Brightly Burning(47)

Hugo locked gazes with me, his searching, skeptical, while I kept mine neutral, resolute. I would not have him upsetting the social balance in my name, painting an even worse target on my back.

“As you wish, then,” Hugo finally said. “Listen, about Bianca . . .”

We both looked over to her as he trailed off. Engrossed in the game, she looked unusually harmless and especially beautiful. When she wasn’t snapping her fingers at Hugo or sneering at me, she was lovely. I looked at him looking at her, wincing when he smiled to himself.

“We go way back,” Hugo continued. “The Ingrams are my family’s oldest friends, and the only ones who kept in touch after . . . well. I know they’re a bit much, and far more hierarchical than the Rochester is. But Bianca’s not half bad, when you get to know her.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” I offered weakly, unsure what Hugo wanted me to say. I wasn’t about to become friends with her. I felt stupid that I’d entertained feelings for him, even though he’d been flirting with me, when he so clearly wanted someone like her.

Hugo sensed the topic’s end. “We have twenty-five minutes left,” he said. “What else do you wish to talk about?”

“Tell me about the Nikkei,” I said, desperate to dwell on subjects that didn’t make my cheeks burn and tears threaten to come. “I’ve heard it spoken about, but never in great detail. I had to leave the Stalwart before my supervisor returned from his trip, or I would have grilled him.”

Hugo spent the next half-hour regaling me with stories of the ship reputed to be the most technologically advanced in the fleet. Meanwhile, I watched as Bianca became more and more incensed from afar. She toddled over in her impractical heels and whined at Hugo to join them in their next game, claiming she was losing hopelessly without him. He tried to beg off on my account, but I deferred to Bianca, insisting he go. She’d demonstrated the power she wielded when it came to Hugo. I wasn’t going to intentionally cross her.

I used the opportunity to slip out and head for the bridge, where Xiao said I could check my messages in the evenings. I had one from George.


Hey, Stel—?

I know I am the worst friend for not writing sooner. You were right—?it was my birthday—?and they moved me up to field duty a few days early. It’s been a whirlwind. They made me a supervising officer, right out of the gate. Jon might have pulled a few strings. He’s in his uncle’s good graces now that he’s apprenticing with him. If I play my cards right, I’ll get a promotion to lieutenant in the next few years, maybe get involved with the decision making when it comes to the supply chain. Jon has all these ideas about staging a mini-coup, keeping more of the food we grow on board. Of course, Jon also thinks there’s a conspiracy to move food production off the Stalwart altogether, but that’s a whole other thing.

We watched another movie I think you would like. It had all sorts of weirdness and layers and stuff, about dreams within dreams or something—?right up your alley. Not so much mine, but at least I had Joy to keep me company. I took your advice and asked her out, and before I knew it, we were an item. For some reason, Destiny has stopped speaking to us, but everyone else seems supportive. I know you were rooting for Joy, so thanks for your advice.

Until next time,

George


George and Joy. Of course. I seemed to have a talent for willing other people’s relationships into existence. I typed up a quick response, conveying my congratulations on his relationship, and then headed for bed. I was halfway to my old quarters when I realized my error, redirecting myself downstairs to the crew wing with slightly heavier steps.

“You must be lost.”

It was Hanada, just a few steps behind me. It was strange seeing her down here with full-on lighting. She almost looked normal. It seemed rude to run away from her, so I let her catch up and we continued on together.

“I moved down here. With the Ingram crew,” I said, like it was perfectly normal. Like I’d had some choice in the matter.

“First he cancels our weekly poker game, and now he makes you move? That frexing—”

“Hugo didn’t do this,” I cut her off.

“Then I can guess who did. You know, he used to follow her around like a puppy, and now it’s her family who’s desperate for our affection.”

“You know about the whole merger thing, then?”

Hanada stopped us just short of where the corridor widened and the crew quarters began. A wild shriek of laughter from the mess hall signaled the Ingram crew’s party was in full swing.

“The Ingrams have been gunning for a merger since before Phillip died.”

“Phillip?”

“Fairfax. Hugo’s father. He couldn’t stand the Ingrams, but they were old family friends of Cassandra’s—?Hugo’s mother—?and so he indulged it.”

“And Hugo had a thing for Bianca?”

“He was thirteen. I think he had a thing for everyone.”

I laughed, because I was sure I was supposed to. “Then some things don’t change,” I said. “He’s smitten with her.”

Hanada narrowed her eyes. “I wouldn’t be too sure. In my experience, Fairfax men are never quite what they seem. They’re stubborn.”

“What does that mean?”

“We can engage in idle girl talk some other time,” she said, entirely unhelpfully. “Just keep your wits about you. Good night, Stella.” Hanada slunk off to her quarters, and I continued to the mess hall.