I stiffened and straightened.“I am,” I said archly, “but that’s not why I’m on the ship.”
“Right.”Her words dripped with disdain.
I opened my mouth, closed it again.Nothing I could say would convince her otherwise.“Ready to see the rest of the ship?”I asked instead.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.I need to have a conversation with Sarge.”
“After you.”I gestured for her to precede me.
She gave me a hard look, one that said she didn’t trust me.
Ditto.
She stomped toward the door that led to the rest of the ship.“Enjoy your free ride.I’m sure we’ll be dropping you off at the next stop.”
I followed several feet behind her.I’d known it was going to get messy when Dax’s crew arrived—and that was before they’d learned about my unauthorized taking ofFortuna.
22
Dax
We were acceleratingout of Pangaea’s atmosphere when the clomp of footsteps announced my visitor.I swiveled in my chair and waited for her entrance.Burn appeared in the doorway looking like a badass space pirate from the movies I used to watch as a kid.
“I see you made it,” I said with a smile.
“Hey, Sarge.”
I stood to greet her, hand extended.She took me by surprise and pulled me in for a hug.
Behind Burn, Lacy’s eyes widened in surprise.She stood rooted outside the bridge.I wanted to beckon her inside, but my arms were pinned to my sides by the hug.
“It’s good to see you, Sarge!And our ship!She’s a beauty.”
“Good to see you too, Burn.”Gently pressing out with my upper arms, I nudged Burn to release me.“How was Pangaea?”I asked when I was finally free.
“Amazing!”Burn dropped into the navigator’s chair.
Hurt flashed across Lacy’s face before she smoothed out her expression.Blank faced, she stayed outside the bridge and leaned against the doorway.
Shit.I didn’t know what to do about that.I’d felt the same way when I’d first seen her in the captain’s chair, the one I considered mine.But Lacy wasn’t crew.Except, for the time being, she sort of was.
Dammit.
I decided to ignore it for the moment.Lacy may consider it her seat, but to kick Burn out of it right now would only lead to questions.Questions I wasn’t in a hurry to answer.
Currently, no one had an assigned seat but me.
I took my seat and waved Lacy into the bridge, but she shook her head.
Okay, up to her.I’d find Lacy later and explain.Not that I owed her any explanation.
I turned my attention back to Burn.She was already describing some of her adventures on Pangaea.
Lacy turned on her heel and marched away.
I clenched my fist.Then, after a deep breath, I focused on Burn’s words.
“Scaling that last tree...”She shook her head.“I heard you coming and I wasn’t sure I was going to make it in time.”
