I gripped the railing a little tighter to keep from running. It was one thing to assume SpaceTech was still after me and another thing to have confirmation.

“But that’s not who I meant,” he continued.

“Who? Besides my father and SpaceTech, who would care?”

“It’s a long story, and I’m not sure now is the time.”

No. That wasn’t how this was going to go. “If there’s someone after me, then I should know about it. Now.”

“He’s not after you. Not like you mean. He’s not a danger to you.” His cheeks turned the slightest bit rosy. Good. He should be embarrassed by all his rambling, especially if he wasn’t going to spill.

“Now I’m really confused.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“I guess not.” Because now I wanted to know, and that he wouldn’t tell me was annoying. But there was one question that was possibly more important.

“I noticed your room is a painted deep blue-green, same as that chair.”

That was an odd thing to bring up. “Yeah. It’s my favorite color.”

He gave me a funny look, one I didn’t know how to interpret. “It doesn’t remind you of anything? Anybody?”

“No. I just like it. Makes me feel calm.” I shrugged. “So where is he?”

“Your father?”

Oh my God. Was he trying to annoy me? If he wasn’t going to tell me who this other person was that was looking for me, then he needed to drop it. “Yes. My father.”

“On Sel’Ani.” The Aunare home planet. “It was too dangerous for him to come back to Earth, but we’ve been looking for you for a while. We weren’t sure if you lived through the initial attack at your house, but Lorne said—”

“Lorne?” I cut him off. “That’s the other guy looking for me?”

“Not the point. Sorry. I’m rambling and saying things I shouldn’t. It’s not like me… Shit.” He looked up at the sky and let out a long breath. “I’m really messing this up royally, but it’s so surreal. I’ve been searching for you for thirteen years.”

The smile he gave me felt a little awkward because he was obviously genuinely so happy. But since I didn’t know him, I didn’t share his excitement. At first, it felt nice to cause his excitement, but now it was making me uncomfortable.

“Here you are. Just like that.”

“Yeah. Here I am. But how’d you find me? Why now?”