“I’m not going to think about that right now. One thing at a time.” I hopped off the table, and my head swam a little. Not wanting to give Audrey any reason to stay here longer than we already had, I shook it off.

Audrey handed me some clothes, and I quickly dressed. I didn’t like to stay in the med bay for longer than I had to. I didn’t exactly have fond feelings for it.

We were both lost in our own thoughts as we wandered through the hallways, heading up the stairs to our quarters.

“So Tyler left?” I asked after a bit. I needed something to talk about that wasn’t so life-or-death or intergalactic war. “You two have a fight?”

She laughed. “Stop trying to play matchmaker. Nothing is happening with us while I’m on this base.”

“How much more time do you have?” She’d probably already told me while the nanos were at work, but sometimes it was hard to pay attention to her actual words.

“Three years. Been here a year already.”

“Yikes.” That was longer than my sentence.

She shrugged. “It’s not a bad gig. Plus, I’m here to help you.”

“Why not give Tyler a break? At least enjoy the time you have together.”

“No.” The word left no wiggle room, but I couldn’t leave it at that. Not after Tyler had been so awesome to me.

“But—”

“No. I can’t.” The thread of pain in her voice worried me. “He’s done here in a couple months. He’ll be back on Earth. He might have a girl back there or he might meet someone when he gets home. Two years of waiting with no contact is a lot to ask. And I don’t want to be here pining away. Thinking about what he might be doing. Wondering if he’s found someone else. It’s hard enough on this base without all that.”

“He wouldn’t cheat on you.” If there was anything I’d learned about Tyler these last few days, it was that he was head over heels for her.

“You don’t know that for sure. Neither does he. Life… It takes so many twists and turns. Nothing is guaranteed, and I already care too much. When he leaves, it’s going to be tough. I really can’t make my stay here any harder than it already is.”

“I just want you two to be happy.”

She gave me a sad smile. “I don’t think that’s a real option on Abaddon, but I won’t always be here. Maybe once I’m done with my time here, he’ll still be single, and we’ll see. But not before.”