Page 111 of Vega

“Extremely inconveniently.”

The mood between us changed. It did that a lot now. One look would last too long. One joke would settle into silence. One accidental touch in the hallway would make both of us pause. I knew she felt it because her breathing changed whenever I got too close. Mine did too, but I had better practice hiding it.

She closed her book, but her eyes stayed on me. “I need air, Vega.”

I glanced toward the kitchen windows. “There’s a whole backyard.”

“I’ve been locked up for a month and only getting backyard air like a house dog.”

“You’re not locked up anymore.”

Her expression softened because she knew it was true, technically. Then it hardened again because technically didn’t erase everything.

“I know we have to be safe,” she said. “I know Roman is out there. I’m not trying to be stupid. But I’m dying to see other humans.” She gestured toward my face. “Your face is really nice to look at, but I need to see other people.”

“Nice to look at?”

“That’s what you heard?”

“That’s what I chose to focus on.”

She rolled her eyes. “I need to get out of the house.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed, frustrated. “I don’t usually do clubs. I like bookstores, museums, coffee shops, planetariums, escape rooms, little weird exhibits. Nerdy things.”

Smiling, I replied, “That tracks.”

“Don’t judge me,” she whined.

“I’m not judging. I think it’s… cute.”

She blushed, then looked away. “I rarely go to clubs or bars, but at this point, I’ll go if that’s the only option. I just need to feel like I’m not disappearing in here.”

That took the humor out of me. I understood that feeling even if I hated the risk.

I turned off the stove and faced her fully. “We have to be careful.”

“I know.”

“Roman’s not guessing anymore. He knows I have you. He knows I know what you saw. Anywhere public is a risk.”

“I know,” she ensured me again.

I watched her eyes, the longing there, the exhaustion, the need to feel normal.

I gave in, “All right”

Her eyes brightened. “All right?”

“I’ll take you out for fresh air, and I know the safest place.”

She sat up straighter. “Where?”

“You’ll see.”

“That sounds suspicious.”