Page 97 of Bound By Stars
“Hey.” The porter snaps his fingers in front of my face, pulling my focus. “Everything is going to be okay. It was only the escape pod bay. None of the rest of the ship is damaged. Go back to your quarters.”
She could have stayed in her room. If she changed her mind, that’s where she’d be, hiding in her room. I’m running again, turning starboard, weaving through halls until her door is in view. Be there. Please be there.
I skid to a stop. Gripping the edge of the doorway.
Thud, thud, thud.
No answer.
Thud, thud.
Please be here. I want to call her name, but I’m afraid she won’t say mine back. I press my head to the door and knock again.
Please. Please. I sink to my knees.
She has to be here.
“Weslie.” I weakly bang my fist against the door again.
No answer.
She’s gone.
“Jupiter?” Weslie stops at the end of the hall.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jupiter
Six days to Mars
Weslie. She’s here. She’s alive.
“What was that noise? Did you feel the ship rattling?”
I get to my feet, wrapping my arms around her, burying my face in her hair, and crushing her against my trembling body.
She pulls away, frowning. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head and brush her hair out of her face, running my hands over her arms. She’s real.
Her hazel eyes are completely unguarded as she searches mine. Without letting go, she reaches for the door control, dragging me inside and around ILSA.
“Weslie, my readings indicate Jupiter could be experiencing acute stress disorder. Keep him still and warm. If symptoms do not improve quickly, notify emergency medical services.”
“I’m all right, ILSA.” My eyes are glued to Weslie’s face. I pull her back into my arms, squeezing like I can’t hold her tight enough to really believe she’s here.
“What happened?” She pushes me back to search my face, her palm against my heaving chest.
“I…the…” The ringing in my ears grows louder. Air rushes in and out of my lungs too quickly like I’m still sprinting through the ship. My head swims, but she’s alive. Nothing else matters.
“Breathe.” Her shoulders rise and fall, guiding me through long, slow breaths. “I’ll get you some water.”
She turns away, but I catch her hand.
Her wide eyes find mine.
My rib cage contracts, threatening to implode if I let her go. “I thought I lost you.”
