Page 18 of Last Chance to Save the World

It’s kind of amazing the way few people just do the things they need to do. I don’t know how people like Rian convinced humanity that rules should be followed, but it certainly was effective propaganda.

Rian shakes his head. “That door is secured by multiple layers of biometric scans, clearance codes, and ident trackers.”

“Which is why I’ve got you.” I punch him lightly in the arm.

He’s tense. I am too, but I’m better at hiding it.

“It’s going to be fine,” I say.

“You absolutely do not know that for certain.”

“It’s going to be fine, unless we get caught.”

“Or fail to change the code.”

“That would just fuck up Earth,” I point out. As long as we don’t get trapped or arrested, we can get away even if the planet is doomed. Still: “No pressure.”

“None at all.”

I turn to go, then pause at the door. “Hey, Rian?” I ask the dark. I don’t have the courage to face him.

“Yeah?”

“When this is all over—all of it, I mean. Penthouse suite in the most expensive hotel in the city, you and me and buckets of chocolate-covered strawberries?”

He’s silent for a long time. So long that I almost walk away.

Then I hear his deep chuckle. “Yeah. I’ll bring some more peaches, too.”

I whirl around, eyes alight. “Okay, actually, if you bring me some of those peaches, you don’t even need to bring yourself; I can have that moment without you.”

His eyes are liquid and feral. “Oh, no,” he says, both a promise and a threat. “I absolutely intend to be there.” A heartbeat. “And it’ll be more than a moment.”

My body does all those things I’ve been trying to tell it not to do all week. We’re both lying, still acting like this is a future we can have. It’s a game, one we’ll lose even if we win, and we know it.

But it’s worth the fantasy. For tonight, anyway.

“All I have to do is save the world tomorrow, and I get you and peaches and all night in a penthouse suite?” I ask. “I may need that in writing.”

His voice is pitched low. “I keep my promises, Ada.”

Fuck me sideways, I know he does.

• • •

I need a cold shower, but instead, I have to face my mother. I find her on the roof, illuminated only by a light near the door and the full moon. It’s weird to think that I was kicking up my heels on the lunar station just a little bit ago.

“He in bed?” Mom asks. She drank half a bottle of wine by herself, but her voice is sharp and clear.

“He’s in the bedroom, but...”But we need to be careful what we say.

“Got it.”He could come up here and spy on us, or he could have dropped a listening device.

“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” Mom asks.

“Confident.”

Mom smirks at that. She knows me well.

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