Trish watched as Eloise departed, then turned to Ruiz with flattened ears. “She was cute. You could’ve been a little nicer.”

Ruiz grimaced. “Why? She got what she needed, no need to sugarcoat.” He turned away, opening the door into the rest of their living space. Between their two bedrooms was a humble kitchenette and living room. He stepped around the coffee table and dropped unceremoniously onto the microfiber couch where he’d been listening to TV and taking apart a CPU. News from their homeworld played for the two of them to hear, barely lighting the dark tones of the space. Beside the couch stood a tall lamp that beamed both UVB light and heat down onto Ruiz as he worked.

“She seems like she could use a few kind words, is what I’m saying.” Trish scooped up her phone, tapping and swiping it open to check their service portal app. “I don’t think she’s just here for cheap rent.”

“She has her issues, emphasis on her. She’s not gonna share with some random iguana she met.”

Trish shot him a mildly irritated look. “I’m not saying you should ask her for her life’s story. I’m saying you need to take the bass out your tone and be a bit gentler.”

“That’s what I have you for,” he said, waving his mini-screwdriver at her.

Trish shook her head and scoffed, returning to their service app. She grimaced when she saw the most recent ticket. “Our little friend needs you to check on her desktop again.”

“Huh?” Ruiz’s amber eyes shifted between the white-tail deer news anchor on the screen and the CPU he was taking apart.

Trish’s last nerve was twitching. “Your girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend?”

“Saoirse wants you to come to her room, jackass!” Trish snapped.

“Ew, no. You go,” he said, a visible shudder making his tail twitch.

“Nope. She’ll just send me back. You handle it.” Trish pocketed her phone, moving to the kitchenette to grab a bottle of vanilla protein shake.

“Well, if she sends you back, there was never an issue.”

“She’ll just put in another request.”

“I’m working on something, Trish.”

“I’ve got things to work on too, Ruiz.”

“Like my nerve?”

“I’ll be working on kicking your ass if you don’t get up and do something about her.” Trish cracked open the sealed bottle and downed its contents in three gulps. Tossing the plastic remains in the bin, she sauntered up to the couch behind Ruiz and leaned over his shoulder. “Go tell her you’re not interested in her advances, and nip that shit in the bud.”

Ruiz sighed and put down his tools, glancing over his shoulder at Trish. “She doesn’t take no for an answer.”

“Try saying no one more time. After that, I’ll deal with her if I have to.”

“Can’t you deal with her now?”

“I still have faith she’ll back off once she sees you’re not interested.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“You’re a revolting slob!” Trish swatted his spiked head, dust flaking off Ruiz’s head as he hissed. His tail thumped angrily on the ground as she scowled and wiped the shed off on her hands. “God, maybe if she sees you like this she’ll back off.”

“I doubt it.” Ruiz groaned as he stood up. “For some reason the worse I look, the harder she comes onto me. Why?” he asked, gesturing broadly at himself.

Trish gave him an unimpressed onceover. “Maybe the girls here like a man who looks desperate.”

“I don’t look desperate!” he snapped, wide-eyed. Ruiz pointed at her, “You owe me one egg for going and doing this.” He turned toward the door to their shop, moving at the speed of smell.

“You still owe me years on my life for the BS you make me put up with on a regular basis.”

He flipped her off as he departed the room.