Her cheeks flushed. Her small bust definitely did not count asboobs.
Gemma opened her locker to pull out fresh underwear and a fresh jumpsuit, along with shower supplies. She had begun to undo her braid when Imara leaned against the locker next to hers, eyeing Gemma with a mischievous grin on her face.
Gemma stilled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Saw you and Christian getting a little cozy in that simulation. Something you wanna tell me?”
Gemma’s cheeks were hot as coals. In the midst of all the emotion and chaos, they hadn’t held back from consoling each other during the simulation. Of course Imara, of all people, would notice.
“No.” Gemma continued to detangle her hair and turned away from her friend.
Imara laughed. “Oh, my stars. You slept with him, didn’t you?”
Gemma spun back around. “I did not!”
Imara snorted, her eyes lit with an inner glow. “Well, then you’re definitely into him.”
Gemma grabbed her personal belongings. “Shut up.”
Imara chuckled as she followed Gemma into the shower area. Gemma glared at her, anxious to disrobe and clean the stench off her body.
“You do know he likes you, right?” Imara asked.
Gemma said nothing and unzipped her jumpsuit. Maybe the sight of her naked body would send Imara running.
“Girl, you got to go for it,” Imara continued anyway. “What if we fail and are sent back to Perileos? Don’t you want someone to grow old with? Or what if we pass and make it to Oranos, and the two of you are then stationed on different planets? Wouldn’t you regret not going after him while you were here in Zion?”
Trying to ignore Imara, Gemma turned on the water, but she had to admit that her friend had a point. Gemmahaddeveloped feelings for Christian, and it seemed he felt the same. Would she kick herself for not pursuing happiness when she was given the opportunity?
How long had it been since she’d truly felt joy or love or friendship or billowing laughter? She was here in Zion to kill Rami, but what if the plan succeeded and everything didn’t fall apart? What if she could vindicate her sisterandmaintain her friendships and pursue a relationship with someone for the first time?
“What do I say to him?” Gemma asked.
Imara smiled. “Tell him how you feel. I promise he feels the same. I can tell by the way he looks at you. And, trust me, I’m kind of an expert in reading men.” She winked. “I’ll leave you alone now. Let me know how it goes!”
She waltzed away, leaving Gemma staring wide-eyed after her.
Gemma’s stomach fluttered in her throat. If she weren’t naked as a newborn, she would chase after Imara and demand she help Gemma come up with a script. At least the shower would give her time to think and plan what she’d say when she saw Christian again. Before she fainted, of course, and made a complete fool of herself.
Gemma’s nerves were on fire as she stood in the tight corridor of Zion’s innards, just outside the alcove. Christian leaned against the window, his hands in the pockets of his jumpsuit, his back turned toward Gemma. She took a deep breath and stepped into the small space, making sure her footsteps were heavy enough to alert him to her presence.
He glanced over his shoulder before angling to face her. “You look nice.”
She snorted. “I look the same as I always do. So attractive in this sexy jumpsuit.”
“Your hair’s down. It looks good.” He shifted his stance, his cheekbones reddening slightly. “Not that you don’t always look good.”
Gemma smiled softly. This was why she’d grown to care for him like she had. Christian could be both so awkward and kind, yet so composed and in control, like the day he’d fought against the simulated Dissent soldiers. He’d jumped right into action, fully confident in himself and his abilities.
He was strong enough to save lives, yet gentle enough to share in your deepest pains. He was so contradictory, and that’s what drew Gemma to him.
“Feeling any better?” she asked when she was at his side.
He turned back to the view out the window. “Much.”
Reva’s blue sun was low on the horizon, descending behind the red mountains in the distance. The moon had started painting its masterpiece along the canvas of the sky, shades of blue, green, pink, and purple glowing against the blackness of the atmosphere.
The beautiful sight calmed Gemma’s nerves for about one second before she remembered the shower rehearsals were over, and she had to verbalize the words in her head.
