“Thank you, ma’am.” Taryn pulled the cooler to the glass doors Fern had indicated then switched places with Cassie to change into shorts. They left their bag with Fern and headed out to the boat.
“What’s that?” Cassie pointed to the Yeti when Taryn pulled it along with her.
“Supplies for the trip.” She grinned. “I know how you like to work up an appetite.”
They met Jen at the dock, loaded up the boat, and took off—very slowly.
Cassie had positioned herself in the exact center of the boat. She fiddled with the zipper on her life preserver then tugged on the straps.
“Talk to me about your aversion to sleep.” Cassie stretched her neck as if looking over the edge of the boat. “Keep me focused on anything other than that.” She shuddered and waved her hand toward the water.
“But then I have a question for you, okay?” Taryn turned back to concentrate on driving the boat even though Fern was correct, and there didn’t seem to be another vessel on the water.
“Is this quid pro quo? You’ll only tell me something if I promise to give you something in return?”
Taryn enjoyed the hint of playfulness returning to Cassie’s voice. Her sudden fear had been unsettling and unexpected, though most people had their phobias, whether or not they were logical. “It wasn’t that, but since you mention it, that does sound like more fun.” She waited for another quick-fire comeback, but it didn’t arrive. Taryn wondered if she’d done the right thing in practically forcing Cassie to confront her dislike of water. “I think sleep is a waste of time, like I said, especially when there’s so much to do. We’ve evolved so much that I really don’t understand why we haven’t adapted to recover and repair faster than we do. I think we could be solar-powered; a minute in the sun for every hour we’re awake and no need to sleep.Thatwould be a significant step in evolution.”
Cassie’s laugh soothed Taryn’s guilt somewhat.
“Have you put your theory forward to NASA or the American Association for the Advancement of Science?” Cassie asked. “It seems like something they should seriously be considering. I think Bill Gates would be really interested in funding the relevant studies.”
Taryn glanced over her shoulder, and Cassie’s bright smile made her grin. “I take it you like your sleep?”
“Not quite as much as the boat lady, and I can’t remember the last night I had eight hours wrapped in a cloud, but yes, I like my sleep.” She gave a contented sigh. “There’s nothing like folding yourself into soft cotton sheets after an exhausting shift in the ER.”
“Ah, but is it the sleep you like, or is it just because you’re so heinously tired after running around working a double shift that your brainthinksit likes the sleep? But really, is it because your body has no choice, so it’s conning you into thinking you like sleeping?”
“I’m not sure there’s a difference there. And if it’s happening unconsciously, I’m not sure I should concern myself with the question. Plus, sleep isn’t a passive act—your brain is busy clearing up toxins and debris from your mucky day.”
Taryn laughed. “Now I’m imagining cleaners wandering around my cortex with mops and buckets. I wish they’d stop hanging out by the water cooler gossiping and just get it done quicker so I could get on with a full day on less sleep.”
“And now I’ll never think of sleep the same way again. But sleep deprivation isn’t good for humans. That’s why it’s often used as torture.”
“Whoa, that took a turn for the macabre.”Going this slow was torture enough. Taryn eased off the throttle just as she realized they were picking up speed. Her unconscious clearly wasn’t happy about the lack of velocity, something her body wasn’t used to.
“Sorry. Must be the mood my current environment is putting me in.” Cassie laughed, but it didn’t sound genuine.
Taryn adjusted the throttle to idle and turned around on the swivel seat. “Cass, you really don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. We can put the Yeti in the car and drive out to the canyon. Would you prefer that?”
Cassie shook her head and got to her feet slowly. She edged closer to Taryn and took the seat beside her. Taryn took Cassie’s hands in hers and ran her thumbs over Cassie’s knuckles.
“No. I want to do this,” Cassie said quietly.
Her serious expression convinced Taryn, and she continued to look into Cassie’s eyes long after the window of polite gazing had closed.
“You really do have the most beautiful eyes.” Cassie pulled her hand from Taryn’s and ran the back of her fingers over Taryn’s cheek. “Did you get them from your mom or dad?”
“Hold your horses.” Taryn leaned against Cassie’s caress. “Quid pro quo, remember? It’s my turn.”
Cassie rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat. “You’re a stickler for the rules, Taryn Taylor.”
“Rules keep naughty people like you in line.”
Cassie arched her eyebrow. “I never would have thought you were a rule follower, especially with your aversion to staying in one place for longer than a few nights.”
Taryn shook her head and gently tapped her finger on Cassie’s nose. “There you go again, trying to fish for more information before you’ve given up some of your own. Though I don’t know which rule book specifies everyone has to live their life within four walls—butI won’t get drawn into that until you answer something for me.”
Cassie put her elbows on her knees and leaned closer. “Ask away.”
