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“So, you see, there’s a lot to think about, so I really need a lot more time to even consider a move as big as the one you’re talking about. Right?”
He didn’t answer, which probably meant he was mad. But then I heard a soft snore and shifted to face him. He was asleep! How dare he fall asleep when I had all that important stuff to say! He missed everything about the books and the fish bowl. Not to mention my need to avoid smallpox.
On the other hand, if he fell asleep, that meant he can’t deny that he agreed with me on everything. So, I was calling this one a win. With that off my mind, I felt like I could finally fall asleep. Except, when I closed my eyes, a loud snore tore through the room, making me jerk upright in bed.
“What the hell was that?” I snapped.
I turned to face Eli, shoving him hard, but he didn’t even wake up. If anything, he snorted and snored louder.
“Oh, this is not going to work.”
I grabbed my pillow and straddled his hips, hoping to wake him up, but nothing happened. Sighing, I lifted his head and crammed the other pillow behind his head. Not even that woke him up.
“You’re ex-military,” I said loudly. “Aren’t you supposed to be always half-awake?”
Yep, that didn’t wake him up either. And shoving the pillow under his head only seemed to make it worse. So, I yanked both pillows out from under his head, watching him flop back on the mattress, but that didn’t work either. And he didn’t wake up. I considered slapping him hard across the face, but that seemed like it would be crossing a line.
Not sure what else to do, I pinched his nostrils together and waited for him to run out of oxygen. His mouth popped open and he started huffing out large puffs of air right into my face.
Screaming to myself in frustration, I got off him and slammed the pillow down on his face. Did he take a sleeping pill? What the hell was I supposed to do now? I shoved the hair out of my face and stomped toward the door. If he wasn’t going to let me get any sleep, I would just have to find someplace else to sleep.
I yanked open the door, slamming it hard behind me, then stood there waiting for him to wake up. Nothing. I rolled my eyes and headed down the hallway in search of someplace else to sleep. But everywhere I turned, all I found were more locked doors. Did nobody trust anyone on this ship?
I nearly stumbled when I turned the corner and ran smack dab into Fox, who grinned at me as he steadied me. “Hey, there, pretty lady. Lost?”
“Looking for someplace to sleep,” I grumbled.
He frowned hard at me. “Did Eli kick you out? That bastard!”
“No, he was snoring,” I said, completely aggravated with the situation.
“Well, look no further. We’ll find you someplace to rest that pretty little head.”
He was a bit of an oddball, but the offer of someplace to sleep was tempting. “Is Rafe going to be upset that I’m not in my assigned room? I thought the guards were locking us in earlier.”
“Yeah, like Eli would allow that,” he huffed. “Did you get something to eat?”
“I had some fruit.”
“Fruit?” He stopped suddenly, looking at me like he was horrified. “That’s all you had?”
“Well, I—”
“No wonder you can’t sleep. You need food in that belly.”
“But, I—”
“Don’t say another word, little lady. We’ll have some food in you in no time.”
* * *
Now that we were entering the mess hall, I realized I really was hungry. Fox talked the entire time we walked the length of the ship. Most of it, I didn’t understand, but he seemed friendly enough.
“Here we are,” he said, spreading his hand out wide. “This is just what you need.”
“But they’re closed,” I said, pointing at the sign.
He frowned, stepping toward the sign and flipping it over. “Now they’re open.”
