Where the Forest Meets the Stars(62)

They arrived in Urbana on schedule, around noon. The plan was to meet Tabby at the old apartment and load Jo’s belongings into her VW and the Honda. Jo hoped they would need only one trip, because going up and down the stairs to the third-floor apartment would make the move slow enough.
When Jo saw the building she and Tabby had lived in since senior year, she was relieved they were moving. Other than being a convenient distance to campus, the ugly building and congested location were far from the kind of relaxing home Jo had craved since her surgeries.
“Look, there’s Tabby’s car,” Ursa said.
“She’ll be upstairs,” Jo said. She wrapped her arm around Gabe’s waist and kissed his cheek as they walked toward the stairs. “Are you hungry?”
“Not yet,” he said.
“I am,” Ursa said.
“We’re having sandwiches at the house with Tabby.”
Ursa skipped the rest of the way to the stairs. They climbed to the third floor and walked the outer balcony to apartment 307. Jo knocked rather than use her key in case the new renters were inside. Tabby opened the door wearing a midriff-baring blue lace tank, rolled-up green army pants, and ripped red Converse shoes. “Jojo! You’re gorgeous!” she said, throwing her arms around Jo.
“Thanks. So are you. I like the new color,” she said of Tabby’s pale denim-colored hair.
Tabby could hardly drag her eyes away from Gabe to greet Ursa. Jo hadn’t told her she was bringing Gabe and Ursa, or even that she was in a relationship. Everything had been too complicated to explain, especially the situation with Ursa. No one in the outer world, not even Jo’s closest friend, could possibly understand. And explaining her life in the forest cottage—being forced to defend it—would certainly ruin its fragile beauty.
“Ursa, my favorite alien,” Tabby said, leaning down to hug her. “How’s it going, girlfriend?”
“Good,” Ursa said. “I have a picture for you in the car.”
“Awesome! And you wore our color.” She gave Ursa a high five for her purple T-shirt.
“Tabby, this is Gabe Nash,” Jo said. “Gabe, this is Tabby Roberti.”
Gabe smiled tensely and shook Tabby’s hand.
“Wait . . . Gabe ?” Tabby said. “The guy in Ursa’s picture?”
“Yes, minus the beard,” Jo said.
“We shaved it!” Ursa said.
“Who did?” Tabby said.
“Jo and me. But I only helped. I wasn’t allowed to use the razor.”
Tabby couldn’t hide her shock. Or her injury. If Jo was intimate enough with a guy to shave him, Tabby expected to know. And it had to sound very weird that Ursa had helped with the beard removal.
“Let’s get going,” Jo said. “It’s already crazy hot out here.”
“I guess I could let you into the air-conditioning,” Tabby said. She stepped back and ushered them inside. “Anyone want water? I can’t offer anything else because the stuff in the fridge belongs to the new renters.”
“Are they here?” Jo asked.
“They cleared out to give us some space.”
“Are you sure they won’t trash the place? We’ll be responsible if they do.”
“I trust her. I don’t know him, but he seems quite the well-mannered Brit.” She said the last in a stuffy British accent that made Ursa laugh.
“Have they paid?” Jo said.
“Cash in hand,” Tabby said. “Need the bathroom?” she asked Gabe. “I want to talk about you behind your back to Jo.”
He smiled, his first all day. “Where is it?”
“First door on the left in that hallway.”
As soon as the bathroom door clicked closed, Tabby said, “Bitch! You always get these really hot guys. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure where it was going.”
She arched her eyebrows, nudging for more. “Where has it gone so far?”
“They’re in love,” Ursa said. “I made it happen.”
“With her alien powers,” Jo said, winking.
“I did!” Ursa said.
“I don’t care who made it happen. Is it true?” Tabby whispered.
Jo looked in the direction of the bathroom. “You know I can’t talk about this right now.”
“Yeah,” Tabby said. She clutched Jo’s shirt under her neck. “But I’m gonna beat it out of you later. You hear?”
“I hear.”
Tabby released Jo’s shirt and folded her into her arms. “I’m happy for you, Jo.”
The bathroom door opened.
“Does he play the banjo?” Tabby whispered in her ear.
“Shut up.” Jo walked past her and brought Gabe into her bedroom. She loaded his arms with clothes from the closet and sent him down to the car. Jo grabbed an armload and followed him before Tabby could corner her and ask more questions.
With all four of them working, Jo’s belongings were packed into the two cars in less than an hour. They drove to the new house, and Jo gave Gabe a tour while Tabby and Ursa made sandwiches and lemonade. She showed him the backyard last.
He cupped his hand on a red lily flower. “This place suits you.”
“Someday I’d rather live in the woods like you do. But if I have to live in town, it’s not bad.”
“You’d rather live in the woods?” he said.
“Of course. Or the mountains or on a lake. I want nature out my front door.”
“That’s how humans should live.” Looking at a nearby house, he said, “We’re not meant to live on top of each other.”