Page 46 of Trove’s Purpose

“Is this outside of the bounds of reason?”

“What?” She looked back at him, confused.

“You said you would do what I want within reason if I won. Is answering this question outside of the bounds of reason?”

Chee’s jaw tightened again, and he could practically see her hackles raising. Like she was keying up for a fight.

And he honestly felt relief. Her anger was so much better than her disappointment, that hurt, he’d put on her face before. He’d much rather she yell at him, curse him, condemn him, then be the source of her tears.

“Okay, let me ask you a question first,” she started.

“Of course,” he agreed immediately.

“Do you go to brothels often?”

“Define often.”

“Trove!”

He hesitated only a moment before answering. Not because he felt shame for it, but because he knew, for whatever reason, the truth would make her unhappy.

“I stop by such places whenever we have station leave.”

“Every time?” she pressed.

“Well, not every time. Sometimes, we don’t have time for recreation. Other times, the station might not have such establishments. I can find individuals working on their own in that case though.”

Chee winced like he’d hurt her, turning her eyes to the side.

“Why do you do that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, why is sex so meaningless to you?”

“I don’t understand the question,” Trove admitted, genuinely not understanding. “Sex is just sex. Why does it matter?”

Chee’s mouth dropped open, and she again looked like she was about to cry. Trove hated himself for putting that look on her face and, without thinking, just blurted-

“I’m sorry.”

She pulled back from him, wrapping her arms around herself. Like she needed the comfort of a hug. He wanted desperately to be the one who gave her that comfort, but he knew he couldn’t. Not when he was the one who caused her pain in the first place.

“How can you say that?” She asked, barely breathing the words. “Sex is… Sex is so important. It’s meaningful. It’s special.”

“It’s hot and messy and disgusting.”

She whipped her head up, eyes wide, horrified. But Trove couldn’t take the words back. He just shook his head, denying her viewpoint.

“There’s nothing special about sex. Some of the most primitive creatures in the galaxy take part in it. It is sticky and hot and often uncomfortable. It doesn’t have some kind of special meaning. You fuck to make pups. That’s it. And if that’s not the goal, you fuck to get the release. There’s really nothing meaningful about it.”

“That’s…”

“You don’t need love to have sex. You don’t even have to like the person. It’s release. That’s all it is. That’s all it ever was. The people who are dressing it up as anything more than that are delusional. They’re all lying to themselves.”

“That’s not true!” Chee yelled, throwing her hands back to her side, both of them clenched into hard fists. “That’s not true at all! Sex is important. It’s intimacy. It’s closeness.”

“I’ll agree. It’s definitely close.”