Inside, Idris is standing by Em and her tablet. They’re going over scans or something—I don’t know, nerdy doctor stuff—all serious and focused while I’m over here trying not to collapse from the confession I gave the dreamy man I share a room with.
Fuck! What was I thinking?
I plaster on a smile. “Morning, sexy geniuses,” I announce. “Your favorite patient has arrived.”
Em doesn’t even look up. “We don’t have a favorite.”
“That’s denial talking, doc,” I say, gripping the nearest counter so Idon’t pass out.
Idris glances up, raises his brow, and goes right back to the scan like he knows I’m being weird but decides not to expose me. Bless his sweet soul.
Behind me, I hear the MedBay doors slide shut when Nil walks in.
My heart slams against my ribs. I tell myself it’s acid reflux from skipping breakfast.
I take my usual seat and look up at him. He’s still red. The sort of red that makes my brain short out becauseIdid that to him. His eyes flick to me for half a sec before he looks anywhere else in the room.
Oh,wonderful, I made things awkward between us.
Way to go, Stan.
Em glances up from the scan she’s adjusting. Her gaze goes to Nil’s face, then mine, then the space between us like she’s collecting data points. She doesn’t say a word about it, but she narrows her eyes at the scan again and then tweaks something on the machine thing that goes on our heads.
Em steps over without looking at me, grabs the machine, and places it over my head.
I eye her, and she pulls her brows together. “Stan, please stop tapping your foot.”
“Physically impossible,” I mutter, trying for that anyway.
It fails when I feel Nil move beside me. His elbow pokes my forearm. Em looks over at her tablet. Idris exchanges concerned glances with her.
Em frowns at her tablet. “Stan, your readings spiked.”
“Oh.” My frown mirrors hers. “Maybe it’s your machine.”
Em takes the head thing off me. “I need to determine whether this is Kys interference or environmental distraction.”
“Maybe I’m just excited to be here,” I say. “Huge fan of medicalfurniture.”
Nobody laughs. Instead, they look hella worried.
“Tough crowd,” I mumble, pouting.
Idris looks at the tablet too. They don’t say anything out loud, but some sort of silent doctor conversation is definitely happening.
“Stan,” Idris says after a second, voice even. “Come with me for a moment, please.”
“Oh, sure,” I shoot back. “Because that’s not terrifying at all.”
He throws a thumb toward the far corner with curtains.
I peel myself off the chair and give Nil a quick, totally not panicked glance.
He’s less red now, but he looks worried too, which does nothing helpful to my heart rate.
I follow Idris behind the curtain. The second we’re inside, I see a few infirmary beds. I climb onto one and hang my head in my hands.
Idris waits until the curtain falls shut behind us. “I’m going to ask this plainly so it doesn’t sound scary,” he whispers. “Are you feeling any unusual side effects from the new Kys?”
