He nearly cried. He was twenty feet from the airlock leading to the shuttle boarding tube. Turning, he saw Georgia Patwell. “New assignment,” he called. “Up at Orbital.”
She looked puzzled. “Does Julie know this? And how about Cole Jackson? I thought he was expecting you—”
“Georgia, I gotta run! I’ll see you later!” Cringing, he turned and ran for the shuttle.
“Bandie?” Her voice trailed off, and he sensed her bewilderment, and could imagine her shrugging and walking away as he entered the lock. He rested his forehead against the bulkhead and prayed that no one else would see him.
/// You’re almost there. ///
/I’m not even close./
/// I didn’t think you were going to make it . . .
from Julie’s, I mean. ///
/I’d rather not talk about Julie right now, if you don’t mind./
/// I’m sorry. I really am.
Let’s get on that shuttle. ///
He nodded and hurried through the passenger tube to the waiting spacecraft.