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Already, my stomach churned at the idea of putting her back among the girls for other prisoners to select.
When the champion turned up to claim his property, I wondered if Harper would let slip about what happened between us.
Prison was a surprisingly political landscape. Prisoners constantly exchanged information and favors, trying to get a leg up over the competition.
They could have run for congress.
Prison was also tribal. If you sided with one gang, another would take it as a personal slight. With a single decision, you gained incredible power and leverage, and at the same time, was forced into confrontations with a gang you never had a problem with before.
There was no reason for Harper to choose me over the champion. I had very little to offer. Even less, actually, than she might think.
She slipped on her baggy clothes and cheap shoes. She tied her hair back and peered up at me.
There was an awkward moment. At least, it felt awkward to me. She smiled and immediately averted her gaze, just as I had averted mine.
This was a one-time thing, I told myself. It was never going to happen again. It never should have happened in the first place. We just happened to be in the right—wrong?—place at the right—wrong?—time.
We were spaceships that passed in the night.
“Are you ready?” I said.
She smiled distractedly and nodded.
I turned to approach the door when she reached out and took me by the arm.
“Wait,” she said.
I searched her face but couldn’t ascertain what the hold-up was.
She bit her bottom lip, gnawing on it like a flaxod with a new chew toy.
“About last night…”
I waved a hand dismissively.
“It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone.”
She looked me over and seemed confused by my response.
“Why would it matter if you told anyone?”
Because you’re with the champion.
“I don’t want there to be any… problems for you,” I said. “Due to your other… clients.”
I couldn’t meet her eyes when I said it. I didn’t like to imagine her with someone else. But in this case, I was the someone else.
“Oh,” she said.
I could hear the disappointment plainly in her voice. She nodded and looked a little beaten.
“Well, I had a great time anyway.”
“Me too,” I admitted.
I turned to lead us out of the cell when she pulled back on my arm again. She went up on her tiptoes and pecked me on the cheek.
“Thanks,” she said, “for saving me yesterday.”
