“I think it was calledTrapped in Timeor something. That show where they traveled to the nineteen-twenties and got stuck living the same week over and over.” When Jack didn’t say anything, he added sheepishly, “I used to watch it when I was little.”
Jack tried to imagine Boris as a child and quickly gave up. “I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”
“It came on after my bedtime,” Boris said. “My mom used to pretend she didn’t notice me sneaking out of bed to watch it.”
“So did they ever figure out how to get un-trapped?”
“No. There wouldn’t have been a show anymore if they did.”
“Yeah, I-I get that. But do you remember what they tried to do to get back home?”
“They were trying to fix a time machine. That’s how they ended up there in the first place. It all went wrong.”
“Yeah, OK,” said Jack, mentally scrapping the idea. Fictional TV shows weren’t likely to hold the answers to their problem. “Hey, have you been eating? Are you feeling OK?”
Boris raised the whisky bottle. “Got all I need right here.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to scare you, but you look awful.”
“Why would that scare me?” Boris demanded.
“I guess because it would scareme,” said Jack hurriedly. “You didn’t look like this a few days ago.”
The blood drained from Boris’s face. “This is just sleep deprivation.”
That would actually make sense, Jack thought, even as his stomach clenched. It didn’t change the fact that Boris looked completely wrong. More wraithlike than he’d been even yesterday. “Hey, uh, do you want me to man the counter for you tonight?” Jack pointed to the desk with a little too much enthusiasm and sent a stapler flying. It landed on the floor with a crunch. Little metal brackets spilled free.
Boris shot him a look of disgust and gestured to the carnage. “Now, why the fuck would I let you do that?”
“Because I have a room where you can sleep, dumbass.”
“And wait for the lady to come back? No way.” Boris shook his head. Greasy curls flew.
Oh. Jack hadn’t thought about that. “If it makes you feel better, I haven’t seen her yet. And I’ve been staying in that room a long time.”
“Yeah, no, I don’t wanna see her again,” said Boris, avoiding Jack’s eye.
“Right,” said Jack slowly. “You could call me if she shows up?”
“Did you miss the part where I said I wasfrozen? Hell no. I couldn’t call you if I wanted to.” A shudder ran through his broad shoulders. “I’m fine, OK?”
“You look awful,” said Jack, as politely but firmly as he could manage. “I really think you need to eat and sleep.”
“What are you, my mom?”
“For tonight? Sure.”
“Hey, I didn’t say the position was open.”
“I didn’t say it was optional.”
“Ooh, pushy!” Boris cackled, leaned onto his elbows, sneered. “Answer’s still no.”
“You really should sleep,” said Jack, swallowing his frustration down like bile.
“I told you, I don’t wanna see her again.”
“You won’t.”
