Damn, I really, really liked his laugh.
“Twelve runs until I stopped throwing up. Seventeen until I could actually fly,” he admitted.
I slapped my hands against the wheel. “They had me piloting a speeder on my own by the sixth.”
“You are good at it. It’s why I was always so irritated with you.”
“Because I’m better than you?”
He flicked me on the nose. I cursed and rubbed the spot while he replied, “Because you waste your potential by being a prick most of the time. You’re good in a speeder, good with a blaster, good with your hands—”
“Better with my mouth.”
Shutting his eyes, he groaned. “Stop.”
I clicked my tongue. “You have never wanted me to.”
“Ethin.”
“Roys.”
He rolled his eyes but didn’t bother hiding his smile. “You’re intelligent, quick-witted, observant, and good at anything you’re given a moment to study, but most importantly, have the patience for.”
I shifted my weight from side to side. His compliments were suffocating. Pretty little lies, like the faux flowers the upper ring sat on their windows at the Colony. They didn’t feel real, like he was making shit up to get under my skin. I didn’t know why. I didn’t know what to do with them. Didn’t know how to handle that kind of honesty, the way he looked at me so I knew he meant every word, so I took the easiest way out. “This flattery is concerning. Are you dying?”
“Am I not allowed to flatter you?”
“I prefer it in bed.”
“You want me to talk about speeders and lasers in bed?”
I shrugged and tapped my hands on the wheel. “That could be an interesting challenge.”
“I’ll pass.” Roys slipped a hand into his pocket to pop in a candy.
“Feeling angsty?” I held up my hands, signaling to the wheel being free of me. “I’m not even driving, but if I were, I’m skilled, as you said, unless your flattery was a load of shit.”
“It wasn’t,” he replied. I shifted again, realizing I shouldn’t have said that. “We’re flying to unknown territory, and you’re with us.”
“I’m lucky.”
“Not to everyone around you.” Roys cracked the candy in his mouth and went for another one.
“Careful, you’re going to run out, and I imagine it’ll be a pain in the ass to order more.” I dipped my hand into his pocket, surprised he didn’t stop me. Taking a piece, I put one in my mouth, finding it not to be as sweet as when Roys shared one with me.
“I practically bring a warehouse of these wherever I go.”
“Here I thought you weren’t needing them as much. I haven’t seen you eating any and kissing you doesn't taste as good without them.”
“If you’re going to complain, I guess we can put a stop to our nightly rendezvous.”
“So sensitive.” I squeezed his thigh. He smacked my hand away, and I cradled it to my chest. “I didn’t realize you were so easily o—”
“ETHIN!” Roys screamed.
My hands fell on the wheel, jerking to the right. The autopilot switched off as I took manual control to avoid the tendrils burstingout of the canopy below. They thrashed around us, thumping against the shuttle.
“Brace yourselves!” Roys called over comms to the screaming passengers.
