It’s like heaven.
When we finally pull apart, I’m beaming like an idiot. I don’t even care that everyone is staring at us. I just want to live in this moment.
“Hey,” I say to her. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
She takes a deep, unsteady breath, and then—smiles. It changes her whole face. It makes her look a lot less like a mercenary and a lot more like an eighteen-year-old girl. Though I think I like both versions, if I’m being honest.
“I’m so happy you’re okay, too,” she says quietly.
We stare at each other a moment longer before I hear someone clear their throat in a dramatic fashion.
Reluctantly, I turn around.
I know, in an instant, that the throat-clearing came from Nouria. I can tell by the way her arms are crossed, the way her eyes are narrowed. Sam, on the other hand, looks amused.
But Castle looks happy. Surprised, but happy.
I grin at him.
Nouria’s frown deepens. “You two know Warner left, right?”
That wipes the smile off my face. I spin around, but there’s no sign of him. I turn back, swearing quietly under my breath.
Nazeera shoots me a look.
“I know,” I say, shaking my head. “He’s going to try and leave without us.”
She almost laughs. “Definitely.”
I’m about to say my good-byes again when Nouria jumps to her feet. “Wait,” she says.
“No time,” I say, already backing out the door. “Warner is going to bail on us, and I c—”
“He’s about to take a shower,” Sam says, cutting me off.
I freeze so fast I nearly fall over. I turn around, eyebrows high. “He’s what now?”
“He’s about to take a shower,” she says again.
I blink at her slowly, like I’m stupid, which, honestly, is kind of how I’m feeling at the moment. “You mean you’re, like, watching him get ready to take a shower?”
“It’s not weird,” Nouria says flatly. “Stop making it weird.”
I squint at Sam. “What’s Warner doing right now?” I ask her. “Is he in the shower yet?”
“Yes.”
Nazeera raises a single eyebrow. “So you’re just, like, watching a naked Warner in the shower right now?”
“I’m not looking at his body,” Sam says, sounding very close to irritated.
“But youcould,” I say, stunned. “That’s what’s so weird about this. Youcouldjust watch any of us take extremely naked showers.”
“You know what?” Nouria says sharply. “I was going to do something to make things easier for you guys on your way out, but I think I’ve changed my mind.”
“Wait—” Nazeera says. “Make things easier how?”
“I was going to help you steal a jet.”
