The Silver Sail by Bridgette Dutta Portman

Author:Bridgette Dutta Portman [Portman, Bridgette Dutta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan1Studios Inc.

Olive adjusted better to the near weightlessness this time. She only felt nauseous for a short while, and it was a relief not having to bear so much weight on her injured leg. She couldn’t delight in it, though, like Nestra and Jambol could. Those first few hours, she watched them leap to the ceiling and somersault through the air in the crew cabin. As time went by, though, even they seemed to grow weary of it.

Things had changed between her and Jambol, and every passing day made it worse. It was not that they ignored each other—in the cramped little ship, that would have been impossible—but there was a forced, awkward politeness between them. It felt as if they were each holding something fragile, like a delicate glass vase, and neither wanted to risk breaking the other’s.

Finally, Nestra had had enough. “You two, knock it off.”

Olive froze. She’d been about to take a sip from the water pouch Jambol had passed her. She’d asked him for the pouch, and he’d retrieved it and handed it to her, but the entire transaction had happened without either of them making eye contact.

“You obviously need to talk something over,” said Nestra. “Clear the air. I don’t know what happened on Crome, but deal with it, because Zeph and I are sick of you two walking around each other like scuttlefleas.”

A blush bloomed on Jambol’s face. “Okay, okay, Nana.”

“I’ll be on the flight deck.” She flashed Olive a wink before leaving them—

Alone.

Heat rose to Olive’s cheeks. Running away wasn’t an option, but she had the urge to lock herself in the little closet that served as a Nova shelter.

“So, uh…” said Jambol in a strangled voice. “About what happened…”

She tried to look unconcerned, even confused.

“In the lava tubes.”

She maintained her blank look for a moment longer, then feigned realization and nodded as nonchalantly as she could. “Oh, yeah. That.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, the two words crowding together into one. “I shouldn’t have—I mean—I was—”

“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry I—”

“It’s not a big deal.” Olive averted her gaze, cursing herself for the slight waver in her voice. She knew she was acting like a ten-year-old. Why couldn’t she look him in the eyes and discuss this, like an adult would? Why did she have to be so timid?

“I was…surprised,” he said. “And it’s not that I didn’t want to…to…”

She looked at him. His face had flushed purple, and she realized he was just as embarrassed as she was. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“It’s not that I didn’t want to—to kiss you,” he forced out. “I did.”

“You did?”

He nodded. “I just…it felt…” He continued to struggle for words, his mouth opening and closing. She had never seen him look so flustered.

She sighed. “You thought about her.”

His eyes widened and he quickly looked away.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Of course, you did. How could you not? I look…”

“Just like her. Yeah. And you feel just like her, and I know you’re not her, but it’s just…it’s weird.

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