care. I’d give up anything for more moments like this.
For the first time in over two days, everything is quiet.
There’s nothing but the sound of our breathing and the accelerated beats of our hearts.
It’s too quiet, in a way that’s almost suffocating, at least until Banjo starts humming.
The humming gets louder, eventually transforming into words.
I cling to him as he sings. The melody sounds familiar, but the translator slaughters the lyrics.
I don’t care. It doesn’t matter what he’s saying, exactly. All that matters is that he’s here.
For now, my mind whispers, and it takes everything in me not to sob.
Banjo reaches the end of the song, the last line echoing around the cockpit before slowly fading away.
Everything goes back to being quiet. That’s when I realize Remington isn’t banging on the door anymore.
It’s enough to get me to lift my head and look in that direction. Banjo follows my gaze and sighs.
“I talked to ‘im,” he admits, his hand trailing absently up and down my back. I revel in the soft, familiar touch. It might have only been two days, but it’s still been far too long. I need him. I need this.
When I don’t say anything in response, Banjo continues. “We have to take ‘im back, Tav. He’s in love.”
Every part of me collapses in on myself.
I knew it. I knew this was going to happen.
Why did this have to be the one time the human is happy with their placement?
So many humans successfully delivered back to Earth.
I have a perfect track record. Or, I suppose I should say, I had a perfect track record.
“This is why I didn’t want to talk to him,” I mutter, letting my cheek rest against Banjo’s chest. I don’t look at him. I can’t.
“Because you knew he’d wanna stay?” Banjo asks. His fingers have worked their way up to toy with my hair. I barely feel it. My body has gone completely numb. Banjo is going to leave. He has to leave. He doesn’t have any other choice, and there’s nothing I can do to help him.
No. I refuse to give up so easily. Just because Remington wants to go back to Dhamoirs doesn’t mean I have to take him. He might be in love, but so am I. Why should his love life be more important than mine?
“We’re not taking him back to Dhamoirs.”
The hand in my hair stills. “What? Why not?” Banjo asks. “We ain’t just gon’ take ‘im back to Earth against his will, Tav.”
I pull back, forcing myself to look at him so he knows I’m serious. “Yes, we can. We have to.”
“But why?” The outrage is back in Banjo’s voice. I hate it, but it’ll be worth it once he understands what’s at stake. “I don’t understand why you’re bein’ so unreasonable about this. If he don’t wanna go back, he don’t gotta go back! What’s the big deal?”
“I need the money!” I shout. Banjo stares at me, expression flitting between confused and upset.
I didn’t mean to yell, but it seemed like the only way to get through to him.
Still, I lower my voice as I continue. “The only way I can collect the other half of the bounty is to bring Remington back to Earth. Otherwise, I don’t get paid. ”
“This is about money?” Banjo shakes his head, snorting as if he’s not surprised.
“I guess I should’ve known. You were honest about that from the start, I guess.
All you’re in this for is the money.” He attempts to slide me off his lap so he can get up.
I throw my legs around his waist to keep him right where he is.
“You don’t understand.” Maybe once Banjo hears what’s at stake, he’ll be willing to be selfish.
To trade Remington’s happiness for ours.
“The bounty is paid in U.S. dollars.” Banjo stares at me, brow furrowed as he waits for me to continue.
“Instead of having him deposit it into my account, I was going to have him transfer it to your Mamaw.”
Banjo’s mouth falls open, but he doesn’t say anything, so I continue.
“That way, you don’t have to worry about getting the money from your contract.
The bounty is much more. It’ll set them up for a long time.
And then…and then you could stay here. With me.
” Forever. I think the word, but don’t say it aloud.
Banjo looks at me for so long I’m starting to think I might have misunderstood this entire thing. Does Banjo not want to stay? Has he already changed his mind?
Regardless, it’s too late for me to backtrack now. What’s said is said.
“I was going to wait to tell you in the moment,” I admit, loosening my grip on him. If Banjo still wants to get away from me, I’ll let him. “I wanted it to be romantic, I suppose. But obviously that’s not going to happen anymore.” Banjo is too quiet. I need him to say something. Anything.
“Tav.” Banjo’s face has grown concerningly pale. “How…how much are we talkin’ about?”
I do some quick calculations in my head. “The second payment is 750,000 U.S. dollars.” Banjo’s mouth falls open. I’m not sure why he’s so surprised. He knows my fees are high. “That’s enough, isn’t it? To fix the roof and make sure Viola can focus on school?”
My heart pounds against my chest as a tear trickles down Banjo’s cheek.
Maybe I fully misread this entire situation.
Before I have much of a chance to panic, Banjo grabs my face in both hands and crashes our mouths together in a heated kiss.
I make a small surprised sound that quickly turns into a groan as Banjo licks into my mouth.
Oh, yes. Yes. I don’t understand why this is happening, but I’m completely onboard.
Going two days without kissing Banjo felt like an eternity.
I don’t ever want to have to do it again.
Eventually, Banjo pulls back to breathe. There’s a little more color on his face, though his eyes are still wet. “I can’t believe you’d do that for me,” he whispers, his head falling forward so his forehead rests against mine.
My response is just as quiet, as if speaking any louder would burst the bubble we’ve momentarily formed around ourselves. “Of course.” I swallow in an attempt to keep my voice even. “I’d do anything for you, darling.” It’s not an admission of love, but somehow, it feels just as intimate.
“There’s no amount of money I wouldn’t pay to have you next to me.” This time, I let myself say it. “Forever.”