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“You have some dry clothes I can borrow?” I ask.
“They were probably yours to begin with,” Holter says, his eyes on the door. In his room, he tosses some things to me. “Leave your wet things in the bathroom.”
“Thanks.”
“You want something to eat? I have a feeling this could take a while.”
“Ah, I should get going.” The noises coming from down the hall aren’t doing me any good.
Not when I want to be with her.
“Yeah. I left yoursoloin the lot. You want to drop me at the hospital?”
“Yeah.”
Holter has his block in his hand. “Never mind. They say I can’t get in to see him tonight. The tests have tired him out too much, and he’s not allowed any visitors. Gallo is there at the door, and he’s arranged for a series of other Glyden guards to keep watch. I’ll go first thing in the morning.”
“I’d say this calls for a celebratory drink, then.”
Holter glances to the pod room. “I guess you’re right. Let me go get my things.” He excuses himself and vanishes down the hall. He has a look. It doesn’t take him long to get back, but when he sheepishly puts a piece of paper on the counter, I smirk.
“You’re leaving a note?” I ask.
“So?”
“It’s cute, that’s all I’m saying.” I incline my head at him.
“She’ll want to know where we’ve gone.”
“You’ve got it bad.”
“Hell, yeah, I do. She knows it. You know it. Nico should know it, but he’ll never admit it. Rockney at the shops knows it. Your mother knows it. There’s not a person in the city that doesn’t know she owns my heart. And I’ll wait. It’s fine. I’m male enough to wait twenty, thirty years until she fills her pod and has herviropodlets.” He looks over at me. “Lots and lots of podlets, with blue eyes and blond hair. I’m waiting. I’ll be here. Where will you be?”
“Fair enough.” I stare hard and shake my head. “I’m going to change things too.”
“I know you will. It’s the only thing that’s keeping you from swallowing my fist on a daily basis.”
I look at him, and that smile of his tips his lips. I laugh. “Damn you, Holter.”
He shrugs.
I’m still chuckling. “Where do you want to get a drink?”
“You’re buying? We sure as hell aren’t going to the Fin and Fable or the Reef Club.” He cocks his head at me. “Crystal Chalice. I’m more than willing to spend your gold.”
“Thanks.” I laugh again. “I mean it, thanks. But Crystal Chalice? I’m not running into my mother’s friends. But then again, if you want to, sure, why not?”
Holter laughs. “Say the word, and you can buy me a Gorsca instead.”
“A drink.” But what the hell, the hero of Hestertåtten should have a Gorsca if that’s what he wants. Not that he really wants one. He’s pulling my fluke.
“Let’s go, golden boy.” Holter slaps his knee.
Somehow, I feel different. Maybe it’s the clothes which aren’t my hand-me-downs. I don’t think they are anyone’s cast-offs. But even driving my expensive Gorsca through the streets, I feel a little more normal. A little more real. “Change of plans. I don’t want to go to that diamond-encrusted snail fest.” I make a face. The Crystal Chalice is horrible. I take a hard turn for one of the best dive food places I know.
Holter’s eyes light up when we’re a half block away. “Didn’t think you would know this place.” It’s on the far edge of the shield, a series of small domes that link together. Unaffiliated with any of the ten domes, it’s wilder, but the food is fantastic.
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