Stepping Up Read Online Free PDF Page B

feel
him trembling.  “Good night,” he says.  His hands are on my waist pushing me in
the direction of the bedroom door.
    I’m confused.  He’s not a prude nor is he saving himself for
anyone.  He isn’t currently attached; he would have told me if he were.  He’s
had many lovers before; why not me?  He turns out the light in the den and
passes through my shadow as he reclines on the couch.  The floor creaks as I
step towards him.
    “Close the door, Sonia.  Get some sleep.”
    I hate it when he does that. I stand in the doorway for what
feels like a very long time.  All he has to say is, “Please stay.” And I
would.  I know it, he knows it.  That’s probably why he won’t say it.
    He’s gone when I wake.  My clothes are folded on the arm
of the sofa; I wonder why he did that.  I make a quick breakfast, take a
shower, dress and leave.  I feed the bird and lock the door on my way out.

3 NIGHT SEARCHER
    Before I released my apartment, I had a courier service
deliver my cargo trunk to the launch at bay 114.  It didn’t cost near what I
thought it would.  My nosey neighbor accepted Fuzzbutt with aplomb.  When she
asked why, I told her I was leaving town.  All of my baggage fit into the
container; there was actually room to spare. That was one headache I did not
want.  
    This morning I plan to take my time walking to the bay, I
want to really see the parts of the starport I’ve always dashed past on my way
to work.  I have the day to kill, why not use it?  Morrie calls me a few more
times and I finally have to tell him in monosyllabic words that I’m not coming
back.  I look at all the places I used to take for granted; Jimmy isn’t my only
friend here.  I stop in a few other places and tell others I’m leaving.  All
congratulate me, a few are sad to see me go.  I take a deep breath and head for
the fuel wrangler’s booth.  I don’t recognize the man working it.  When I ask
where Jimmy is, he replies, “I don’t know exactly.  He called in sick this
morning.  I called his apartment, he didn’t answer.  He must have gone to the
doctor.  He’s not answering his perCom.”
    I thank him and head for 114.  I’m disappointed.  As much as
I knew it would be hard, I wanted another…that scoundrel is waiting for me. 
He’s sitting on my footlocker.
    “I didn’t really like leaving this morning without saying
good bye,” he says.
    “Me neither.”
    He stands up and I wrap my arms around his neck.  His arms
go around my back and waist.  I look up into his face; our eyes lock as I pull
his face to mine.  He’s got nowhere to run.
    “Wow,” he says, “I haven’t been kissed like that since third
grade.”
    That does it, I punch his shoulder and we both laugh.
    “Let me help you, bag.” 
    I punch him again.
    “I’m sorry, I meant, ‘let me help you with your bag.’”  He
lifts my footlocker and carries it into the bay.  One of the spacers directs
him to a pallet they are preparing.  Once it’s in place he takes me by the hand
and we step to the edge of the bay.  “Now, I’m afraid I must depart as I’m
severely dehydrated and can ill afford to weep.  Good-bye Sonia.  I hope I will
see you again someday.”
    “I hope so too, Jimmy.  But I doubt I’ll have much say as to
which ports the ship calls on.”  Another kiss and he’s gone.
    I’m an hour early for the launch’s departure. A pair of
workmen— spacers , since they work for a starship—moves the pallets of
cargo containers into the launch and secures them for flight.  There’s a
shorthaired brunette walking around the craft.  She’s dressed like a pilot;
she’s probably doing her pre-flight inspection, she opens and closes various
inspection hatches.
    Aria is there with two other people.  She introduces Ricky
Margoon and Twelia Starr on the ramp prior to boarding. They must be the other
two newbies. Ricky is a stocky, dark skinned man with a certain wild, untamed
look. Given his build