“I’m glad we’re still doing this,” he whispers.
“Me too,” I say.
“And I’m glad I ran into you that day.”
“Me too.”
After my conversation with Brett, and running into Atlas near the library, I followed along without question. There were two copies of a book he’d waited to read for a while. He’d asked if I’d be willing to read along with him. My mouth agreed before my brain realized what I’d done. The next time we visited, Atlas proposed a book club. I just wanted to spend more time with him.
The way he’s speaking, and the way he looks at me, makes me wonder if I’m missing any cues here. I sift through everything he’s said to me, attempting to find the hints underlying each word. He stares at me longer, his grin fading.“I should go,” Atlas says, standing.
“What?” I stumble. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he says, though his reply is not convincing. “Sorry, I remembered Mafu invited me to a game night tonight.”
I sometimes forget he and Mafu were childhood friends, given how cold he acts toward others. That, and they haven’t been on the best of terms lately.
“Sure,” I say. “Have fun. See you Tuesday?”
“Yeah,” he mumbles, offers a weak grin, and hurries out of the library.
Ezra’s fingers brush through my curls. He’s acting as the big spoon because of the several inches he has over me, but I can’t complain. It’s soothing, wrapped in someone’s arms for once, protected and safe.
The sun’s gone down and moonlight drifts through the blinds, casting us in its milky glow. Ezra tells me about his day and the projects the horticultural supervisors have given them to accomplish. He drones on and on about plants and vegetables, the music he’s learning in his lessons, and how Ofa is constantly hovering over his shoulder. He doesn’t mention Atlas once. I haven’t confronted Ezra about him yet. That would lead me to confess feelings that aren’t ready to see the light of day, but the absence of Atlas in this conversation doesn’t help my suspicions.
The avoidance almost confirms them.
“Are you okay?” Ezra asks when my silence has dragged on for too long.
“Yeah,” I say. Sleep threatens to pull me under, its arms cradling my tired consciousness.
Time. I need more time to figure out what I’m going to say and when.
“If there’s something on your mind, you can tell me. You don’t need to be afraid to open up to me and talk about your emotions,” he says.
“I know, Ez. I’m just tired.”
“I don’t want you to be the only one carrying this relationship. I want to do my part, too. Be there for you when you need it.”
“Thank you, love.”
The sheets rustle, followed by the tender placement of his lips on my cheek. Minutes later, he’s dead to the world. I consider what he told me, but he and I are at an impasse. He must have his suspicions, too.
I’m not ready to tell him, but I have to figure out something before we crash and burn.
Ambrosia pulls me aside in the locker room, the second the Angelic emblem clasps to my chest. The wings are weightless, which continues to surprise me. On my second day with the guard, Matt told me that their armor suits consist of nanotechnology, courtesy of Esther’s father and his endless stream of cash.
Ambrosia snaps her finger in irritation.
“You’ve been distracted lately. Is everything . . . fine?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
She peers at me skeptically, but it’s back to business with her.
“Leeanne informed me of a supply mission her crew can’t make with our private distributor. She tasked the Eureka group to fulfill it—”
“The Eureka group?”
