Page 39 of Nave
Kit’s bed was all black, as was the wall behind it.
Ariah’s bed was set in brighter, neutral shades with a brushed copper bed and pictures of her family and travels tacked to a material board above it.
“I figure that when the time comes, you can pull out one of the beds and put in a crib—at least until it is safe to move somewhere bigger.”
Lolly’s back was to me, staring at the back of her new home. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking until I heard one big hiccuping cry.
“Hey,” I said, my voice soft. “It’s going to be okay.” I reached out, touching her shoulder. “I know it’s not ideal, but it will—”
With another whimper, she turned and walked into my arms, crying against my chest, her hands grabbing the front of my shirt as I slid my arms around her.
“It’s going to be okay,” I told her, my lips against her hair.
“I’m not… sad,” she sniffled.
“Well, that’s a relief,” I said, squeezing her a little tighter. “Just overwhelmed?”
“Yeah.” Her face pressed against my chest as her arms slid around me.
We could stand there for fucking ever if that was what she needed. I wasn’t going to be the one to let go first.
“This is so much better than I’d been thinking.”
“Honestly, it’s better than I’d been thinking too. And I’m kind of impressed the girls were able to drive this damn thing all around the country.”
“I could never.”
“Hey, you never know.”
“Oh, no. I do. I’m, uh, not a fantastic driver. Or at least, I’m not right now. It’s been so long.”
“You’ll get the hang of it again. If we need to, we can practice in a school parking lot like we’re sixteen again. But I promisenot to slam on the invisible brake and yell at you for hitting the accelerator too hard.”
“My parents didn’t teach me to drive.”
“No? Who did?”
“Some guy who lived in the same trailer park. I think he took pity on me. Took me out in his ancient pickup and taught me the basics.”
There was more of a story there. About her family. About why some stranger would pity her situation. But she was already fragile. I didn’t want to cause any more fractures.
I knew she was going to pull away as she stiffened in my arms. But that didn’t mean I didn’t feel a rush of disappointment nonetheless.
“Sorry for crying all over you. Again.”
I reached out, using my thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
“Stop apologizing. You’ve got a lot going on. And this is a big deal. A place of your own. No locks, except the ones you want, and no fucking cameras. Or bleach, lemon cleaners, HEPA filters, intercoms… should I go on?”
“It’s going to be so strange. Just… living alone. Not having to obey someone else’s rules. Except the ones made by Kit and Ariah, of course.”
“They don’t have many rules. And what they do have will likely be about animal care and not killing the pollinators.”
“I think I can manage that.”
She moved past me, opening the door for Edith, who struggled a bit with the stairs but managed to figure it out. She spent a minute sniffing around before moving down by the beds.
“I guess it’s up to her where we sleep.”
