Page 124 of Specter Bred

“That’s not how jokes work.”

“I’m willing to live with the mystery.”

Hayes stared at her for a second before apparently deciding her participation was optional. He pitched his voice several octaves higher and clasped his hands dramatically beneath his chin.

“Oh, Sammy, please tell me. I’m just dying to know the punchline. Your jokes are always so funny. What do you get?”

Maeve stopped eating and slowly turned toward him. “Is that supposed to be me?”

Hayes immediately dropped back into his normal voice. “Don’t interrupt. You’re being very rude.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

He cleared his throat and returned to his terrible imitation. “Please, Sammy. The suspense is killing me.”

Then he answered himself in his normal voice. “Well, Firecracker, you get... drumroll please... disappointment with extra sodium!”

Silence.

Hayes looked between us expectantly.

Maeve’s expression remained completely blank. “I liked it better when I didn’t know.”

I almost smiled.

“See?” Hayes said. “That right there is why I have to carry the morale of this entire unit.”

Maeve snorted before she could stop herself and shook her head.

"That’s a dumb joke."

Hayes pointed at her with his spoon.

"Got a snort. Counts."

He took another bite, then looked between us again.

"Alright, I got another."

"Please don’t,” I sighed.

Hayes ignored me.

"What do you call it when two alphas stare at each other like they’re about to kill or kiss?"

His eyes flicked between Archer and me.

"Confusing as hell for the beta stuck in the middle."

Archer nearly choked on her food. Hayes smiled as if he’d finally cracked the room. For a second, the only sound was Archer coughing and the old tower groaning around us.

Then I leaned back on my cot.

"Confused about what exactly?"

Hayes blinked.

"What, sir?"