“Right,” Aaron says, hesitating, “but you don’tactuallylove us both. That’s just a figure of speech, isn’t it?”
It’s my turn to frown. “Kenji is my best friend,” I say. “I love him like a brother.”
“But—”
“I love you, too, princess,” Kenji says, a little too loudly. “And I appreciate you saying that.”
Aaron mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like, “Unwashed idiot.”
“What did you just say to me?” Kenji’s eyes widen. “I’ll have you know I washall the time—”
Nazeera places a calming hand on Kenji’s arm, and he startles at her touch. He looks up at her, blinking.
“We have another five hours ahead of us on this flight,” she says, and her voice is firm but kind. “So I recommend we put this conversation to bed. I think it’s clear to everyone that you and Warner secretly enjoy each other’s friendship, and it’s not doing anyone any good to pretend otherwise.”
Kenji blanches.
“Does that sound like a reasonable plan?” She looks around at all of us. “Can we all agree that we’re on the same team?”
“Yes,” I say enthusiastically. “I do. I agree.”
Aaron says, “Fine.”
“Great,” Nazeera says. “Kenji, you okay?”
He nods and mumbles something under his breath.
“Perfect. Now here’s the plan,” she says briskly. “We’re going to eat and then take turns trying to get some sleep.We’ll have a ton of things to deal with when land, and it’s best if we hit the ground running when we do.” She tosses a few vacuum-sealed bags at each of us. “That’s your lunch. There are water bottles in the fridge up front. Kenji and I will take the first shift—”
“No way,” Kenji says, crossing his arms. “You’ve been up for twenty-four hours straight. I’ll take the first shift.”
“But—”
“Warner and I will take the first shift together, actually.” Kenji shoots Warner a look. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, of course,” Aaron says. He’s already on his feet. “I’d be happy to.”
“Great,” Kenji says.
Nazeera is already stifling a yawn, pulling a bunch of thin blankets and pillows from a storage closet. “All right, then. Just wake us up in a couple of hours, okay?”
Kenji raises an eyebrow at her. “Sure.”
“I’m serious.”
“Yup. Got it.” Kenji offers her a mock salute, Aaron offers me a quick smile, and the two of them disappear into the cockpit.
Kenji closes the door behind them.
I’m staring at the closed door, wondering what on earth is going on between the two of them, when Nazeera says—
“I had no idea you two were so intense.”
I look up, surprised. “Who? Me and Aaron?”
“No,” she says, smiling. “You and Kenji.”
“Oh.” I frown. “I don’t think we’re intense.”
