again.”
“Yes I can.” He held out his arms. “Come on, we’re wasting time.”
“But your hip is busted up … I don’t want you to.”
“You’re tired. We have to run. You don’t leave me much of a choice. I don’t mind, come on—”
“I said no.” I stepped around him and started to push leaves and branches to the side, carving a path for us to continue on. The effort was nowhere near as graceful as Jet’s, but it would get the job done. “I’ll keep going, but I need you to slow down. I don’t think they’re coming after us. If they wanted us, they had their shot.”
A dry huff escaped his lips. “You know, I’m starting to think you were sent to me, with the sole purpose to drive me crazy.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but it looks like you’re stuck with me. Now if you keep making things more difficult, I’ll get pissed and have to turn up the crazy notch to dangerously disturbing levels.” I sent him a small smile over my shoulder.
“Is there anything that doesn’t piss you off?”
“Yeah, flowers and sunshine. But there’s none of that to be found since this world fell into a hellhole, so you won’t see me cracking rainbow smiles or going easy on you anytime soon.” Before I could say another word, I was lifted up off the ground and heaved into his arms. “Hey. Put me down!”
He resumed his stride, using his shoulders now to clear our path. Deep azure eyes found mine. “For the record, there is still sunshine.”
“I didn’t mean literally.”
“Quit fussing. I’ll make you a deal. I run and you rest, at least until the sun goes down. Then you can stomp around and pout all you want.”
I squirmed in his hold, but it didn’t take me long to give up. His grip was too strong. My arms laced around his neck and I glared up at him. “That sounds more like you having your way until you decide to let me have mine.”
“Yeah, that’s about right.”
“I don’t want you to carry me.”
“Well, what you want and what’s actually going to happen are two very different realities.”
“What kind of convoluted crap is that?”
“True convoluted crap. Now stop busting my balls and let me carry you.”
I sighed, making sure it was long and overly dramatic.
Jet shook his head, a small grin tugging at his lips while he pried his eyes from mine to focus on the task. “Piss and vinegar, baby. Piss and vinegar.”
We forged on like that for a while, my perception of time no less disoriented than before. The only thing that helped set me straight was the sunset. As the sun lowered in the horizon, a rush of energy suddenly washed over me, the imminent darkness fueling me with a sense of urgency. “It’s time to hold up the other part of your deal,” I said, wiggling in his arms. “I get to stomp and pout now.” One look at his face told me he was struggling. His eyelids were heavier, his cheeks and lips pulled down, as if I wasn’t the only weight he was carrying.
I knew I wasn’t.
Finally setting me on my feet, he slipped his backpack off his shoulders and zipped it open to pull out the map Lillian had given him, along with a flashlight. He adjusted something that looked like a flashy, high-tech compass, pressing buttons while counting and mumbling quietly to himself. “About twenty more miles. You sure you can walk?”
“You sure you can?” I eyed his hip, fingering the hem of his shirt aside to take a peek. It was bloodier than before, and the bruising wasn’t making me feel any better about his condition. His face gave away no hint of pain when I traced the edge of the sopping wet bandage, his stoic expression so indifferent, I really wouldn’t be surprised if he was a machine.
“I’m fine.” He nudged my finger away and reached for my gun, pulling it from its holster to hand it to me. “Finger on the trigger.”
I exhaled a steady, deep breath through my lips, my bangs fluttering over my forehead. “Yes sir,” I mumbled, giving him a saucy
“Yes I can.” He held out his arms. “Come on, we’re wasting time.”
“But your hip is busted up … I don’t want you to.”
“You’re tired. We have to run. You don’t leave me much of a choice. I don’t mind, come on—”
“I said no.” I stepped around him and started to push leaves and branches to the side, carving a path for us to continue on. The effort was nowhere near as graceful as Jet’s, but it would get the job done. “I’ll keep going, but I need you to slow down. I don’t think they’re coming after us. If they wanted us, they had their shot.”
A dry huff escaped his lips. “You know, I’m starting to think you were sent to me, with the sole purpose to drive me crazy.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but it looks like you’re stuck with me. Now if you keep making things more difficult, I’ll get pissed and have to turn up the crazy notch to dangerously disturbing levels.” I sent him a small smile over my shoulder.
“Is there anything that doesn’t piss you off?”
“Yeah, flowers and sunshine. But there’s none of that to be found since this world fell into a hellhole, so you won’t see me cracking rainbow smiles or going easy on you anytime soon.” Before I could say another word, I was lifted up off the ground and heaved into his arms. “Hey. Put me down!”
He resumed his stride, using his shoulders now to clear our path. Deep azure eyes found mine. “For the record, there is still sunshine.”
“I didn’t mean literally.”
“Quit fussing. I’ll make you a deal. I run and you rest, at least until the sun goes down. Then you can stomp around and pout all you want.”
I squirmed in his hold, but it didn’t take me long to give up. His grip was too strong. My arms laced around his neck and I glared up at him. “That sounds more like you having your way until you decide to let me have mine.”
“Yeah, that’s about right.”
“I don’t want you to carry me.”
“Well, what you want and what’s actually going to happen are two very different realities.”
“What kind of convoluted crap is that?”
“True convoluted crap. Now stop busting my balls and let me carry you.”
I sighed, making sure it was long and overly dramatic.
Jet shook his head, a small grin tugging at his lips while he pried his eyes from mine to focus on the task. “Piss and vinegar, baby. Piss and vinegar.”
We forged on like that for a while, my perception of time no less disoriented than before. The only thing that helped set me straight was the sunset. As the sun lowered in the horizon, a rush of energy suddenly washed over me, the imminent darkness fueling me with a sense of urgency. “It’s time to hold up the other part of your deal,” I said, wiggling in his arms. “I get to stomp and pout now.” One look at his face told me he was struggling. His eyelids were heavier, his cheeks and lips pulled down, as if I wasn’t the only weight he was carrying.
I knew I wasn’t.
Finally setting me on my feet, he slipped his backpack off his shoulders and zipped it open to pull out the map Lillian had given him, along with a flashlight. He adjusted something that looked like a flashy, high-tech compass, pressing buttons while counting and mumbling quietly to himself. “About twenty more miles. You sure you can walk?”
“You sure you can?” I eyed his hip, fingering the hem of his shirt aside to take a peek. It was bloodier than before, and the bruising wasn’t making me feel any better about his condition. His face gave away no hint of pain when I traced the edge of the sopping wet bandage, his stoic expression so indifferent, I really wouldn’t be surprised if he was a machine.
“I’m fine.” He nudged my finger away and reached for my gun, pulling it from its holster to hand it to me. “Finger on the trigger.”
I exhaled a steady, deep breath through my lips, my bangs fluttering over my forehead. “Yes sir,” I mumbled, giving him a saucy
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