So I just keep still until she stands up straight and goes
back to sulking on the counter.
Bao homes to the ship for the rest of the afternoon, and by
the time Hina puts out the all-call for dinner, I’m certain that
he’s completely locked onto the
Minnow
. For the first time
in weeks, I’m allowed off the trainer deck and into the main
body of the ship. I follow Swift to the mess, realizing that I’ve
already forgotten the twists and turns of the
Minnow
’s halls.
She doesn’t invite me to sit with the other lackeys when I
get my tray, but I do it anyway. When I’m not on the trainer
deck, the safest place on this boat is glued to Swift’s hip. I
haven’t said a word since this afternoon; at this point, I think
pretty much anything out of my mouth will offend her.
The lackeys all seem too happy to see me. Even Lemon
lights up a bit when she spots me tailing Swift over to their
table.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Varma says,
grinning extra wide as I slide onto the bench next to Swift.
The guy probably gets kicked out of funerals for looking too
pleased with himself.
I eat in silence and leave with Swift. We go back to her
room, she throws a change of clothes at me, and it’s just like
the first night, minus the punching. She just collapses in bed,
rolls over, and I follow.
But this time I don’t let her drift off. I have questions,
and the first is, “Why do you guys like each other so much?”
