“Well, she’s right.”
“Something tells me if I tried to explain anything, you wouldn’t believe me. It’s better you just figure it out yourself.”
My head snaps back toward him with a glare. “Excuse me for not being able to trust someone who takes us against our will.”
“I know that’s what you’ve been told, but I’m not out to get everyone. I have my reasons.”
My eyebrows raise. This is the first time Weston has ever brought up anything about his reputation or interactions withthe Voyagers, and he’s outright denying it. But is he telling the truth? If he is, he wouldn’t have to hide his reasons.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Seems like something anyone would say to get people to side with them.”
He doesn’t say anything more, his face a neutral mask as he watches me. If he won’t explain or give me any answers, I’m going to ignore it. He might be trying to get me to believe him, but I’m also trying to get him to believe me, and that is what I need to focus on.
“So I’m just stuck here with you all day?” I say.
“Fortunately for you.”
I snort and immediately picture the appalled look that would be on Tila’s face if she were here. “Was that a joke?”
His eyes sparkle with laughter and I can’t tell if it is at his attempt at a joke, or my snort.
“Maybe.”
“It wasn’t funny,” I say, but have trouble hiding my smile.
Maybe there is hope that he isn’t regretting this budding fake friendship if he’s joking with me again.
He pushes off the rail and walks over to my side of the lookout. “I can take the first watch. I know you’re probably still tired. You can sit and get some rest.”
I step out of his way, putting as much space between us as possible in the close quarters, and slide down the wall to sit across from him. I am exhausted, but this is too good of an opportunity to let go. Spending all day with only each other could help me learn more and convince him I’m warming up to his plot.
“What happens if someone finds the entrance? What do we do?”
Weston gestures to the trapdoor on the roof.
“Did Fin tell you about his job?”
I nod. “Jorn did.”
“There’s a helio here too. If someone finds it, we signal the ship and make our way back. Then we go meet them at the exit.”
“That’s it?” I ask.
“That’s it.”
“I can’t believe you just sit here, every day, watching. Doesn’t it get boring?” I ask.
At least when the day’s searching felt the same, I was seeing something new, interacting with the island, never knowing what challenge was going to come at me. But this? Staying in this small room day in and out for who knows how many years seems like it would make the time on Dawnlin pass so slowly.
He shrugs. “I don’t do it every day. It rotates, just like the shifts.”
“How long did you have to wait on the beach for me?”
“Not long. Maybe an hour. Once you’re inside, you won’t come out until some time after dusk, so we have until nightfall to get into position.”
“It didn’t feel like it took that long at all.”
I found the waters early in the morning, but by the time I stepped through the portal onto the beach, it was already dark. I’d never thought about it before, but now that I know the Castaways wait it out, all day is too long to hide unnoticed by any of the Voyagers out in the daylight.
