“I did.” Thad smiled. This time it reached his eyes; the ghosts were gone. The shift was subtle, but definitive. “Hey, sorry I’ve been such a crappy island guide lately. After Rory, I realized how thin we are. We need more than one person who can stitch, more than one person who can fix the gliders, that sort of thing. A little cross-training, eh?”
No more tormented Thad. Now it was determined, all-business Thad.
“And thanks for giving Rives the heads-up on Bart,” he said. “He’s one to watch out for.”
Funny,I thought.Bart said the same thing about you. Then I had a thought. “You think he’s the saboteur? The one who messed up the Shack?”
“Maybe. It hasn’t happened since we set up watch, and that’s all that matters. But back to what you told Rives, I wouldn’t worry. I doubt Bart has the balls to steal someone’s gate.”
“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “Doesn’t seem like stealing someone’s gate takes guts. Seems more cowardly to me.”
“Could be.” Thad didn’t look worried. “But either way, he’s got to prove he’s worth taking on Search, and that’s part of what I’ve been working on. Not babysitting Bart, but organizing work details, educating everyone on hot spots, spreading information.”
“Two things.” I spoke carefully. “First, I noticed you’ve been on a tear, helping everyone. But sooner or later, you’ll have to look after yourself.”
“I know.” His voice was quiet. “That’s what I’m planning for. I’ve got Priority soon.”
For a second, Nil looked gray, like Thad’s eyes full of ghosts. Nil without Thad was unimaginable.
“You said two things. What’s the second?” he asked.
“No more sorry, Charleys. I was fine on my own.”
“Oh, I know that.” He flashed his easy grin. “So are you saying you don’t need an island guide?” His tone was teasing, but I heard the flicker of disappointment, or maybe that was just what I wanted to hear.
“Need or want?” I copied his tone, smiling.
“Either,” he said.
“I wouldn’t mind an island guide, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Sounds like want,” he whispered.
Our eyes locked, and as Thad leaned forward, a shout from the beach ruined the moment.
“Thad!” Heesham’s voice. “You ready, man?”
Thad closed his eyes, then turned to Heesham. “Five minutes,” he called. When Thad looked back at me, his eyes were playful, the way I remembered them from my first day at the Cove.
“So, Charley with ane-y, what do you miss the most? What are you wishing you had that’s not here?”
Nothing,I thought, watching humor flash inside Thad’s sapphire eyes.Absolutely nothing.
“Power,” I managed.
“Too general,” he said. “Try again.”
I thought for a second. “Okay, hot showers. This morning, when I took my latest Cove bath, I couldn’t stop shivering. I used to take showers so hot the whole bathroom would steam up. Once the steam actually set off the smoke detector in my room. I’m serious,” I said as Thad laughed. “What about you? What do you miss the most?”
Thad watched the white foam curl around his ankles. “Riding up the lift with my board hanging from one foot. Seeing the white below me, knowing I was about to shred it.” He paused. “The first run of the day, when the snow’s like powder and the sun’s so bright it hurts. Launching down the mountain, flying so fast nothing can catch me. I miss that.”
The ache in his voice was palpable. I stayed quiet, feeling sadder for Thad than me. Nothing I’d missed for 24 days could hold a candle to being denied for 290.
Thad kept going. “A cheeseburger, thick and juicy, with bacon. And fries.”
My mouth watered.
“Sprite,” I said. “Fountain Sprite, on crushed ice, the kind you can crunch in your mouth when the Sprite’s gone but the ice still tastes sweet.”
