“You can keep those clothes, Zeke.” Splat winked at him.
“Thanks.” He offered Splat his best attempt at a genuine smile. Out of all the men, Splat made the most effort with him. Luo teased him, Habib pushed him, and Noah… Noah was exceedingly polite, patiently explaining and demonstrating things repeatedly until things finally clicked into place. Noah’s excitement at Zeke’s smallest inch of progress made him work even harder to impress him.
But since the evening they fed the foxes, Noah had kept Zeke at a professional distance, not seeking out any more opportunities to be alone with him. Had he done something wrong? Had he overshared? Perhaps Noah didn’t want to waste time getting to know someone who’d likely get himself killed on his first trip over the border. But most likely, he’d noticed Zeke’s embarrassing obsession with him and was drawing a firm boundary between them.
The men continued their individual rituals of getting ready. Noah changed into a patterned oversized cardigan, its sleeves rolled up. He left the top button on his shirt undone, revealing the dip of his collarbone. Zeke shook his head—why was he noticing his CO’scollarboneof all things? But his eyes drifted upwards to linger on Noah’s silky dark hair, thinking of how it looked down after his shower each day, the damp locks clinging to his face and neck.
As if Luo could read his mind, he said, “Put your hair down, Noah. We’ll get more attention that way.” He tugged at Noah’s hairband, but Noah slapped Luo’s hand away.
“You’re on your own, Luo. Get over it,” Noah said, laughing.
“Seems like Aoife is my last resort for wingwoman.”
“Didn’t she steal away the girl you were chatting up last time?” said Splat. Luo threw a dirty sock at him.
“Are we ready, then?” Habib said at last, giving them all an appraising look.
“We’ll have to wait another hour for the girls,” Splat said, rolling his eyes.
But, as they headed down the stairs, they found them crowding the corridor outside of their room. Splat wolf-whistled as they approached, much to their disgust. Zeke couldn’t help but stare at them. It was disorientating to see all of them out of their uniforms, or the hoodies they wore around the fire pit. Similar smoky eye shadow adorned their eyes, but they opted for a variety of outfits, dressing in a mixture of dresses, skirts, and trousers.
Frankie, in a tight-fitting sequinned black dress, slid her arm through his. “You look nice.”
“You guys all look… different,” said Zeke.
All the women burst into laughter.
“We last went out about six months ago,” said Vitt. “Let us have our fun.”
Noah grinned and ruffled her hair. “Come on then. Let’s go pretend everything’s fine for a few hours.”
thirteen
Zeke
Afteralengthycheckingout process, Squad E entered the underground garage where Zeke first arrived, a lifetime ago. It was livelier tonight; many people hovered around parked cars, chatting and vaping. Noah left them huddled in a group to sort out transport.
“Hab doesn’t drink, but he’s off to see his wife in a bit and will make his own way back. Unless Noah finds someone to lift us back and forth, one of us will have to stay sober,” Meredith explained. Most of the people Zeke knew—admittedly Zaya’s friends, which skewed the data somewhat—ignored the rule of not drinking when technically controlling a self-driving vehicle. He figured that soldiers must have to be upstanding citizens.
“I’ll stay sober,” he volunteered.
“No, you won’t,” said Splat, glaring at him. “This is yours and Frankie’s celebration party.”
“Is it?” said Frankie, her eyes sparkling.
Across the expansive garage, he spotted Noah engrossed in conversation with a man leaning against a van. Noah’s hands gestured wildly, and he wore a wide grin on his face.
“That’s right, Noah, turn on the charm,” said Savannah under her breath. She sidled up close to Zeke. Her thin jumper tightly hugged her almost skeletal-thin frame, and she’d tied her black hair into its customary ballerina bun. Out of all of them, bar himself, she looked the least like she belonged with the athletic group.
Noah’s laughter echoed across the garage, and Zeke’s eyes shot back towards him. When he saw Noah resting his hand on the stranger’s arm, a flash of annoyance shot through him. God, did this guy really need to be so nice to everyone he spoke to? Pulsating maelstroms of jealousy swirled inside of him. He wanted Noah to be laughing withhimlike that. He wanted to impress Noah, to be rewarded by his big brown eyes lighting up like they did every time Zeke showed the tiniest bit of improvement.
“Jesus, what’s taking him so long?” Zeke snapped, when the guy moved so close to Noah that their foreheads were practically touching.
Frankie nudged him. “What’s up with you?”
“Chill, he’s coming now.” Meredith, holding her heels as she walked barefoot, nodded at Noah.
“Brian is good to take us. It’s his off day today. He’s seeing a friend in the city tonight, and wants to head back by two,” said Noah, as he reached them.
