Rylie palmed her face some more, feeling wary herself. The adrenaline that had coursed through her veins had been replaced with exhaustion. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Was there any sign of a body?” She slouched onto a nearby seat and leaned her head back. She caught a faint whiff of something masculine, something she had never smelled before, and it occurred to her she was sitting where the Cyborg had. The blue one.
“No, none...” A hand settled on top of her head. “You should get some sleep. We’ll be starting out early tomorrow.”
A moment passed as he stepped away, his steps trailing toward the exit.
“Da, is it really that bad?”
He paused, and the pregnant silence was enough of an answer for her.
“I don’t know, Buggy, but those men tonight, if anyone can fix it, it’ll be them.”
She frowned and stopped him one more time. “Janet’s playing with fire.”
He chuckled, one foot on the dock, “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. She could be playing with metal.” And he was gone. Rylie squeezed her eyelids shut and breathed in the strange smell that engulfed her.
This time yesterday...
She had no idea what had happened. If someone had told her she would be fretting over her da’s business practices and two Cyborgs, she would have laughed. Instead, here she was, soothed by the shallow rocking of the boat and breathing in a strange man’s scent.
Before her thought ended, she was across the lounge picking up the cups, a shiver crawling up her spine. And with the dishes in hand, she stepped onto the dock, her pathway guided by dim green lights and starshine. She looked back out to the ocean, silently begging it to be the same ocean that she had grown up with. One that produced beautiful jewels, crystalline waters to swim in, and strange creatures.
Rylie stopped begging and willed it.
“You shouldn’t be out alone at night,” a heavy voice sounded behind her. She started with a squeak, the cups clinking together in her grip, and put distance between her and the lurker.
“Netto?”
Of course, it is.
“Yes.”
“You scared me.”
He shifted away from her, his profile coming into view, and looked out at the ocean as she had moments ago. Even in the dark, she was aware of him, of every movement he made. Rylie squinted her eyes to make out his details but couldn’t. He just looked like a tall man in the dark.
She was oddly disconcerted by it.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out without knowing why.
His eyes remained on the sea. He stared at it as she stared at him.
“Why?”
“I was rude. So was Janet. I know you were invited and doing your job.” She tried to find the words to explain, finding that the darkness gave her courage but not much else. “I...I don’t like surprises...” she trailed off.
“Stress.”
“Yes, stress.” She took a step closer to him, closing the distance she had created in an effort to make a connection. “I don’t like outsiders.”
“Nor does your dad.”
Rylie smiled. “Nor does my Da,” she echoed.
They stood companionably for a short time as she turned her attention back to the ocean. The quiet laps of water hitting the shore and the chittering of bugs were the only sound between them. It soothed her.
