Page 7 of Braden

“The same. I know you had her poster on your wall when you were a teenager. Hell we all did—that red swimsuit and the come hither pose was hot. Met her last night and let me tell you she’s even better in person. Beautiful and gracious.”

“You met Tamarind?”

“And Renald. And today in an hour or two I’m going to be playing flag tisba with him and a few of his buddies from the Sectors Interstellar Professional Tisba League. Is this the life or what?” Braden grinned. “It’ll make for a good story when we’re sitting out in the field on a mission, bullshitting to kill time. No one’s going to believe it. But I figured I needed to report to you what was going on.” When Nikko was silent, Braden added, “Hey, I have a date for the next few days so technically I’m in compliance with our orders, right? And IDA brought us together in a manner of speaking.”

“I’m bothered a bit by the idea you’re misrepresenting yourself as this woman’s boyfriend,” his friend said. “No matter where in the galaxy we are, we have to uphold the honor of Ardanna.”

“I’d never do anything to besmirch Ardanna,” Braden said hotly, his annoyance rising. He suppressed the thought of how he’d already slipped into Elodie’s fabrication, claiming a fake middle name, and allowing people at the party last night to assume he was truly her boyfriend.

Nikko drummed his fingers on the table as he considered. “All right, it seems harmless enough but watch yourself and don’t take this fake dating thing too far.”

“I’ve told them my real name and background. I’m not pretending to be anything I’m not, aside from allowing them to assume I’ve been in a relationship with Elodie prior to coming here.”

“Things have a way of becoming more complicated the longer they go on,” Nikko said.

“I like her, she’s a nice person caught in an awkward social jam. We’ll sail through the week, hit the wedding events together and part ways at the end of the time with no regrets and no one the wiser except you,” Braden promised.

“The dates aren’t guaranteed to yield long term relationships.” Nikko sounded like he was rationalizing his decision to okay the prank Braden was embroiled in. “So the fact you’re on a date outside of the IDA contract isn’t a huge problem. But you will have to go through the process again for the next cycle. I can’t sign off on your participation being completed when IDA didn’t match you.”

“I understand.”

Nikko’s handheld chimed and he glanced at it, breaking into a smile. “Kath’s wondering when I’m coming back upstairs. I should go. Keep me posted if anything changes with this date of yours and enjoy the wedding.”

“Will do.”

* * *

He’s gone.

Elodie knew the minute she awoke the hotel suite was empty aside from herself. Sliding from the bed she grabbed a robe and walked into the sitting room to confirm her impression. The blankets she’d given him were folded with military precision and laid on top of the pillow at the end of the couch. With a keen sense of disappointment and a sinking feeling in her gut she hoped he hadn’t abandoned the whole project. Sure she could tell yet more lies about him suddenly being recalled to duty but she didn’t want to. Last night with Braden had been fun and carefree and she’d looked forward to more of that in the days ahead.

A folded piece of paper on the table caught her eye and she rushed over to snatch it up. His note left her sighing in relief. Of course he’d had to check in with whoever was in charge of the Ardannans. His advice about the headclear was absolutely right as well and she headed for the bathroom to see if the hotel stocked the rooms with basic First Aid. Considering what this suite was costing her, they’d better. Breakfast didn’t appeal to her but she knew she needed to eat. The women were going to play their own game of flag tisba too and she’d need fuel to survive running and kicking and ball handling. Although since Tamarind had known her since they were kids, the bride was well aware Elodie was no athlete. She’d probably be assigned to one of the positions where there was rarely any direct action or involvement in scoring plays. Just a body on the field to fill out the team roster. The players would be the bride and bridesmaids and a few other female guests. Depending on how many of them preferred the sports field to a shopping expedition, Elodie might even end up on the bench, which actually would be fine with her. She’d rather watch the men play anyway. She’d tried to talk Tamarind out of having the women play but her friend was adamant it would be fun and a bonding exercise for the bridesmaids.

Did we even want to bond? Isn’t wearing the same dresses enough? With a smile at her own annoyance because the dresses in question were Twilka originals and each design had been subtly tweaked to flatter the woman who was to wear it so the gowns weren’t in fact identical. Tamarind’s color scheme was ombre in tones of green, so the first bridesmaids would come out in pale green, the color deepening as each new girl walked the aisle, ending with the maid of honor in rich emerald green. Elodie was in the middle, so her dress was a flattering midtone shade.

Green and white were the official colors of Renald’s tisba team so this was a nod to him.

Fortunately there was headclear in the cabinet and she promptly stuck herself with the medinject, breathing hard until the med took effect and her headache cleared away like magic. Placing a breakfast order, Elodie got enough food for Braden too if he made it back to the room in time to eat.

She was listlessly picking at her eggs when there was knock on the door and she rushed to check the portal. It was Braden and she let him in, her heart beating faster. As she gave him a quick hug she asked, “Everything okay over at your end of the resort?”

“All fine. I cleared my involvement in this wedding stuff with the official in charge of the Ardannan contingent. He doesn’t much like the fact it’s kind of a lie but I convinced him we are dating so…” Braden let his voice trail off as he grinned. He was carrying a small kit bag. “I brought some of my things so I don’t have to rush back to my own room every morning, if that’s okay.”

“Oh yes, fine, good thinking. We should stop at the desk today and get you your own key for the door,” she said. “Are you ready for tisba?”

“Ready to take the field with guys I’ve been watching since I was a kid? Hell yes. I owe you for this once in a lifetime experience.” He picked up two pieces of toast from the table and assembled a towering breakfast sandwich of eggs, cheese and ham. “How about you?”

She shook her head. “I’m terrible at tisba but Tamarind knows that from when we were in school together so I’m sure she’ll stick me in the left field or somewhere else I don’t actually have to do more than run up and down the field. It’ll be fine. And then the beach party this afternoon and evening, which will be fun.”

“And the parties tomorrow night?” He eyed her with a mischievous expression. “Male strippers you said.”

She blushed. “Probably. And silly games and lots of drinking. At least the hotel did stock headclear. Thanks for the suggestions by the way.”

“Hey, I’ve had hangovers from hell before and you don’t strike me as much of a drinker.”

“No, I’m really not, not normally. I live a pretty quiet life actually. Every so often Tamarind invites me to meet her somewhere and do something fun with her and her circle and those are the highlights of my life. Well, except for the time I uncovered a manuscript which had been believed to be lost for over a thousand years. That was exciting.”

“I bet.”