with every aspect of how the afternoon had gone, from the intrusion on Gianna’s personal space by the overenthusiastic passenger, to her having gone out alone, Trevor couldn’t settle down to desk work for the remainder of his shift. Jake finally told him to knock off early. Returning to his own cabin, he took a shower to unwind, allowing the hot water to pummel him and ease the tension. Then he made himself a cup of synthcaff and sat on his couch contemplating the painting Gianna had given him. The art dominated his small officer’s cabin, as he’d known it would but he found the flowing colors comforting and easy on the eyes. The relaxed way the central figure co-existed with his shadows soothed his own troubled soul.
Trevor wondered where he was going with this attraction to Gianna. She was more than an assignment to him already and the trip had barely begun. Once she disembarked at Xcelon Four for her brother’s wedding, he’d never see her again unless he took proactive steps to do so. His train of thought shattered at that point, every time. With his background and PTSD issues, how exactly did he see himself fitting into her world? It was clear to him she wouldn’t fit into his life as it was presently configured, nor could he ask her to try. A Sectors-renowned artist with her own PTSD issues had no place on an interstellar cruise liner, not on a permanent basis. Even if the CLC Line could be persuaded to make her an artist in residence for a cruise or two, she had a life on her own planet.
Head spinning, a headache beginning to pound over his left eye, Trevor swore and rose to pace the tiny cabin, which sometimes helped his anxiety when his mind veered into dark places.
“You asked me to remind you at half an hour before your time to arrive at Ms. Nadenoft’s suite,” Maeve said.
Grateful for the interruption, he thanked the Ship and went to get ready. He’d confirmed with Jake he didn’t need to wear a dress uniform tonight, as he and Gianna were making this a social occasion and he’d be technically off duty. Maeve had taken it upon herself to generate an upscale suit, not too flashy but certainly in the current style and have her robos bring it to his suite, complete with a coordinating shirt, shoes and socks. Trevor had protested her generosity and tried to get her to dock his accumulated salary for the expense but she refused.
“I take care of my crew,” she said. “And you might need a suit to wear for other occasions.”
“Doubtful but thank you.” He knew when to stop arguing with Maeve, who had a strong personality for an AI, but of course she’d had quite a life span already and didn’t take much nonsense from anyone. Trevor didn’t like to be indebted to others but in this case, he had to accept the favor.
He dressed with care, using a sparing amount of the high end aftershave he’d purchased at the crew’s store, which offered many of the same items available to the passengers but at special prices. Feeling a bit like a schoolkid, he rode the gravlift in his spiffy new suit, ignoring the comments from a few of his fellow officers who happened to be descending while he was ascending and stepped off on Level A.
“Women like flowers,” Maeve said in his ear on the senior officers’ channel.
“Yes, mom,” he said sarcastically but he was grateful for the reminder. Stars and comets, he was out of practice on dating, if he had to be reminded of a thing like flowers. Now he wished he’d asked the Ship’s chief florist for a special bouquet but it was too late so he swung by the flower shop and purchased the most colorful bouquet available.
Arriving at Gianna’s cabin two minutes late, he pinged for entry and stepped inside, to find only Verlaine waiting for him. The Tajikka bounced happily to greet him and Trevor was glad the hound didn’t shed. Much. The silky white hair would definitely show up on his new, dark colored suit.
“I’ll be right out,” Gianna called from the next room.
He swallowed hard, clutching the flowers, and next moment she floated out of the bedroom in a dress that seemed to have been made for her, so perfectly did the flowing panels and jeweltone colors complement her dark curls and emerald eyes. She had on strappy green