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“Yes.” It came out a lot sharper than she meant it to. “Sorry, I just didn’t sleep well.”
He sighed. “I get that. My mind has been racing since the day we got here. It’s hard to turn it off. Even harder with nothing to do in those miserable cells.”
Oh my god, Eli. If you only knew.
She felt a fresh pang of guilt. Eli could never know about Nik. The confusing feelings she had toward him. The things they had said and done. It would break his heart.
Where did this leave them, after all? She no longer felt bound to him, but she still felt loyal to him. She had never been in love with him the way he loved her, but he was her best friend.
She cleared her throat. “Yeah. I’ve had a lot on my mind, I guess.”
She was thankful that Eli got to work with her today. It was one good thing about Nik being gone. He wasn’t here to separate them. It would also be easier to get him off her mind if he wasn’t around.
They spent most of their day chatting like they used to when they’d checked the fish traps together. It was easy to forget they were even captives when she was with him. Her best friend always provided the best distraction.
He seemed at peace, if just for a moment. Was he hiding his true emotions from her? Trying to protect her from seeing the pain he was in? They had both lost their only surviving parent. It had to be killing him, too.
Ali thought about all the things she would’ve told her mom over the past week. She would’ve told her that other towns did exist. That the grass could’ve been greener on the other side. That there was more out there for them than their simple, quiet life in Andus.
Except they were prisoners here, not welcomed guests.
What would she have told her about Nik?
Mom, you were right and I don’t have to settle? Mom, passion does exist? Mom, I feel things I shouldn’t feel for a man who imprisoned me?
Her stomach turned, and she closed her eyes wearily.
She let Eli distract her for the rest of the day. She didn’t want to get lost in her thoughts again. It was too painful there. She just wanted to feel numb. It was too bad they didn’t have gray grass here.
After lunch, they pulled weeds from between the crops. Her arms grew tired and sweat glistened on her forehead. Eli tried to wipe it, but he only made it worse, adding dirt to the mix. They shared a lighthearted laugh over it.
Somehow, throughout the day, she had finally managed to forget about Nik. Eli held her close as they walked back to the prison that evening, snow crunching beneath their feet. They took turns trying to catch snowflakes in their mouths. Eli was way better at it than she was.
They made it back to the prison and waited their turn for the showers. Eli went first and quickly hopped out after a few minutes, looking like a wet dog. His hair dripped and his shirt clung to his body, beads of moisture dotting the fabric.
“See you at dinner,” he said as he walked toward his cell.
Everyone else had finished up and Ali was left alone in the showers. The warm water was incredibly relaxing, and the pressure massaged her shoulders. They weren’t given much time, but even she could admit that the showers here were better than her bathtub in Andus. She scrubbed the dirt from her forehead, her arms and underneath her fingernails. By the time the water shut off, she was feeling quite refreshed.
She thought she heard feet shuffling, squeaking against the hard floor.
“Hello?”
No response.
Chills raced up her spine. She was sure she’d heard something. Cautiously, she pulled back the curtain and peeked her head around the stall. Her stomach turned when she realized she wasn’t alone.
“We should stop meeting like this,” Nik said, a smug grin on his face. He looked good, wearing his signature black T-shirt and black jeans. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited, leaning against the wall.
Ali gripped the edge of the stall.
Where did I put my towel?
“Then stop stalking me.”
“Watching,” he retorted. “We’ve been over this. It’s my job to observe you.” He took slow steps in her direction, the sound of his boots splashing on the wet floor, puddles previous prisoners had left behind. Her heart pounded in her chest with each step as she shifted to stay hidden behind the stall wall.
“Can you grab my towel?” She pointed to the folded towel just out of her reach.
