Page 74 of Rescuing Ally: Part 1
Turning back to my laptop, I force myself to focus on my thesis, but a decision forms in the back of my mind. One that both terrifies and thrills me.
I tap the keyboard, scrolling through my notes. The cursor lags just slightly—barely noticeable, but enough to make me tap the key again, thinking it didn’t register. The page jumps too far, and I sigh.
Behind me, dishes clink, and water runs as Hank and Gabe move around each other. There’s something almost hypnotic about their rhythm, the way they communicate with barely a word spoken between them.
I focus back on my screen, frowning as I notice my battery percentage dropped fifteen percent in just a few minutes, despite being plugged in all night. It’s likely just the battery showing its age.
Chapter 22
I try to focus,clicking through my research files, but the laptop stutters, freezing momentarily before lurching back to life. I frown, clicking again. Nothing happens for several seconds.
“Come on,” I mutter, jabbing at the touchpad. The cursor jumps, then freezes again. I let out a frustrated groan. “Seriously?”
Both men glance at me. Hank raises an eyebrow.
“Technical difficulties,” I explain, glaring at the screen as my document loads painfully slowly. I drum my fingers impatiently while waiting for a simple file to open. “It shouldn’t take this long to load a Word document.”
“Maybe it’s time for an upgrade,” Hank suggests, returning to his phone call.
“It is an upgrade. My dad bought it a month before… before I was supposed to defend my thesis. It’s top-of-the-line.” I tap the keyboard harder than necessary, as if that might somehow speed things up. The laptop hiccups again, the screen freezing mid-scroll. “Dammit!”
I check the battery indicator—already down to 47% after barely an hour of use.
Perfect.
I’m about to slam the laptop closed when Gabe slides his tablet aside and approaches, standing behind me to look over my shoulder. His proximity is distracting in an entirely different way than my laptop’s issues.
“Let me guess,” he says, his voice close to my ear. “You haven’t backed up your files.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “I have… mostly.”
He makes a disapproving noise that shouldn’t affect me the way it does.
“We’re sorting out your tech situation,” he says, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. The weight of it is oddly reassuring. “Can’t have you losing all that research because of a faulty machine, no matter how expensive it was.”
I notice the battery meter drop another percentage point as if to emphasize his point. Dad would have his IT team overnight me a replacement if I asked, but that would mean contacting him and again defending where I am and why I’m here.
The laptop screen goes black for a second and then flickers back to life.
“I can make do,” I say, closing several applications to conserve power. I save the document I’ve been fighting with, feeling oddly defeated by an inanimate object.
I’m about to make a sarcastic comment about Gabe managing my life now, too, when Hank ends his call and joins us. His expression is serious.
With the laptop temporarily subdued, I glance between them, suddenly aware of the tension in the air. They’ve been whispering all morning, exchanging looks when they think I’m not paying attention.
“So,” I say, sounding casual as I close my laptop. “What’s the plan for today?”
Their eyes meet over my head, a silent communication passing between them.
“About that,” Hank starts, just as Gabe says, “We were thinking?—”
They stop, and Gabe gestures forHank to continue.
“We need to get back to work,” Hank says carefully, studying my reaction.
“But we can’t leave you here alone,” Gabe adds quickly.
I wrap my hands around my mug, absorbing the warmth. “I don’t expect you to put your lives on hold for me.”
