Page 48 of Bound By Stars
The last number in the countdown is cut in half as Asha and Tar seal the hatch, and my pounding heartbeat is the only sound left in the universe.
Beside me, Jupiter lies on the floor, panting and shivering. His hand is still in mine. It’s practically frozen.
I sit up, shrug off my jacket, and drape it over him, rubbing his icy fingers between my palms. The bandage on his right hand is torn and stained with fresh blood. “Are you okay?”
“Perfect,” he says through a shaky exhale, glancing at our hands.
A rush of heat burns in my cheeks, and I let go. “Good.”
On his other side, Curran’s eyes are wide as he stares down at his best friend. His face is colorless and still like a statue over a grave.
“Hey.” Jupiter reaches up and pats his chest. “Breathe, man. I’m okay.”
Curran wakes up. “Right. Sorry.” He sucks in a breath, rising to his feet and offering Jupiter a shaky hand.
Skye helps me up.
Asha braces herself against the sealed hatch.
Tar paces with his hands on his head, eyes wide as he counts our party.
Sitting against the wall next to Hale, Meridian glares at him. “What the hell happened with the departure info, Tar?”
If I hadn’t caught that bar, if Jupiter hadn’t grabbed me, I’d be a frozen bit of space debris right now.
“I guess I got the time wrong.” Tar’s eyes flicker back and forth like he’s rifling through information, trying to find where he went wrong.
“Guess? You nearly got us sucked into space,” Hale snaps.
Locking eyes with him, I cross the room, gaining speed with each step. “Says the asshole who tried to kill me. Again!”
Hale narrows his eyes at me like he’s forming the perfect insult.
Skye steps between us, holding him back and blocking me.
“I have no idea what you’re going on about, dust mite.” Hale glares over Skye’s shoulder.
“You kicked me away from the ladder!” My chest rises and falls with heaving breaths.
Jupiter wraps his fingers around the clenched fist at my side and whispers, “Not worth it.”
I hold Hale’s stare. No way I’m going to be the one to walk away. I won’t give him the satisfaction.
“We all need to get out of here before we’re caught.” Curran throws his hands up and starts down the hall with Tar by his side.
“Dirty Earther,” Meridian says through her teeth.
Skye and Asha herd Meridian and Hale around the corner.
“Don’t listen to them.” Jupiter forces me to relax my clenched fist. Loosening my grip, his fingertips slide along the inside of my palm.
My breath catches in my chest.
“Plus, punching someone in the face only feels good for a second. After that, it’s all bruised knuckles and broken fingers, and he can still go back to running his mouth.”
I step away, brushing my hair over my shoulder. “I took you for more of a peacekeeper than a fighter.”
“I grew up with Hale.” He shrugs and nods toward the hall where everyone else disappeared. “Everyone has a breaking point.”
