AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jayna tried to regain her composure while looking around the hangar. She located Emmaline on the other side, talking on her phone. Apparently, Sid’s assistant had colored her hair a pinkish purple, and Jayna had to look twice to make sure it was really her. The unusual tint was a good look for her. She remembered the speculation that Emmaline’s relationship with Sid went beyond professional and had to fight back an irrational wave of jealousy.
Don’t swim near the rocks, Aaramere. You’re likely to get smashed yet again.
Emmaline noticed Jayna and waved. She quickly finished her call and hurried across the hangar. “I’m so glad you can join us,” she said, wrapping Jayna in an unexpected hug.
Jayna instinctively returned Emmaline’s embrace and noticed that her outfit was cool to the touch, despite it being heavy and long-sleeved. The hangar was barely cooler than it had been outside.
In contrast, Jayna’s sundress stuck to her sweaty back where Emmaline’s hand touched it.
Emmaline raised an eyebrow. “Your dress isn’t climate regulating?”
“Um, no.” Jayna gave a weak smile. “One hundred percent cotton.”
“We’ll make getting you a u-suit our first priority after we land,” Emmaline said.
Jayna knew about the climate-controlled base layer, but even the most basic set cost more than she made in a year. There was no way she could afford something like that.
“I don’t think we want to subject our guest to a shopping trip with you, Em.”
Jayna hadn’t heard Sid approach and jumped at the sound of his voice. Her heart pounded as she turned to acknowledge him.
Sid held out his hand and smiled warmly. “I’m glad you could come with us.”
“I really appreciate the ride.” Jayna took his hand, and a tingle ran up her arm. Thank goodness he hadn’t tried to hug her too. She was grateful for the heat, as it would explain the intense burning in her cheeks.
“Is this your first trip to Manutai?” Emmaline asked.
“It is. I’ve heard a lot about it from Kalani, though. He’s my Merathlon coach and one of the managers at the Kingdom of Tangaroa. He’s giving me a tour of the park, and he’s offered to let you come along, if you’d like.”
“Wasn’t that park started by former Realms of Neptune employees?” Emmaline asked.
Jayna nodded.
Sid’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure he wants to give us a tour? We’re the competition now.”
“He said to ask. Besides, the parks are halfway around the world from each other, so they’re not really in direct competition.”
Sid shrugged. “In that case, tell him we’d love to come along.”
The limo driver and a launchport attendant moved Jayna’s belongings to the tiny red airplane, and as they struggled to load the packages, especially the semi-rigid case holding her tail and merbreather, Jayna registered how tiny the inside of the plane was.
“If it’s okay with you two,” Emmaline said as she moved to the entry hatch, “I’m going to commandeer the back seat and take a nap.”
“That means you’ll be up front with me,” Sid told Jayna. “You okay with that?”
Jayna’s face broke into a huge smile as excitement coursed through her body. “Very okay.” Only after she had said the words did she realize how they might sound. But if Sid read anything more into them than her excitement at flying shotgun, he fortunately didn’t show it.
Jayna followed Sid through the tiny hatch and strapped into the seat next to him, trying to avoid touching anything, including Sid.
Especially Sid.
The interior was bright, with white light seeming to emanate from the walls themselves. It took Jayna a minute to realize the plane didn’t have any windows. Disappointment welled up inside at the thought of finally taking a parabolic flight and not being able to see outside.
But before she could comment on the lack of windows, Sid tapped a control and the walls of the plane disappeared. Jayna gasped. Their seats appeared to be floating a half-meter above the hangar floor.
“Whoops!” Sid tapped on the plane’s control panel, and the walls of the plane reappeared, only now there was a large window at the front and several small windows along each side.
“How…?” Jayna said, confused.
