Page 83

Keahi

"It’s so early.

Why couldn’t you have gotten us a shift in the afternoon?" I groan.

Wystan rang my doorbell repeatedly at the crack of dawn until I woke up and opened the door for them. Psycho. That was about ten minutes ago.

"You asked me to switch with someone with a morning shift." Oh, right.

I wanted to be done with work early so I could have some time with Malia.

Still, it’s so early, the sun isn’t even out yet.

After lounging in my living room while I got ready, they lead me to our station.

"How come you’re so tired anyway? Couldn’t sleep because you’re still used to being up all night? Because same," My partner says on our way.

"I was out with Malia most of the night, actually.

Guess where we went,"

"How am I supposed to know what you two are into? Probably broke into a butchery to free piglets with the hero complex you both have."

"Hilarious as always.

A tip, it was something regulars do."

"Ugh, are you the type of couple that spends their time at a karaoke bar?"

"That sounds fun, actually.

Remind me to take her there soon, she’ll love it."

"You’re on your own.

Spit it out already."

"We went to a club.

It was nothing special, but Malia wanted to experience it," I tell them, grinning at the memory of her having so much fun.

"You’re the biggest wimp," Wystan mumbles.

"You know how relationships work.

Sometimes you do things you don’t love for them and the next time it’s the other way around."

"I guess.

Dustin once dragged me to Missouri for a weekend.

They throw the weirdest parties, honestly, but Dustin was so excited. He even looked past all the homophobic people only so he could run after a pig. I never had the heart to tell him he caught our dinner." There’s a dreamy smile reaching my partner’s eyes as they lose themselves in the memory.

They don’t often tell me stories about Dustin, but from what I’ve gathered, he was a really good guy.

As much as I hate to change the topic and make their smile fade, I carefully ask, "Will you ever talk to her?" Even if it takes some time, I love the idea of hanging out with my friend and Malia at the same time.

Besides, it would be good for them to work their issues out.

"I don’t know, Keahi.

I’m glad she makes you happy, but I don’t know if I can do it. Not yet."

"Then it’s a good thing we have time.

By the way, Malia texted me there still haven’t been more disappearances.

What do you think about it?"

"No clue, but I have a feeling it’s not over.

Whoever those people were, they targeted us specifically.

They also haven’t killed our guards but took them, which means they were probably used for information. My guess is they’re planning to attack, and this is the quiet before the storm."

"Malia said something similar.

Is it too much to hope for some peace for once?"

The two of us grabbed some lunch and spent some more time on watch in the afternoon until another pair came to replace us.

Now, we’re on our way back to the facility.

"Why are you coming along anyway? Shouldn’t you go home?" I ask my partner.

They usually don’t come to the guard’s facility since we’re not obliged to.

"Every guard has to attend at least a few hours of this new training and Flint told me Malia doesn’t work in the evenings.

I’ll attend when someone else leads the lesson."

"No one has told me I have to attend," I realize.

We usually get a message with information or orders like that.

"Guess they think you don’t need it since you’re dating the teacher herself." I shrug and we each head in different directions.

I walk to Malia’s room while Wystan finds someplace to pass their time.

"What a lovely surprise, hey." Malia walks over to kiss me.

"Hey, how was work today?" I ask her, scooting over on her bed to make space only for her to walk past it.

"Good, I had a lot of fun beating Flint’s ass.

Do you know what he did earlier? He told me Arcane abandoning the missing guards is an emotional topic for me as a way to shut me up.

It’s fine, though, because he surely regrets it now." She’s collecting a few things across the room while talking, but I can imagine the smile on her face.

"I’ll shower quickly, but I want to hear all about your day later." Like that, she disappears into her bathroom.

She’s back in her room fifteen minutes later, all dressed and with dried hair.

Good day to be dating a water handler...

"So, how was watch today?" she sits down next to me on her bed with her back leaning against the wall to face me.

Generally too far away.

I move over and drag her into my arms, glad to catch a glimpse of her smile.

"A little boring since nothing happened, but fine other than that.

What do you want to do tonight?"

"We could go out for dinner and maybe watch a few episodes? I’ll spend the night here, though," she proclaims, and I smile at the specification.

"Dinner and Netflix sound good, but why don’t you want to stay the night?"

"It’s two weeks tomorrow.

We can’t cheat now," she says with a grin.

"You’ve been counting down the days, have you?"

"Of course.

I’m finally moving out of here by choice."

"You’re right, that occasion deserves some celebrating.

What restaurant did you have in mind?"

She tells me about a small Italian place not too far away from us, and who am I to turn down Italian food? We quickly go by my place so I can shower and change, and then, we’re on our way.

The entire time, I feel like I’m walking on clouds.

Tomorrow, Malia is moving in with me. That’s the type of thing sixteen-year-old me dreamed of.

The restaurant is very charming.

As soon as we step over the threshold, out of the cold and into the toasty establishment, mouthwatering smells assault my nose.

The interior is rustic and simple, dim lighting casting a romantic hue over the linen-covered tables. We’re shown to a table for two with a candle already lit in the middle and are given the menus.

Malia keeps teasing me throughout our first two courses by either touching me almost inappropriately or saying something risky.

"You’re being awfully touchy tonight," I tease her at some point.

"What can I say, I’m just looking forward to tonight." Again! Her eyes are saying so much more than her mouth is.

"You need to stop playing with your food like that or we’ll have another cinema moment." She’s nearly sucking on her fork while maintaining eye contact.

Okay, I’m exaggerating, that would be appalling.

She does make a show out of taking the pasta off the cutlery, but it’s just subtle enough to be enticing rather than making her look crazy.

"Mh, does that include what happened back at your place?" she muses.

"I’d sure hope so.

That reminds me; I’ve been meaning to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"What are you on?" I ask.

Malia gives me a puzzled look, so I elaborate.

"Like, the pill or...?"

"Oh, nothing," she says casually while my body’s first reaction is to feel uncomfortably warm.

"What do you mean nothing? You told me we didn’t need a condom."

"That’s because we don’t.

We love each other and I can’t wait to have your children." What the fuck.

Malia bursts out laughing after taking in my expression for a few beats.

"Relax, I’m joking! How crazy do you think I am?"

"Phew! Don’t pull something like that on me.

I mean, I’ve told you I’m in this forever and I meant it, but I’m hoping we’ll get a few years to ourselves before we start the family planning.

So, what are you on?"

"Nothing, but it’s fine.

I can’t have children." She shrugs and takes another bite, appearing completely casual.

"I’m not following.

What makes you so sure?" This conversation took an unexpected turn, making my voice soften without my consent.

Hearing the change, Malia lowers her fork and asks, "Are you sure that’s what you want to talk about right now?"

"I am curious now, but you can tell me later if you want." She doesn’t seem bothered or sad, but I’m not going to push her.

It’s always possible that she’s still masking her emotions, because if what she’s saying is true, it might not be an easy conversation for her.

I just really hope she’s not lying to me.

"Let’s just say my parents made sure I could never have any.

Something about being such a terrible child myself and not deserving children of my own.

I think they just knew I wouldn’t have raised my kids – if I had any – the way they wanted to, so they saw no use. It would have been a flaw to their weapon. A possible future weakness to exploit." She shrugs again, picking her fork back up while I’m left gaping at her.