I slipped out of the bathroom quietly and peeked in Eileen’s room, but she was still sleeping soundly. She’d been up way too late last night. We all had been. I was lucky I’d had Adam to help tend her, to make sure she had lunch and dinner and a smile when she needed it. I hadn’t left Sal’s side. How could I leave him, when I knew he was suffering because of me? I peered in at him next, but his eyes were closed again. His breathing was even, so I assumed he was sleeping.
Which meant I had to face Adam alone. He was standing near the front window, angled behind the chair where he’d been sitting yesterday morning. The sunlight was warm across his chest and shoulders, shining on the delicate dark hairs that curled down his torso.
Not helpful. I made sure a smile was firmly attached before I went to him, but he didn’t acknowledge me until I was two steps away. Even then, his eyes took in my wet hair and clothes before he spoke.
“That explains a lot.”
“What?” I looked down.
“Trust No One?” He held in a laugh as I scowled at my chest. “And with an alien in the next room to boot. You should’ve had your coffee before you picked your outfit.”
“Har-dee-har-har.” I plucked at the hem.
“You’re fine. I'm just teasing.”
“Pretty stupid, though.”
“It’s not like you got much sleep.”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“How ‘bout that coffee?”
Relieved, I nodded and started to fill the carafe while he set out mugs. “So . . . Eileen must have . . . ” His elbow brushed against me and I lost my train of thought.
“Told me? Yes. She did. While you were with him.”
The change in his voice frightened me a little, but I deserved worse. “I should’ve been the one to tell you.”
His eyes sharpened to a clear, angry green.
“I wanted to tell you. I hope you know that, at least . . . ” I shook my head. “No. That’s not enough. I am so sorry—”
“Don’t.”
“I know there’s nothing I can say—”
“No. There isn’t.” He gestured to my bedroom. “It’s him. That creature . . . all of them.” His jaw tightened—along with every muscle in his fists.
“Adam, no.” My hands splayed in the air like a stop sign. “You’re going to get Cara back, I promise. They’re more advanced, and you can’t—what if you disappeared?! I couldn’t—” My hands were on his chest, and I snatched them back. “Just listen to him, please. We don’t know anything yet. He might—”
“We know he threatened you! That he took Cara and her baby! That he messed with my head! What else do we need to know?!”
“Shh . . . please! He didn’t. And it’s not just us, okay? There’s more to it than that. I don’t know how they fit in, but, there are other people. Give him a chance to explain. Please.”
“I will explain.”
I spun to see Sal, looking weakened for all of his fetid, golden glory, one hand supporting himself against the bedroom doorframe and the other grasping the sullied sheet to his waist.
“We woke you! Lie back down . . . ” I rushed over and tried to guide him back in my room, but he didn’t budge.
“That is not necessary. I will clean my body . . . and, eat if you would allow me to? And then I will tell the adam what he needs to know.”
“Of course you can eat! The shower’s in here, let me help you . . . ”
“I can bathe myself. The adam might not be able to resist his training if I asked for your assistance.”
I was a full step away before I even realized it, my face burning so hotly I thought I’d combust. Sal looked at me curiously, then past me towards Adam. Whatever he saw made him blink and frown.
“It was not humorous?”
Adam’s voice boomed over my shoulder, “It was not.”
Once the shower was running and Sal was safely out of Adam’s reach, I checked on Eileen—who was either really convincingly pretending to be asleep, or was just flat-out exhausted. Of course, it wasn’t even eight yet.
Coffee. Now. I made a beeline back to the kitchen, but stopped short when I realized Adam was at the front door, keys in hand.
“You’re leaving?” That sounded pitiful. “I mean . . . Sal’s going to . . . ”
“I’ll be back before pretty-boy is finished primping.”
“You do realize you’re talking about an alien, right?”
“I need to feed Betty.” He frowned as if I’d protested again. “Twenty minutes max. I thought you… Do you feel safe enough with Eileen? I could—”
“We’re fine. Sal was punished for helping us, remember? He’s on our side.”
“No, Lila. He isn’t.”
The screen door was swinging closed before I could think of a reply. My shoulders slumped, and I looked around at my disastrously dirty floor. Twenty minutes. Could I caffeinate, start breakfast, and clean house in twenty minutes? I was only human, after all.
Yes. Yes, I could. I was rather proud of myself when, eighteen minutes later, I was sweeping the last pile of dried dirt, with a tray full of French toast baking in the oven and my empty coffee cup still warm on the counter. Ooh-rah for the human.
“Where’s Adam?” Eileen peered blearily from her doorway.
My broom clattered to the floor as I hurried to wrap her in a hug. “He’ll be back any second, sweetie. He had to run home to tend Betty.”
“He stayed here last night?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“He didn’t want to leave you alone with him.” Clearly, her distaste for Sal had returned.
“He wanted to make sure somebody was looking after you. I’m sorry I was busy.”
Her mouth twisted as if to say something sour, but then she sighed. “Is he better?”
Knowing she meant Sal, I nodded. “Seems to be. He’s been in the shower for a while. He’s going to tell us everything he can, but I was waiting for you.”
“Really?”
“Really.” I kissed her forehead. “Do you need a shower,
