Tomas sighs, shoulders dropping. Sergio nods, looking thankful. Jon stares at his plate for a second, then gives Idris a short nod of his own.
After a while, things are calmer. Back to normal. The room settles back into its usual noise.
When Idris fills a tray with a bowl of crackers and a cup of tea that smells like it’s full of ginger, he glances our way. “Good morning, Nil and Stan.”
“Morning, Prince Charming!” Stan says with enthusiasm thatcould shatter my chest with envy, while I mutter, “Morning.”
“Wish I could stay for a longer chat, but…” Idris lifts the mug in his hand. “Heading back to the MedBay. Em’s a little nauseous. Ginger tea and bland crackers. Doctor’s orders for seasickness.”
That rattle in my ribs disappears. Stan might have gotten chummy with Idris, but I’m the one Stan spent the night with. And it makes me feel warm that, while Em’s watching over everyone else, Idris is taking care of her. Makes sense, honestly.
Studying Idris while he talks a bit more with Stan, I don’t know how I didn’t realize that Idris…might be with Em.
Huh.
Stan claps Idris on the shoulder. “Tell her I said hi and that I’m being very brave about my feelings.”
Idris laughs. “Well, you’ll see her soon, won’t you? You can let her know yourself.”
Stan pouts, munching on a donut hole. “Are you nuts, Prince of Egypt? We both know you’re the only one who’s fluent in Em.”
“When you put it that way, how can I not do you a favor?” Idris says, amused. “Okay, I should get this tea to her.”
He heads out. Stan bumps my arm. “C’mon, Ocean Eyes. Corner table. Best view on the ship.”
He drags me toward a round table that’s too small for two people, but it’s quiet here and it’s by the window. But it’s not much of a view. The Red Sea looks nice, sparkling under the sun, with a hint of sky in the small round window made of metal frame and thick glass. Still better than staring at walls, I guess.
But when I face Stan, I find he’s the much better view.
He drops into the seat next to me. His hair’s still damp from the shower. His collar’s crooked. His smile gets bigger when he catches me staring at him.
He grabs a stack of pancakes from his tray and takes a huge bite,talking around it. “So, real question, how the hell did you do it?”
I raise a brow. “Do what?”
He points a fork at me. “I don’t know how you did it, but you made mirrors hot.”
I choke on my water and cough.
He laughs so loud that a couple of people look over. “You made mirrors hot. You made a sink sexy. You made a whole bathroom kinky.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I say.
“Uh… You absolutely did something. Multiple somethings. Several spiritual experiences. I think I saw god in the steam.”
“Stan.”
“Don’t act shy after last night,” he says, smiling. “You weren’t shy then.”
Heat creeps up my neck. I look out the window to get my face under control. There’s a few birds flying out there. But his reflection’s there too. It’s so faint and blurry, but it captures all my attention.
He taps my ankle under the table with his shoe. So light for how hard my heart’s beating.
“Hey,” he says. “I mean it. You made me feel good. Really good.”
I meet his eyes. He doesn’t look away. That hits me harder than his dirty talk. “It wasn’t one-sided,” I say.
Stan smirks. “I kinda figured.”
