Page 21 of Ship Wrecked

When he spoke next, every word was slow and pristine in its pronunciation. “I said you’d still be stuck with us even if you hated us all, and you said that wasn’t true. What did you mean by that?”

Their colleagues were calling out good nights and disappearing into their own suites, and she waved hard enough to wobble in Peter’s hold. Then it was just the two of them, and she stretched up closer to his neck and inhaled deeply.

They were nowhere near that LA sauna. How he still smelled like cedar, she hadn’t the faintest idea.

Wait. Had he asked her a question?

“Oh. Yes. I remember.” The keys almost fell, but she managed to catch them. “That’s easy. I meant exactly what I said. If I hated all of you, I wouldn’t be stuck. I’d leave.”

He went very still. “You’d just... quit?”

“Exactly.” She smiled at him, pleased that he understood her now. “I’d go home and get back to the theater. Or try to find other film and television work. Or whatever.”

“You’d just quit,” he repeated quietly to himself.

When she waved a dismissive hand, she came very close to smacking him in the face. Luckily, he managed to dodge in time. “It’s a job, Peter. Only a job. Not worth my happiness.”

It was past time to call Filip back, wash up, and get to bed, but the lock was being terribly uncooperative tonight. She gave it a second attempt, then a third, before that same strong hand—gods above, she’dlovedPeter’s hand between her legs—leaned her against the wall by the door and took her keys.

For some reason, the lock worked for him right away, which was very unfair. He swung open the door but didn’t move out of her way for a long time.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she finally asked.

He shook his head, jaw stony. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Are—” She swallowed. “Are you mad at me? Again?”

He didn’t hesitate. “No.”

“Really?” Moving closer, she squinted at him. “Because you look kind of mad.”

“I’m not. I mean it.” His chest deflated as he let out a long, slow breath. “Drink some water before bed, Maria. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she said. “Water. Got it.”

His smile twisted around the edges in a strange way. “Enjoy your talk with your brother.”

Gently but implacably, he steered her into her room. And before she could gather her thoughts enough to say her own good night, he was gone, the door firmly closed behind him.

Texts with Peter: Friday Night

Maria:We’re streaming a movie in Nava’s room, so get over here, Peter

Peter:What movie?

Maria:Australia

Peter:???

Maria:The Baz Luhrmann film from 2008 with Kidman and Jackman

Maria:Nava worked on it, so she can tell us any sordid behind-the-scenes gossip

Peter:Oh, yeah

Peter:Didn’t that movie have a lot of

Maria:A lot of what

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