Page 12 of Ace

“Which is fine with me since I was planning on being here for another year at least.”

He knocked on her wall. “How sturdy is this?”

“About as sturdy as it looks.”

“Do you mind if I sleep here? My eyes are closing. I just need a few hours.” He eyes looked heavy. And strange. He looked loopy.

“Wait! No.”

His eyes opened wider. “What?”

“What if you have a concussion?” She pulled out her flashlight and shined it into his eyes.

“Ah!” He covered his face. “Enough. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to sleep this off so that I have a better perspective in the morning.” He laid his head down on his rucksack, closed his eyes, and was so quiet and still that Gianna thought he really had drifted off.

Then he opened one eye. “It is good to see you.”

“You too.”

He closed his eyes again and soon he was snoring. The air was never exactly chilly, but after the rains they’d had, it felt clear, less humid. She pulled the blanket up tighter at her chin, eyeing his warmth across the way, wishing she could curl up at his side.

The next morning,coals in her breakfast fire glowed. She laid two fish over the heat. Their sizzling sounds made her stomach rumble. The ceiling hatch was open, and sunlight streamed into her small hut. Dex had hardly moved all night.

Chapter 5

Dex cracked an eye open. Sun poured in from an opened hatch in the roof. He shifted so that it didn’t hit his face. Crackling cooking sounds and a delicious smell filled the air. Gianna poked at the fish and what looked like two whole potatoes. Her hair fell in front of her face. It hung in a silken sheen. Her nose lifted at the end, and her tongue escaped in concentration. Before he could stop himself, he chuckled.

She lifted her eyes in surprise and, for a moment, just studied him. “I’m trying to be angry with you. But this is nice.” She pulled her hair into a knot on top of her head.

“You can be angry with me. I’m sure you have better things to be doing than cooking me breakfast. If it makes you feel better, I’ll cook tonight.” He sat up on one elbow, pain ratcheting through his head.

She handed him a cup with six Advil. “Take these.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“How are you feeling?”

‘“Once the Advil kick in, I’ll be good as new.”

“I should change out your dressing.”

He reached a hand up to his head and felt the gauze that wrapped around his head. “I’d forgotten.”

“You’re kind of a mess.” She laughed.

“You look fantastic.” He drank her in.

She scoffed and opened her mouth.

But he held up a hand. “No, I mean it. You’ve never looked better.”

The gaze that studied him was wary. And she had reason to be.

He sat up and scooted closer to the food. “This smells like the best food I will ever eat.”

“Okay, enough with the charm. I’m Gianna. Not some woman you’re trying to convince to like you. I’ve seen you pick your nose.”

He snorted. “You have not.”

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