part is, they are speculating about my sex life with Jaxxo. There’s even a picture of me sitting beside him in his vehicle.
“How did they get this information? That picture?” I mutter. I can’t wrap my brain around it. All this time, I thought the Martians cared so much about making the Earth women comfortable. It’s such a departure from what I’d believed about them, their culture, and their respect for us that my head starts to ache.
I stand, pacing the room, hoping that the movement will relieve the pressure.
“This doesn’t mean Jaxxo did anything wrong,” Bethany says behind me.
“The newspaper got the information somehow.” My back is to her. I don’t want her to see my hot face. I’m livid. My blood is pounding in my ears, and my head is throbbing. My world feels like it’s falling apart. I trusted him. Now the most intimate thing I could have done with him is open for public speculation.
The AI announces his arrival, and my heart jumps in my chest. I turn back to Bethany, and our eyes lock. I stand there stunned, unable to move, unable to speak.
“Are you going to answer that?” she asks.
“I…” I have no words. I don’t know what to think.
Finally, I tell the AI to open the door. Jaxxo stands on the other side. Bethany looks from me to him and back again before excusing herself to leave. I want to tell her to stay, but I can’t bring myself to speak.
Jaxxo comes to me, asking me what’s wrong. He tries to take my hand, but I pull it away. He then sees the article on the screen. I turn away from him. I tell the door to close.
“Please, let me explain,” he begs.
“What did you tell them about us?” I demand.
“Nothing. I don’t know how this information got out. I’ve asked everyone, and none of the council know who leaked the content of our meeting.”
“You said you told them nothing!” I’m so angry, I’m seeing double. It’s not just anger. It’s total, intense embarrassment. My face is red and hot, and I clench my fists.
“This is highly irregular,” he says, as if this is supposed to make me feel any better. It doesn’t.
“How? How did you let this happen?”
He walks toward me, reaching out to take my hand. But again, I snatch it away. I’m not going to be lulled into forgiveness. I can’t believe that everyone on Mars knows our business. Knows what we’ve done.
“It’s not as bad as it seems,” he says.
“What did you say to them?”
“I didn’t say anything to the press.”
“What did you say to the council?”
“They were pressuring me.” He turns away, and I’m so angry I want to scream.
“Pressuring you! Pressuring you to do what? Tell them about our private moments? I’ve never been so humiliated in all my life. This is an absolute betrayal of trust, Jaxxo. I don’t know if I can ever get past it.”
“Doris. You have to forgive me. The king demanded that I give him the information. You must understand what that’s like.”
“Do you understand what it’s like to have everything you’ve ever known stolen away from you? Do you know what it’s like to have to start over on a new planet with total strangers? Do you know what it’s like to lose everyone you’ve ever loved?”
“I haven’t,” he admits. “But I want to understand. I want to make this better.”
“I don’t think you can.”
“There has to be a way. Please tell me what I can do,” he says, reaching for me again.
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do. You’ve betrayed my trust. You’ve exposed me to the world. Now everyone on Mars is gossiping about me.”
“They’re gossiping about me as well. If that makes you feel any better.”
“It doesn’t. I know the difference between what happens when men have sexual conquests and what happens when women do.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They’ll all think that I’m some kind of harlot.”
“Is that what it’s like back on Earth?” he asks, stepping toward me again.
“It’s a double standard. I doubt that it’s any different here.”
“We have no such double standards. We have no women to have them with. No one is going to think any less of you. It is just a curiosity. These men are lonely and inexperienced. They just want to understand what it means to be with a woman.”
I collapse in a chair. His words and his explanation are getting to me. I don’t want to forgive him, but