Sun Spot Remover (Tales of a Former Space Janitor Book 5) by Julia Huni

Author:Julia Huni [Huni, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: IPH Media, LLC
Published: 2024-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Neran stares at me, his fists balled, his face mulish. He leans a little closer, anger and despair rolling off him in palpable waves. If I didn’t think of him as an incompetent child, it would feel threatening. I cross my arms and stare him down.

The whoosh of a passenger hopper interrupts our staring contest, wind from its landing blowing dust and metallic drahgin scent at us. I squeeze my eyes almost shut and push myself up the wall to my feet.

The craft lands in the clearing in front of the arena, and the dust settles. When the door slides open, O’Neill jumps out, hurrying across the packed earth to my side to pull me into his arms. “Are you—” He takes a step back, and his face contorts. “Why are you so damp? And… smelly?”

I frown and lean my face closer to my shoulder, sucking in a breath. Yowza. “Drahgin slobber. Maybe jungle mud. And sweat.” I sniff again. “Maybe some protein bar?”

Breta comes up behind him. “Did you get licked into submission by a herd of drahgins? They can be messy.”

“You don’t say.”

Her gaze shifts to the young man still crouched against the arena wall. He rises slowly, eyes locked with her. Neither of them says anything.

O’Neill clears his throat. “What’s the story?” He jerks his head at Neran.

“We were finally getting to that when you arrived. He claims he doesn’t know anything about Randolph.” I pull in a deep breath and can’t help but notice O’Neill’s nose twitch when I move. “I really stink, don’t I? Maybe Neran and I should get cleaned up before we figure this out. He’s not going anywhere. And I need food.”

A smile flickers over O’Neill’s face. “There’s my girl. I brought you a snack. It’s in the⁠—”

I push past him, lunging for the take-out box on the rear seat. I’ve always enjoyed food, but since I got pregnant, the desire has become a compulsion. I rip open the lid and shove my nose close to the steamy, spicy, savory yum.

Then my stomach rebels, and I barely make it to edge of the jungle before I throw up the remaining bits of the two protein bars I ate this afternoon. O’Neill hurries to my side, holding his breath as he pulls my hair away from my neck and face. A shiver runs through my body as the breeze—chilly now that the sun has set—hits my sweaty neck.

“What happened?” He hands me a water pac.

I rinse my mouth and spit. “I guess my anti-morning sickness patch was working. I forgot to put a new one on this morning.” I wipe my mouth with the handkerchief he hands me, grimacing at the smear of mud and yuck I leave on the pristine cloth.

He rubs a hand down my back. “This reminds me of the night we met.”

I hang my head. “You’ll never let me forget that, will you?”

“Why would I forget the best thing that ever happened to me?”

“Me ralphing in your office is the best thing that ever happened to you?”

He slides his arm around me.

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