The Alien Scientist: Interspecies Alliances Book 5

“Mom’s meds still aren’t here.”

Garin pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand and kicked the door shut behind him. “When were they supposed to be there?”

“Last week.” Beaty’s voice tightened and Garin pictured her thin lips pursing into a point.

“Did you call?” Garin threw his duffel onto the bed of his borrowed room. The space was small and sparse, but not cramped, and he’d slept on a lot worse things than the mattress his bag bounced on.

“Yes. Last week when they didn’t arrive.”

When Garin didn’t reply, Beaty huffed.

“I swear, Kev, I called last week, but they’re still saying they’re concerned about the payment.”

“I believe you.” Garin unpacked his clothes and arranged them in the chest of drawers against the wall. He’d checked, double-checked, and triple-checked he had the funds, but the pharmaceutical company still didn’t like the amount of money they saw in his account. They could do math. They knew the money they pulled out for his mother’s meds was greater than the money going in every month. But that was his problem to solve, not theirs. “I’ll call them.”

“I’m sorry, Kevin. I know you’re busy.” The tablet beeped to alert Garin of the incoming video feed request, and he accepted the feed and propped the tablet on his pillow. His younger sister’s big blue eyes gazed out at him.

Like always, Garin’s heart panged to think how few times he’d seen those eyes in person. “It’s fine, I’ve got it.”