“But it’s the obvious solution,” I say, having lost control of my mouth. “She trusts me—and I can handle her. I’m here, I’m available, I’m capable—”
Warner pinches the bridge of his nose. “Kenji,” he says quietly. “Please kill him.”
Juliette laughs.
Kenji chucks the pillow at me, hard. “No problem.”
The cushion glances off my body. “Look, we don’t have a better option—”
“I can do it.”
We all turn toward the sound of Nazeera’s voice.
She shrugs, then pushes her hood away from her face. “The girl can stay with me.”
Warner looks at Nazeera with surprise, like he’s only now realizing there was a solution right in front of him this whole time. He’s looking at her like this is the best news he’s heard all day. Like this is a revelation.
It pisses me off.
“No way,” I say. “You don’t even live here.”
“So what?” she counters. “I was already planning on staying longer than usual.” She darts a glance at Kenji, who seems suddenly fascinated by the throw pillows. “I have an empty house, a spare room, and no personal effects; it’ll be easy to turn it into a safe house. Plus, it’shere.” She spreads her arms. “Within the boundaries of The Waffle, totally secured. Hugo lives off campus, where the risks are higher. If she’s here, she’ll be within easy reach of all of us. She won’t have access to public spheres. We can keep a closer eye on her.”
I move away from the window. “The only reason you’re staying longer than usual is to assist with Juliette’s responsibilities while she’s on maternity leave,” I point out. “You won’t have the time—”
“I can do both.”
“No you can’t—”
“Are you sure it won’t be too much?” asks Warner, who’s studying Nazeera closely. “You’re already helping to manage a lot of her day-to-day.”
“I’m sure,” she says, turning to lock eyes with Juliette. “You’ve already established a system out here that’s optimized to ensure your safety, which means you operatewithout the need to be physically present—so most of the work is remote—”
“Fine, okay,” I say, waving a hand. “Maybe you can find the time, but I don’t think you realize that taking on Rosabelle will require monitoring her around the clock and caring for her needs as they arise.”
“You say that like it’s hard,” she says, annoyed.
“For you? It’s fucking rocket science.”
“James,” says Kenji.
“Language,” Warner says with a sigh.
Nazeera glowers. “Rocket science isn’t even as complicated as people think it is. Your analogy sucks.”
“Whatever, you know what I mean,” I counter. “Hell, everyone knows what I mean. I love you, Nazeera, but you don’t know how to take care of things.”
“What?” she says, drawing back. “That’s not true.”
“You might be able to take apart a jet engine, but you don’t even know how to keep a houseplant alive. You once got a betta fish and then forgot you had it—”
“I didn’tforget,” she says, looking sheepish. “I just realized it was better suited to life with Winston.”
“It died!”
“After a couple of years!”
“Five months,” Kenji says under his breath.
