Page 33 of Uprooted
“What? Why? That doesn’t make any sense,” she says.
“For some reason, it ended up on the list of stuff we weren’t able to have. I have a theory though.” I slide the bowl over to her. She takes it with greedy hands and digs right in.
Fuck—a part of me that feeds off of taking care of someone else just roared to life.
“What’s your theory?” she asks, wiping away some splatter on her cheek.
“I think that our meddling governments wanted us all to bond over how shitty the food is. They told us that it was an ‘act of solidarity.’ I hate feeling manipulated, so I socked away some spices. Welcome to the resistance.”
“You’re telling me I’m complicit with your rule breaking? I’ll allow it, just this once. The real crime here is how bad the noodles are.”
“So, I’ll see you at lunch?”
She swallows heavily. “Baby steps...”
I understand the meaning of her human saying. This small opening is enough for now.
“The dome is all yours for the next few days. I’ve been summoned to Bihar,” I tell her, gauging her response.
“That should be a nice break,” she says neutrally.
“You canreallyprove Bri wrong, and even eat during regular mealtimes.”
“I thought we already established that I’m not hiding. Just going about my work, staying focused on my job.”
“Sure. Of course. Staying focused. Me too.”
“Good. I’m glad we are on the same page,” she says.
“Maybe you’ll miss me enough to let me take you on another tour of the dome,” I suggest.
“I think I’ve seen enough, but thanks.”
“I’m sure I can find something better than a storage unit this time.”
“I don’t know if there’s any topping that,” she jokes.
Good. She’s teasing me again. This is progress.
“I bet you that I can find something better than the storage unit. And if I can’t, I’ll leave you alone. No more cornering you at the mess hall… or conspiring with Bri to find you in the rec room.”
She hesitates, watching me through squinted eyes.
“You have a deal.” She reaches out to shake my hand, sealing the agreement the way humans do. I reach out, and the moment our fingers make contact, I feel her touch throughout my body. I can tell she feels it too. She looks up at me with big bright eyes. Reluctantly, I let her go when she pulls back. I drag my fingers along her hand until she finally breaks contact.
21
Elowen
“I thought about what you said,” I tell Bri. I caught up with her in the gym. From the way she’s sweating and breathing heavily, she’s been at it for a while. Unlike me, who chooses sleep over exercise every single time.
“Is it time for me to say, ‘I told you so’?” she says, coming to a stop on the tread.
“I’m not one-hundred-percent sure about Aro, but you did raise some really good points. I appreciate you being the kind of friend to call me out on my shit,” I tell her.
“I sort of want to hear you say the words…” Bri trails off, waiting for me to be crystal clear. She faces me and taps her toe, waiting.
“You were right.”
