“Just about.” I tugged my other boot on. “Will Sable be coming?”
“No, I think she wants to stay and help the others settle in. You’ll probably all be put to work by the end of the day.”
Ash frowned. “Jobs?” he said, as if the word didn’t belong to him. He poked out his tongue in distaste.
I smiled. I reached for him with my gloved hand and touched his arm. He relaxed instantly.
“Hey, it will only be a few hours. Maybe we can watch a movie later.”
“There are no TVs,” Kieran said. “Except in Elliot’s room. The mountain blocks most of the signals. And even then, he only watches the news.”
Ash paled.
“No TV?” he said. “What about Wi-Fi?”
“Maybe,” Kieran said. “We do have an exercise centre if you need to burn off energy.”
I heard a thud from the room next door. Then raised voices. I exchanged a look with Ash and headed to the room Jess and Dev had been forced to share.
As soon as I opened the door, I ducked as an ashtray went flying at my head, smashing against the wall.
“Learn to breathe quieter! You sound like a goddamn bear!” Jess yelled, her red hair mussed from lack of sleep. She stood glaring at Dev with a look that could melt steel.
Dev glared back, perfectly dressed as normal.
“Me?” he shot back. “You’re accusingmeof annoying noises? I’ve listened to that lighterclickall night—”
“Hey!” Ash barked, kicking the shattered ashtray pieces away from the doorway.
Jess and Dev both flinched.
“What the hell, Ash!” Dev snapped.
“You almost hit Seph,” Ash said, stepping fully into the room, his body already squared like he was ready to tear into someone.
Kieran grabbed his arm. “Stop. What’s going on in here?”
Jess whirled on him.
“What’s going on is that I haven’t slept,” she said sharply, “because every timehebreathes, I’m ready to commit murder.”
“I do not breathe loud!” Dev snapped.
“You sound like an asthmatic lion!”
“Awhat?”Dev clenched his fists, jaw tight. Jess raised her chin, defiant.
Kieran stepped between them.
“Why are you rooming together?” Kieran said. “I thought Elliot put you in with Seph, Jess.”
Jess laughed sharply and pointed at Ash. “Ask him! He won’t let me near Seph!”
Ash growled, low. “That is my space.”
“This is getting ridiculous!” I snapped. “I’m not something you get to fight over!”
“Seph—” Jess started.
