Page 24 of The Love Simulation

While drinking my tea, I can’t help but notice how loudly he’s sipping his coffee. Obnoxiously so, like he’s doing it on purpose.

“What are you reading?” I finally give in and ask, only to get him to stop slurping. The sound is almost as bad as the snoring floating in from Simone and Angie.

Roman closes the booklet and gets up from his stool, coming to sit on the one next to me.

I watch with wide eyes as he slides the booklet to me, then look down. “The dishwasher manual? If you’re that starved for entertainment, I have some books you can read.”

“It’s not for entertainment,” he says with a smirk. “We’re supposed to know how to fix anything here that could break down at a moment’s notice. At the orientation they said we should take the time to learn about everything during the first few days here. I read about the rover last night.”

I remember them saying we should read the manuals, but I’m surprised Roman is already getting up to speed onthings. After all, how much does one really need to know about each machine here in the Hab to sabotage it?

“Right,” I say under my breath.

“What’s that mean?”

“What’swhatmean? All I said was ‘right.’ ”

“I know what you said, but it’s the way you said it. You don’t believe me?”

With Roman’s seemingly confused gaze on me, I look away and consider what to say. I can act like there was no undertone to my words, or I can just come right out with my suspicions to let him know the jig is up.

In the end, I choose violence.

I set my mug down and swivel in the stool to fully face him.

“Rom—Mr. Major. Come on, let’s be real. You and I both know why you’re here, and it’s not because you want to see the library being remodeled.”

“I don’t?”

“Nope. You’re here because your dad sent you. He wants you to make sure this whole simulation is one colossal failure. That way I’ll be too ashamed to show my face back at school, and you can take my job.”

I watch closely as Roman’s face darkens and he crosses his arms across his broad chest.

Got him.

Maybe now that he realizes I’m onto him, he can save us both the trouble and graciously bow out. Me and the rest of the crew will be able to continue on in peace.

But Roman shows no sign of backing down or of being defeated. He scoots his stool forward, stopping right before his knees knock into mine. I look down. We’re not touching, but mere centimeters separate us, and I can feel his body’s heat. I have the urge to move my stool closer, ever so slightly, to erase that space. It’s like holding twomagnets apart, sitting this close and yet so far from Roman, and it feels wrong. Like we’re going against physics.

“I’m not here for my dad,” Roman says. “I’m not on some secret mission to screw this up for everyone. I’m here for you all. To help the mission succeed.”

While Roman speaks, I tear my gaze from our legs and meet his steady brown eyes. The way he saidyou all…it was like he put a special emphasis onyou.

“What do you mean, Rom—Mr. Major?”

He shakes his head. “Brianna, call me Roman. Please. No more Mr. Major or Vice Principal Rogers. Here I’m Roman and you’re Brianna.”

I cannot—no, Iwillnot do that thing with my lip. If he wants me to use his first name, fine. It makes sense seeing as we aren’t on school grounds. And yes, it feels like the sun has just beamed down on me, bathing me in warmth, a dove landing on my shoulder and all, because of the way he says my name, but clearly he’s trying to throw me off my game. Of course someone sent here to ruin everything would deny it. Of course he would put on an air of total sincerity, most likely having picked up on the fact that I want to see the good in everyone. He didn’t really mean that he’s here for me specifically. Just like he didn’t mean it in the library when he said I was amazing. He was trying to get me to trust him then, and he’s doing it now.

I can’t get my brain working quickly enough to say anything, and when a door opens followed by Jordan coming into view, it’s too late.

“Oh wow. You two are up early,” Jordan says. He’s got a spring in his step like he just woke up from the best sleep of his life. “Are y’all excited for our first spacewalk? I know I am.” He moves toward the stove.

Roman has backed up his stool to a respectable distance, and his indifferent mask is back on.

I study him closely, wondering if the conversation we just had actually took place or if it was all some sort of hallucination from lack of sleep. Did I imagine his intense look and the words coming out of his mouth? He always seems to clam up when other people come around.

“What’s that?” Jordan asks, pointing to the booklet still in front of me.

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