Page 48 of Between Earth and Eternity
I’m quiet for the rest of the meal. Pace gives me a worried glance more than once but doesn’t say anything.
Once we finish, Laz stands abruptly. “Who’s up for some line dancing?” I have no idea where all his energy comes from.
“Definitely not me. But you go for it,” I say, leaning back against the booth.
“Same. Not really my thing,” Pace says. I have a suspicion he would have said yes if I had.
“I might not be any good, but I’ll give it a try,” Ori says, tucking a loose strand behind her ear.
“That’s the spirit!” Laz holds out his hand for her.
After a few dances, Ori and Laz are having such a good time that I don’t want to ask her to go, even though I’m ready to go back to the suite.
“Do you want to head out?” I ask, and Payson gulps down the last of his beer.
“Let me text Laz and let him know we left. He’ll see it eventually whenever they’re done.”
It only takes a few minutes to get back to our ring, and when we reach our hallway, I think about whether I should invite him back to the suite. I’m tired, so I’d be asleep in minutes, but I feel bad pulling him away if he wanted to stay out. Then again, I get the feeling he would have done whatever I did, so instead, I say, “Thank you for earlier. I know I’m not always at my finest when thosesituationspop up.” It occurs to me that one probably won’t be the last, and it makes me sick to my stomach. How many times will I find myself spinning out of control on this journey? Will my new friends always be around to offer aid? I hope so.
As if he can sense my worries, Payson says, “I’m happy to help, Skyler. Anytime.” He takes a breath, like he might want to say more.
To avoid any awkwardness, I pull him into a hug, and I feel him relax against me. Payson and I are friends, but maybe there could be more. I’ve been trying to figure that out since Ori mentioned it.
“Miss Andrews, sorry to interrupt, but can I have a word?” Runa comes up from behind us, and we quickly break apart like shrapnel. I bite my lip to keep from giggling, a little embarrassed. Not that we have anything to be embarrassedabout, we are both consenting adults, but Runa gives off a judgemental motherly vibe.
“Oh, sure. Good night, Payson. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Skyler.” He nods, giving me a small smile before disappearing into his room.
“I need to ask a favor,” Runa says once we’re alone.
“Okay.” Not what I was expecting. I thought it would be another warning, especially after the run-in with Slade earlier.
“It’s about Romy.”
I raise my eyebrows, surprised.
“There was an incident this evening with some other children, and she was quite upset.”
“Is she okay?” Something bubbles under my skin for the second time tonight, only this time, I know exactly why.
“She is now, but I think it would be beneficial for her if you could check in with her once in a while, especially until she gets more settled.”
I don’t want to know if they were kids of first-class passengers. I can only imagine what they might have teased her about. I grew up around people like Kol, and time will never change the dividing line they’ve placed between us. Runa probably couldn’t do much anyway. She’s just doing her job, keeping the passengers under her charge happy and compliant.
“Of course. I’ll make it a point to check in on her.”
Runa sighs in relief. “Thank you, Miss Andrews. I know that’s not your responsibility, but she is quite fond of you.”
I smile at that. “Happy to. And please, Runa, call me Skyler.”
“I’m really not meant to, but I guess because I’m requesting favors, then fine, Skyler it is.”
I smile, pleased, and she leaves me to my room.
The suite is tidy and quiet. Bots usually come by once a day to clean and do our laundry. Weirdly, I wish they wouldn’t, just so it would give me something else to do. I change into an oversizedhoodie and crawl into bed, but I’m wide awake as I watch space swirling past the window, leaving me to drown in my thoughts.
I think about Romy. All alone but so brave. Braver than me, a grown woman.
