But the bed creaks as James rises to his feet, breaking the moment. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Suddenly, there’s a green tinge to his skin. The moment shatters with his abrupt rush to the bathroom. He slams the door in her face. “I’m fine,” he says, but she can hear him retch.
She tries the handle. He’s locked the door. “Go away,” he barks.
She tries not to let it sting. She really does, but as she leaves him to clean up his own mess, she wonders,What if I could like him?
27 – A New Day, A New Precipice
James
November 6, 2390, Day 51.
The throbbing in James’s head won’t quit. Goddamn the auto-lights.It’s daytime!they scream.
God, this is a weird new habit. Letting electronics speak to him as if they know anything. The future is affecting his sanity, which also explains this strange feeling in his chest every time Kate enters a room. She isn’t remotely his type, but he supposes she must be to incite this reaction in him. Because if he had the chance to pick anyone from this time or even his own time, he thinks he’d choose her. It’s all rather aggravating.
Wake up, wake up!the lights scream again. James throws a pillow at the spot by the door where, in a normal apartment, a light switch would be. There isn’t one, and nothing happens.
A moment later, Kate pops her head inside the door. She sits next to him on the bed, lifting a hand. In it is a little squishy-looking maroon cube. “Chew this. It will make your head feel better.”
He does as she says, because at this point, blind faith is his only viable option. A violent cherry flavor bursts in his mouth, but within seconds, the pounding eases to barely a whisper. “That’s impressive,” he says. A second later, as the whisper finally dies, a rush of memories from the night before floods in. He wants to roll over and pull the blankets over his head. The woman he’s become endlessly fascinated with is eighty-six and doesn’t need his protection. Told him not to worry about accepting her help. He should feel relieved that she’s got another month covered, but he doesn’t. His pride or some faulty wiring in his brain makes him anxious about letting her. He’s such an idiot.
She grins. “I know. The woman who invented these makes a fortune."
Before she can get up, he snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her near, so his head is buried in her lap. She probably only lets him because she’s so taken aback. Then her fingers tentatively stroke through his hair. God, the feel of her touching him, of her soft body in his arms. It’s heaven. He takes an indulgent breath, drawing in her sweet floral scent. When he finally exhales, he says, “I’m so sorry for what a dick I’ve been. And last night, I should have never implied what I did. You have every right to do whatever you want. I’d be lucky to have a sliver of your affection.”
She stiffens, and her hand pauses the delightful finger-combing. “James, I didn’t sleep with anyone, if that’s what this is about.”
He hates how relieved that makes him, but he shakes his head. “No. This is about this future world putting me in my place. And I’m tryingto learn, Kate. I’m never going to be perfect, probably not even close, but I can admit when I’m wrong.”
At this, she grabs a handful of his hair, twisting his head so he’s looking up at her. She’s so beautiful it hurts.
“Since when?” Her tone is playful, thank God. She’s so good humored, he doesn’t deserve it.
“Please be nice to me,” he begs, and she goes back to petting him.
“Not until you shower. Currently, you smell like vomit and yesterday’s Vine. And you upset Jett, which is strange, but also reassuring. Maybe you waking up in the future is having a ripple effect and causing everyone to learn a little.”
How would that even be possible, considering her friends, besides Oro1, think he’s a bad person?
When he doesn’t reply, she continues, “He’s here and wants to check on you.”
James presses his face into her thigh. “Noooo,” he groans, replaying his pathetic conversation with Jett.
“If that upsets you, then you’re going to be even less happy when I tell you he’s brought Oro1 and they want to take you to arealbreakfast.”
He was about to continue moaning his discontent, but he’d just about kill for a piece of bacon—fake or not. And since Oro1 is going to be there, maybe they can have Sable bring by the manupartner she’s secured for tonight’s match.
“Think of it. Eggs, red berry salad, Fauxsage, like what you would have had during your time,” she says, clearly very pleased with the offering she’s brought him.
He’s so undeserving of her thoughtfulness, but she continues despite that. Which is what makes her so special. Well, one of the many things. Tears prick his eyes from out of nowhere. And his chest. The squeeze is so crushing, he might be sick again. He rubs his face against the soft fabric of herskirt, hoping the evidence of these intense feelings stays hidden.
Finally, he forces himself to sit up. When he looks at her, the openness of her gaze hits him in the solar plexus. Her wall is gone. And he desperately wants to kiss her.
But she said he smells like . . . never mind. And her friends—dare he say,hisfriends—are on the other side of the door. When he gets home from breakfast, he is going to do more than kiss her. He’s going to start earning her.
Something shifted between them last night, and she felt it too. He may not be worthy of her now, but he can’t ignore the magnetic draw between them that isn’t going away. His only choice is to attempt becoming someone a little better.
