back to look at him. “That’s incredible.”
But his arm is back to normal and he’s walking away again. I have to run to catch up.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” I try to tell him. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” But he’s not listening and I’m wondering when I became a motivational speaker. When I made the switch from hating myself to accepting myself. When it became okay for me to choose my own life.
Winston leads me to the room I met him in. The same white walls. The same small bed. Only this time, Adam and Kenji are waiting inside. My heart kicks into gear and I’m suddenly nervous.
Adam is up. He’s standing on his own and he looks perfect. Beautiful. Unharmed. There’s not a single drop of blood on his body. He walks forward with only a slight discomfort, smiles at me with no difficulty. His skin is a little paler than normal, but positively radiant compared to his complexion the night we arrived. His natural tan offsets a pair of eyes a shade of blue in a midnight sky.
“Juliette,” he says.
I can’t stop staring at him. Marveling at him. Amazed by how incredible it feels to know that he’s all right. “Hey.” I manage to smile.
“Good morning to you, too,” Kenji interjects.
I startle. I’m pinker than a summer sunset, and shrinking just as quickly. “Oh, hi.” I wave a limp hand in his direction.
He snorts.
“All right. Let’s get this over with, shall we?” Winston walks toward one of the walls, which turns out to be a closet. There’s one pop of color inside. He pulls it off the hanger.
“Can I, uh, have a moment alone with her?”
Winston takes off his glasses. Rubs his eyes. “I need to follow protocol. I have to explain everything—”
“I know—that’s fine,” Adam says. “You can do it after. I just need a minute, I promise. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to her since we got here.”
Winston frowns. Looks at me. Looks at Adam. Sighs.
“All right. But then we’ll be back. I need to make sure everything fits and I have to check the—”
“Perfect. That sounds great. Thanks, man—” And he’s shoving them out the door.
“Wait!” Winston slams the door back open. “At least get her to put the suit on while we’re outside. That way it won’t be a complete waste of my time.”
Adam stares at the material in Winston’s outstretched hand. Winston rubs his forehead and mumbles something about people always wasting his time, and Adam suppresses a grin. Glances at me. I shrug. “Okay,” he says, grabbing the suit. “But now you have to get out—” And pushes them both back into the hallway.
“We’re going to be right outside,” Kenji shouts. “Like five seconds away—”
Adam closes the door behind them. Turns around. His eyes are burning into me.
I don’t know how to calm my heart. I try to speak and fail.
He finds his voice first. “I never had a chance to say thank you,” he says.
I drop my eyes. Pretend heat isn’t fighting its way up my face. Pinch myself for no real reason.
He steps forward. Leans in. Takes my hands. “Juliette.”
I peek up at him.
“You saved my life.
”
I bite the inside of my cheek. It seems so silly to say “You’re welcome” for saving someone’s life. I don’t know what to do. “I’m just so happy you’re okay,” is all I manage.
He’s staring at my lips and I’m aching everywhere. If he kisses me right now I don’t think I’ll let him stop. He takes a sharp breath. Seems to remember he’s holding something. “Oh. Maybe you should put this on?” He hands me a slinky piece of something purple. It looks tiny. Like a jumpsuit that could fit a small child. It weighs less than nothing.
I offer Adam a blank stare.
He grins. “Try it on.”
I stare differently.
“Oh.” He jumps back, a little bashful. “Right—I’ll just— I’ll turn around—”
I wait until his back is to me before I exhale. I look around. There don’t seem to be any mirrors in this room. I shed the oversized outfit. Drop each piece on the floor. I’m standing here, completely naked, and for a moment I’m too petrified to move. But Adam doesn’t turn around. He doesn’t say a word. I examine the shiny purple material. I imagine it’s supposed to stretch.
It does.
In fact, it’s unexpectedly easy to slip on—like it was designed specifically for my body. There’s built-in lining for where underwear is supposed to be, extra