This woman, who’d be his wife, didn’t know Verakko at all. A smug heat radiated through Lily’s chest as she realized Verakko had let her see him in a way he hadn’t even let his future wife. It could very well be that Lily knew him better than anyone.
After an hour of conversation and many glasses of tury shared on the reflected, sunlit balcony, Ziri’s friend Hetta had also stopped by. Ziri explained that Lily was a hairstylist back on her home planet and was considering becoming one again.
The rest of the hour or so before their pool reservation was spent with Lily excitedly learning all she could about the glitter treatment from an enthusiastic Hetta, while Ziri sat sullenly translating.
“Can we please speak about something else? At this rate, I’ll never want a glitter coat again,” Ziri complained, a hint of a playful whine in her voice.
Hetta pursed her pouty maroon lips at Ziri. “Alright.” She focused on Lily again. “Think about which color you want for when I see you later, okay?”
Lily nodded with a wide grin, but she already knew what she wanted—her highlights returned and a gold glitter coat.
“Ziritha?” a deep male voice said from behind Hetta.
Lily noticed both women instinctively stiffen, their masks of indifference sliding into place. Lily tried and failed to do the same.
Hetta moved out of the way and revealed a muscled, tanned man who, with only a devilish grin and dark, piercing eyes, oozed charm. He wore a long white garment unbuttoned at the chest. On any other man, the getup might’ve looked feminine, but on his large frame it appeared fashionable and utterly masculine. The attendant leading him down to the pools peered between them. The handsome man quietly said something to the attendant and changed course, walking over to them instead.
Ziri turned, and Lily was surprised to see her features soften. “Fejo,” she exclaimed warmly. “I thought you’d already left yesterday.”
“The ship is ready and waiting in orbit, but you know I couldn’t join the crew until I visited the famed basins one more time. I’ll be hopping on a jumper tonight.” Fejo’s eyes slid to Lily, and he cocked his head, narrowing his eyes.
Lily smiled, then awkwardly scrunched her lips downward and turned away, recalling what Ziritha had said about interacting with men you weren’t familiar with.
“May I join you?” The curiosity in his voice made Lily stiffen.
Before she’d heard Ziri agree, a chair had been plopped down in front of them, and Fejo sat with one hand on his knee, staring curiously at her.
“Fejo,” Ziri warned. “She’s not available.”
Lily glanced up to him, forcing her gaze to remain stern.
He shot her a dashing crooked grin and lifted a dark brow. “Too bad. I’m fascinated by Earthlings.”
Lily’s head snapped to attention, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ziri’s do the same. “You know what I am?” She turned to Ziri, waiting for her to translate, but to her shock the man answered her.
“I do. I’m a Tremantian, you see. I met a delightful human earlier this year.” He donned an expression of utter misery and shook his head at her. “Alas, she was also unavailable. But tell me, gorgeous—” his roguish smile returned in a flash, and he leaned further toward her, “—who has snapped you up? Have you elicited some kind of special response in someone?” His eyebrows lifted suggestively. “I mean other than the obvious.”
Lily blushed and gave a what the fuck look to Ziri.
“Behave, Fejo,” she said while hiding her own grin. “What do you know about the humans?”
He reclined back into his chair with a mock sigh of resignation. “You know me, Ziri.” He slid his eyes toward her. “I know everything.”
“I’m sure.” Ziritha pursed her lips and took a small sip of her wine. “Wait!” she said, her eyes lighting up. She glanced over to Lily, lips pursed as though trying to think of how to say what she wanted to say. “Fejo knows him,” she said, not using Verakko’s name.
“Intriguing,” Fejo remarked, crossing an ankle over his knee.
“Your pool is ready,” came a voice from behind them.
Ziri held up a hand, indicating she’d heard the attendant who was now peering at Fejo with a frown. She leaned toward Lily. “He knows him well. He may be able to answer those questions that I couldn’t.”
Lily scrutinized Fejo. He lifted his brows, amused curiosity shining in his eyes.
“Will the male be joining you?” the attendant called from the edge of the balcony.
“Possibly,” Ziri replied without looking.
“I can only stay for a short while, but I’d be delighted to answer all your questions about…” he leaned forward with a lopsided grin, “Uzad? Bostu? Ooh, or maybe Matten? I know them all well.”
Lily glanced between them. “How do you two know each other?”
Ziri and Fejo exchanged meaningful looks, and Ziri gave a sad smile. “There’s a male I care about who’s worked with Fejo for a long time now.”
A tense moment of silence passed before Fejo said in a voice free of bravado or humor, “He’s doing well, Ziri. He wanted to visit, but…it wasn’t his turn. There wasn’t anything I could do.”
Ziritha nodded, schooling her features and taking a long drink.
“I’m a trader,” Fejo explained. “I travel between the planets that are a part of the alliance and transport goods. I just finished my Clecanian deliveries and am heading back out for short trip tonight.” He glanced sidelong at Ziri. “But then
