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SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

Haskell

Haskell woke up sweating and feeling crushed. There was a chuckle in the far recesses of her brain that was low and sexy. Then she was wet. Unfortunately, it was a hot, slobbery wet, and it was her face, not lower where she’d prefer.

“Eww. That better be Scheherazade, or you’re losing your touch, burglar boy.”

The chuckle turned into a guffaw. “She has no boundaries.”

She felt the bed dip at her side, and she opened one eye to see Nemo sitting on the edge of the bed, his frame silhouetted in the light from the hallway. “Three thirty, pretty baby. Time to wake up. I started the shower for you.”

She could hear it running in the background as she began to wake up. Groggily, she then eyed the dog lying on top of her. “You’re lucky you don’t drool, girl.”

“Oh, she does. She’ll just wait until you love her unconditionally before she does it.” He gave her hip a pat. “Up you git. Time’s a-wasting.”

“Take the furry weighted blanket with you, and I will.”

A funny look crossed his face but was gone almost immediately. “I’m leaving her with you for now.” He stood and grabbed her bag that was sitting by the door. “There’s a bagel waiting for you on the counter. We’ll get real breakfast on the jet. The door will lock automatically behind you, and the alarm will reset. The lift code is zero-seven-zero-five-one-six. Press the B3 button for the armory.” He stepped back toward the bed, kissed the top of her head, then was out the door with a command to Scheherazade. “ Beskerm Gem .”

The dog immediately got off the bed and went to sit in her open doorway, eyes out, totally still.

“Okay, that’s weird,” Haskell muttered.

Not awake enough to give it much thought, Haskell slid out of the bed and went to take her shower. Ten minutes later, she was out the door, bagel in hand, and punching in the code to the lift. Once inside, she went to hit the B3 button and stopped.

Zero-seven-zero-five-one-six.

People often used dates as pin codes. A six-digit date? July fifth, 2016? It was the date they first met in Valencia.

Don’t be daft, child. It’s a coincidence.

The voice was a little bit fainter than normal. She was beginning to think that maybe Nemo was serious about her. Or at least, he thought he was. Fantasies were easy to hold onto. After a while, the blush would wear off, and he’d likely get bored. Even though she knew it would probably break her heart again, she planned to go with it for now. Fighting him was like fighting the wind, and she needed to conserve her energy for the chaos unfolding in front of them. Being distracted by all the what-ifs and does-he-or-doesn’t-hes would just draw focus from what needed to be done.

She pressed the B3 button, and the doors closed. She looked down at Scheherazade, standing at alert between her and the doorway. “Why do I have a feeling things are about to get more complicated than ever?”

When she reached the armory floor, Theory of a Deadman was blaring over the stereo speakers. Scheherazade took one step out the doors, then sat down again, refusing to let Haskell by. When she tried to step around, the dog actually turned her head to look at her and growled. Rolling her eyes, Haskell let out a shrill whistle over the music. Nemo turned. When he saw her standing, stuck just inside the lift, he yelled, “ Vryheid! ” The dog’s entire demeanor changed, and she went trotting around the room to see what everyone was up to. Haskell swore she saw Steel sneak the dog a biscuit when she stood on her hind legs to sniff the edge of the table.

Sliding up beside Nemo, she began to pack her supplies on her person. Some of the items went into pockets and pouches on her belt, holsters, and bandolier, but the basics were small and easily tucked away.

“Nice music.”

Nemo grunted. “Demon’s detoxing, so we let him pick the music rather than rage out. That means we’re forced to listen to this Canadian bullshit.”

“He’s Irish, not Canadian.”

“Yes. An Irishman with horrific taste in music, which is why you’re listening to Canada’s version of Nickelback-lite at an excruciating level to keep his withdrawal in line. ”

Haskell bit her lip. “It doesn’t bother you that he uses drugs? You trust him?”

“Trust me, kitty cat. That man on something is someone I’d rather have at my side than someone who isn’t. He refuses to medicate while on a project, so yes, I trust him.”

“So you cater to him and his habit, then put up with the withdrawal?”

“Yeah, basically. Don’t worry. Mostly he’s just pissed because he’d rather be surfing, but because he’s detoxing, he’s crabby as fuck, hence putting up with the shitty music. It’s not worth fighting him for control of the stereo. Or the volume.”

“Please tell me that you all don’t fight over the music in your cars.”

“Every damn time. If TB’s driving, you’re stuck with Flame’s shit playing. Luckily, she has eclectic taste. I can handle the Toad the Wet Sprocket mixed with the Breaking Benjamin. I just pray I’m not in there when Katy Perry comes on. What’s worse is Waters has adopted all of Kubrick’s tastes, so it’s a lot of Top 40 movie soundtrack shit. If I have to listen to ‘Danger Zone’ one more time, I’m going to hurl all over his truck.” He shook his head. “Pussy-whipped, the both of them.”

“Does that mean you’ll be forced to listen to my music?”

He flashed her a look. “You saying you’re mine?”

She pursed her lips off to the side. “No, but based on the covert looks your teammates keep giving me, they do.”

He remained silent.

“I dunno. I somehow can’t see you becoming a Swiftie,” she deadpanned.

The look he flashed her was absolutely horrified. “No. Just no.”

“Haters gonna?—”

He clamped a hand over her mouth. “I know you’re doing a wind-up. Don’t even try to pretend you’re not. I’ve seen your T- shirt collection, and there wasn’t a single Tay-Tay shirt in there.”

She grinned. “You know me too well.” They worked in silence, packing up. Eventually, she couldn’t hold the question in anymore. “Why is the code to the lift July fifth, 2016?”

His movements barely stopped, but she noticed the hitch. “Each of us has our own unique code so our movements can be tracked in case of an emergency. I haven’t had time to give you your own code yet. Or should I say, get one from Midas.”

“That’s not what I asked you. Try again.”

Nemo continued to pack his kit. “It’s the day my life changed. I’ve never been the same since.”

Her hand reached to grip his forearm. “Sawyer,” she whispered, “look at me.”

Immediately, he stopped what he was doing. The next thing she knew, she was moving through the air, and her ass landed square on the worktable. Now she was eye-to-eye with him. He was wedged up to the table between her legs, his palms flat on the tabletop on either side of her hips, elbows locked, her body caged in. “I will most definitely have this conversation with you right now if you want, but we both know you’re not ready to hear what I have to say, let alone believe it. I also don’t think you want me to say it in front of everyone in this room.”

She searched his face. He wasn’t being melodramatic. It wasn’t that his expression was blank. In fact, it was the most sincere look she’d seen on him other than at the beach the night before. He meant what he was saying. He wanted to prove to her that what he was feeling was more than just the physical attraction they’d given into on their previous encounters. And the fact that he’d bare his soul to her—make declarations, make promises—in front of his friends without a qualm told her that this was not a ploy .

Just like his refusal to sleep in her bed last night.

“Okay.” Her voice was quiet enough that only he could hear her.

“Okay?”

“Okay,” she confirmed.

His eyes flickered over her face and then her body as a whole, searching for lies in her body language. When his gaze returned to hers, he nodded once. Then she was back standing at his side.

“Time to go, people,” Waters called out, heading for the lift.

Nemo picked up their tool belts and gear in one hand, gripped her hand in the other, whistled for Scheherazade, and then led her to the lift with the rest of the team. Something about it felt like it was the first of many times to come.

And for the first time in a long time, Haskell felt like her world was righted.