that, she forgot she couldn’t speak. The tightening around her throat reminded her.
Even his smile twisted crookedly. “I’m okay. Nothing to worry about.”
“You look like you have a serious case of the mumps,” Verna said.
Cassie touched her temple, inviting him to forge the mind-link.
A warmth seeped into her head as their consciousness merged. What happened? she said.
My mating glands activated.
She’d gotten the impression from Wingman and Delia swollen mating glands was a positive thing. I can feel how achy and tired you are. We can do this another night.
I’m fine.
The pain and fatigue she sensed vanished. She narrowed her eyes. Did you do something?
I put up a blocker. I don’t want you to suffer. There’s no need for you to feel uncomfortable.
That he cared so much for her after the way she’d treated him was amazing. I apologize again for the other night.
It’s all right. I’m sorry for upsetting you.
“What’s going on with you two? Why are you standing there staring at each other?” Verna asked.
“We were…thinking,” Psy answered aloud and looked at Cassie. “I thought maybe we could go to Millie’s for dinner.”
She nodded. Sounds good!
“Whoa, whoa,” Verna said. “Not so fast. Cassie, honey, he’s got the mumps. He’ll infect people at the diner.”
“What are mumps?” he asked.
“It’s a viral disease.”
“I don’t have an Earth disease.”
“What you don’t have is immunity.” Verna grabbed her phone and spoke into it. “What are the symptoms of the mumps?”
“Symptoms include swollen, painful salivary glands, fever, headache, fatigue, and appetite loss,” her phone replied.
“I do not have a disease,” he replied. This isn’t how I wished to tell you—but I believe you are my genmate. Swollen glands are a result of that.
I met Wingman and Delia today. They explained about genmates and mating glands. But, what about the other symptoms?
“Under no circumstances should you go to Millie’s and risk infecting everybody,” Verna continued. “Most people got vaccinated as kids, but some folks nowadays don’t believe in vaccines and could get infected. Cassie, were you vaccinated?”
She guessed so. There’d been frequent doctor visits for her vocal cords and other things.
“Probably,” Psy answered for her.
Verna frowned. “How do you know?”
She made a face. She would have to tell Verna later about the telepathy. For now, she jotted on her pad, I’ll check with Mom. She didn’t want Verna to worry.
Her mother would be getting off work soon. Cassie texted, I got all my immunizations as a child, right?
The answer came about a minute later. Yes, of course.
She showed Verna the text.
“That makes me feel better. But he still needs to get checked out.”
Another text from her mother came through. Why?
Verna thinks a customer has mumps.
You should come home.
Since I was vaccinated, I’ll be fine. Remember, I don’t get off until late. Don’t wait up.
Verna takes advantage. She works you too hard.
Sorry, Mom. Battery is low. I have to charge my phone. She switched it off. One little lie, and already it was getting complicated. Now her mother blamed Verna, and her boss was completely innocent. Please let me live my life, she thought. She didn’t want to listen to her mother criticize Psy or Verna.
Your mother disapproves of me? he asked. We’d gotten along fine.
It’s complicated. I was mad. I said too much. She took my side—and now she won’t let go of it. I’m sorry. It’s my fault.
I’m sorry I made you mad.
“You two are staring at each other again,” Verna said. “Listen. Psy—you need to go to a doctor.” She raised her hands as he started to protest again. “If there’s nothing wrong with you, fine. But if you’re walking around with something contagious, you could spread it to humans or other aliens.”
“What I have isn’t communicable. It will go away soon enough,” he replied. “After Cassie and I become intimate, the swelling will recede.”
“It usually does.” Verna guffawed.
Heat flooded Cassie’s face. She’d overheard many graphic and ribald conversations by virtue of the if-she-can’t-speak-she-must-not-hear misconception, but she’d never been the subject of the discussion. Of course, she was educated about sex, and she and her high school boyfriend had made out, but she was still a virgin and wasn’t used to talking about sex openly. She averted her gaze, fearing he’d notice her embarrassment, then realized through the mind link he already knew.
This called for a quick change of subject. She scribbled for Verna, If Psy got examined, would that satisfy you?
“It would make me feel better, yes.” She nodded.
Argent didn’t have medical facilities. Where do you recommend?
“Any urgent care clinic in Coeur