Chapter 30 #2
Her grin turns wicked in a way I’m only used to seeing on Tavryn. “She managed to get the government to pay us all the prize money, plus what they thought you’d make on royalties and stuff through the next year.”
I’m fairly certain my jaw is on the floor. Tavryn makes an impressed little sound, leaning back against the couch. “What do you mean, a lawyer just reached out to y’all?”
“Well, the names of who gets drafted are all public, and there are these lawyers who follow that and talk to their families afterwards.” Viola gives a little shrug. “You ain’t gotta pay them nothin’ unless the government pays you.”
“I told you about this months ago, Captain, if you recall.” Viola blinks when she hears Stells speaking in English. “But since we lacked the ability to contact Earth until recently, I was unable to check in and see if Banjo’s family had been successful in securing the funds.”
“Who is that?” Viola asks. “Y’all got another human on your ship?”
“No that’s—” I stop, looking at Tavryn for permission. He nods, so I continue. “That’s Stells. She’s a computer. I guess she knows English now.”
“I’m fluent in most major languages, along with some smaller local dialects, including English,” Stells says. “I don’t understand your shock. You know I’m quite capable.”
I shake my head, smiling. “So, Vi, how much money we talkin’ about?”
Please say it’s enough for me to stay. Please.
“Three hundred thousand,” Viola says proudly. Her smile drops to something a little more subdued. “It was real interestin’ actually. Interestin’ enough that I think I wanna be a lawyer. That way I can help other people who’ve been dealin’ with this.”
Three hundred thousand. It’s not the amount we would have gotten from Remington’s bounty, but it’s more than my contract. Viola and Mamaw will be set, at least until Viola gets through law school and starts making her own money.
I don’t have to go back to Earth.
I can stay here with Tavryn.
I turn my head to look at him, grinning so wide it hurts. I don’t have to go. I can stay! The relief is so overwhelming it has tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Tavryn grins right back at me.
For the first time in ten months, Tavryn is grinning. It looks real good on him, especially knowing I put it there.
“Aw, ain’t y’all just as cute as a button!” Viola coos. When I look back at her, she’s frowning. “Wait, were you really just gonna leave all this and come back to Earth?”
Color creeps up my cheeks. The way she says it makes it sound bad. “Yeah?”
Viola scoffs. “Banjo, I swear, the light’s on, but there ain’t nobody home in that head of yours,” she scolds.
I sink down on the couch. She sounds just like Mamaw.
“Even if we ain’t got that money—which we do—it’s not your job to take care of us all the time.
You gon’ have to go on and live your life at some point, bubba. ”
“But your schoolin’—”
Viola cuts me off so quickly I can’t help but imagine her doing it in a courtroom “Uh, uh, uh, stop usin’ me as an excuse!
” she exclaims. “I ain’t never asked you to do all that.
I appreciate it, sure, but I promise, Mamaw and I can take care of ourselves.
You ain’t gotta feel guilty about it no more.
We’re good, Banjo. I swear it on Mama and Daddy’s graves. ”
I swallow thickly. I understand what she’s saying, but it doesn’t seem right. I can’t even remember a time when my entire life wasn’t focused on taking care of Mamaw and Viola. And now she’s saying I don’t have to? That I can just do whatever I want? Prioritize me? Prioritize Tavryn?
“You really swear it?”
“Yes, you dummy,” Viola replies with an affectionate shake of her head.
“Well, I gotta run. Clarissa asked me if I wanted to go get burgers, and she’s gon’ be pickin’ me up in her truck real soon.
” Viola’s smile softens. “It’s good to know you’re doin’ okay.
I’m glad the two of y’all are happy. You got my blessin’, okay, so go have fun doin’ whatever it is the two of you are doin’. ”
Her smile grows wobbly. And it may be something weird with the camera, but I swear there’s a tear in her eye. “I love you, bubba. So, so much. You call me again when you can, you hear?”
Now my eyes are watering too. Tavryn slides his arm around me, offering some much-needed support. “I love you too, sissy. You’re gon’ make a great lawyer. And I’ll call you whenever I can.”
“You better. Now go and live your very best space life.” Viola blows me a kiss before hanging up. I stare at the screen long after Stells has turned it off. It seems strangely quiet now that the call has ended, like no one knows what to say.
Except I do.
I turn, taking both of Tavryn’s hands in mine. I can finally make the decision I’ve wanted to make for months.
“I love you.” I blurt the words before he can even think about stopping me.
“I am so in love with you, Tav. I have been since you whisked me away from that giant worm.” I pause, licking my lips as I gather my courage to say the rest. “I know it’s been a while since you promised me forever, but can I still have it? Please?”
I watch a smirk slowly form on Tavryn’s face. “I don’t know,” he says teasingly. “Are you going to be a good boy for me?”
I grin back at him.
We both know the answer to that is yes.