With a sigh, I led Torran out of the shop. Kee directed us up one level to the nearest reasonably priced grocer. She also let me know that Lexi had arrived safely.

I blew out a relieved breath. Lexi could take care of herself, but I still worried about her. If Kee or Eli ever struck out on their own, I’d worry for them just the same. The four of us had forged unbreakable bonds in the midst of war and death, and I felt responsible for all of them, no matter where their lives took them.

This job might be terrible and impossible, but I was glad for the excuse to hang out with Lexi for a few weeks.

At the grocer, I stocked up on enough shelf-stable supplies to last us for three months, then began picking out perishable and frozen food for the next few weeks. “Do you have any requests?” I asked Torran.

“I’ve enjoyed all the meals you’ve prepared.”

I waved a hand. “I’m not fishing for compliments. It’s okay to have a preference. Do you want me to make something again? Do you have a recipe you’d like for me to try? Do you want supplies to cook something for yourself? Now is the time to speak up.”

He tilted his head, thinking. “I enjoyed the lasagna.”

Warmth blossomed. I might not have been fishing for compliments, but I appreciated it when someone liked my food. I added the lasagna ingredients to the growing mountain of food.

I added a few chocolate bars and other treats that I thought both crews would enjoy, then I pulled out my comm to quietly prepay. As expected, the total was far higher than it should’ve been.

Prices were listed on the shelves, but that was merely a suggestion, and the owner had the option to adjust them on the fly—which they had, dramatically. If I thought I could get a better deal somewhere else, I’d unload everything and leave.

But there were no better deals to be found, not with Torran shadowing my steps.

The total bill wasn’t much compared to the parts for the ship, but it didn’t feel right to make him pay for this, too. Except that when I tried to pay, it wouldn’t let me because Torran had already paid.

When my eyes flew to his, he met my gaze, unflinching. “I promised to pay,” he said quietly.

I shook my head. “I wasn’t going to hold you to it. The parts were already too much.”

His spine stiffened and his expression closed. “You told Kee you’d get everything on the list, but you didn’t,” he said, his tone cool. “Why not?”