Page 105 of Shadow Break

“I think we’re all with you on that front. You think Sydney can find the cure?”

“If anyone can, it’s her.” He looked across the room, where he could see her scrunching up her face at the computer. She slapped her hand on the desk, then looked up sheepishly. “Sorry, guys. Another dead end. Uh, I probably shouldn’t tell you all that. Ignore me.”

Jemi walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder, whispering something in her ear. Sydney sagged and started crying, then took a deep breath and got back on her computer.

“You care about her,” Peter said.

“I do.”

“Does she know that?”

“Have you forgotten that I kissed her?”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“Isn’t it?”

“You think every time a guy kisses a girl, it means he cares about her? Are we living in the same world?”

“So what you mean is, have I ever told her? No. Not in so many words. We hadn’t gotten around to it. And it wouldn’t be very professional while I’m hired to protect her.”

“And a kiss is professional?”

“I had a lapse in judgment.”

“I think it would be worth telling her now. I’d say you’re on even footing in here.”

“What good would that do? If we die, it won’t matter, and if we live, I can tell her later.”

“But it would be nice for her to have something to hold on to while she’s carrying the weight of all our lives.”

“I don’t know. What if it made things worse? If she feels the same, wouldn’t that add to her pressure?”

“You’re not sure if she feels the same?”

“Like I said, we haven’t talked about it.”

“But she kissed you back. I’d say you have a pretty good chance of things going your way. Right now, she’s having to push everything else aside, including her feelings for you. I think it would relieve some pressure if she doesn’t have to ignore those anymore. In fact, I’d bet that having you tell her how you feel will give her a boost in confidence.”

“Maybe.”

“You’re driving me crazy. Just go tell her. And then, when we get out of here, I think you should have a break from work.”

“When we get out of here? How confident are you that we’re going to survive this?”

“I’ve been asking God, but he’s not telling.”

“What does that mean? He doesn’t want to give you the bad news?”

“Usually when God is quiet, it’s his way of saying ‘trust me.’”

“You always have a way of answering a question without actually answering it.”

“I thought that was a perfectly suitable answer. It comes from a lot of personal experience.”

“Mmm.”

“You okay? You’ve got that vague faraway look in your eyes.”

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