Page 80 of Time Stops With You

“Then what does it matter who takes them?”

My jaw clenches because I don’t have a good answer for that.

“Those are mine,” a familiar voice says. Josiah ambles up to Asad, his eyes on the tent poles.

“And who are you?” Asad asks, wielding the tent poles over his shoulder like a sword.

“Josiah,” he says frankly.

“This is Nardi’s little brother,” I clarify.

“I was just about to bring these over to your sister. Here yah go.” Asad deposits them into his grip. “You got it? It’s not too heavy right?”

Josiah nods, his knees almost buckling under the weight.

“You sure you don’t need some help, Josiah?” I ask.

His severe expression softens into something just short of a smile when he looks at me. “Nah, I’m good.”

“How’s the Python Club?”

Joy spreads over his dark face. “I’m learning a lot.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

“When can I see the simulation?” Josiah asks, looking up at me with his frank brown eyes.

“That’s classified, buddy.” Asad says. “How do you even know about our project?”

Josiah rolls his eyes.

I laugh softly. “He has his ways.”

“I’ve been playing around with the idea I told you about. Have you thought of a satellite as a way to connect the planes to the controller?”

“We’re exploring something in that direction.”

Asad reaches out as if to pat Josiah’s head. “Are you a programmer, little guy?”

“Don’t touch the hair,” Josiah says, lurching back.

Asad freezes.

I inwardly smirk. When Josiah makes that disgruntled face, he looks a lot like Nardi. “As soon as the simulation’s cleared by my partners, I’ll give you a preview.”

“Cool.” The little boy grins. Then he balances the tent poles under one armpit to check his phone. “It’s Nardi. She’s ordering me back to the car.” Josiah groans. “Could you talk to her? She’s punishing me for the hacking thing even though you told her it was fine.”

“The hacking…” Asad whispers. Suddenly, his eyes widen. “Thehacking? As in at ourcompany… as in he’s?—”

I frown. “Josiah, what did I tell you about leaking confidential information?”

“That I shouldn’t,” he recites in a bored voice.

It seems I need to get him to sign an NDA about that. He let the truth slip out too easily.

Asad stumbles back, swaying as if he’ll faint. “Akidhacked our simulation? Seriously?”

Josiah’s phone buzzes again.

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