Page 73 of Shatter

I don't move.

I don't think I could if the building caught fire.

* * *

It's past midnight when I finally get off the gate.

She's still awake when I come in, lying on her side in the dark, facing the chair by the door.

I pull off my boots and line them up against the wall, then hang my cut on the chair.

I start to sit.

"You can stay on top of the covers." Her voice comes out of the dark, soft. "If you want."

I stop, half bent over the chair.

"You sure?" I don't move.

"Stop asking me if I'm sure." There's almost a smile in it. "I'll tell you if I'm not."

I lie down on top of the blanket, on my back, careful to leave a foot of space between us.

The mattress dips, and she doesn't move away.

I'm so tired my eyes burn.

The last eighteen hours are running together into one long blur of flour and spreadsheets.

She inches closer.

"You were amazing today." It's out before I can think about it.

"I was a bookkeeper today." She huffs out a breath.

"You were amazing." My eyes are closing. "The way they looked at you. Tor never looks at anybody like that."

She doesn't say anything for a moment.

"Are you okay?" Her voice is soft.

"Ja." My eyes are already closed. "Jeg er bare trøtt."

The words are out of my mouth before I hear them.

I go still.

Beside me, she goes still, too.

The fan ticks around once, twice.

"What did you say?" Her voice has changed.

I stare at the ceiling in the dark.

"Nothing." Sweat breaks out along my spine. "I'm tired. I said I'm tired."

"That wasn't English." She props herself up on one elbow, and I can feel her looking at me. "Where are you from, Hakon? Really?"