Kieran made a choked sound. “You don’t even feed yourself, but you want to buy plant vitamins?”
“You two sit here for the day. You’re being fried in the morning sun over at the window. I’ll find you a better place when I come back later.”
Kieran made another sound.
Doubt made me worry I’d just lied to my new friends. I glanced over my shoulder again. “AmI coming back later?”
His face barely changed, yet the air around us did, almost shifting out of the way so we were closer. My pulse fluttered unevenly when he spoke. “You could just not leave.”
I gasped. “Work!” I rushed ahead only to circle back. “Bye, guys. See you later.”
“They can’t hear you,” he grumped.
“Yes, they can!”
“Get your shoes.”
“No time!” I said, snatching them on the way out the door but not bothering to put them on.
I raced into the hall, pausing only long enough to locate the elevator at the end. The door closed behind me, and I was lifted off my feet and tossed over a thick shoulder.
“Ugh.” The air was forced out of me. “Kieran, put me down.”
“No shoes,” he grumbled.
“They’re right here!” I said, holding them up even though I was dangling behind his back.
He ignored me, and I hung there like a sack of potatoes. My eye caught on the edge of his cell phone sticking out of his back pocket, and I helped myself, lighting up the screen to see the time. My groan filled the entire elevator. “I’m going to get fired.”
“Good.”
“Easy for you to say, Mr. Money-bags,” I muttered, twisting to push the phone over his shoulder. “Unlock this, please.”
“What for?”
“I need to call my boss.”
“I’m your boss.”
“The man who runs the Neon Reef.” There was no point in arguing with him. He was a caveman. And in a bad mood.
He grunted but unlocked the phone. I dialed the number, and it was picked up on the second ring. “Mr. Wasashi, this is Haz.” I paused. “Haz Maddox.”
“I know who you are,” he replied. “You’re late.”
“My shift doesn’t start for another thirty minutes.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“I’m going to be late.”
“You’re fired.”
“Please don’t fire me, Mr. Wasashi! I had a minor accident last night and hit my head. I’m just running a little behind. I’ll be there as soon as I can! I’m on my way now.”
He huffed into the line. “If you were on your way, you wouldn’t be calling to tell me you’re late.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I will be there,” I explained.
