Atlantis

Chapter 41

“You realize I know what you’re up to?” Bones lay stretched out on the hotel bed, tossing his Recon knife in the air and snatching the falling, spinning blade just before it hit him in the face. He’d been at it for the past ten minutes, complaining all the while about boredom and insomnia.

“What are you talking about?” Dane groaned. Sleep eluded him as well, but he’d at least tried harder than Bones to catch some shut eye.

“Only getting two rooms. You’re hoping I’ll keep you from hooking up with Jade.”

“I’m not going to hook up with her. You’re the hookup guy in this partnership.”

“You’re not planning to hook up with her, but I know how those things go when you meet up with an ex. It starts out all friendly, and then it gets nostalgic. Next thing you know, you’re wondering why you ever dumped her in the first place. It’s psychology and hormones.” Bones caught the knife again and flung it across the room where it stuck in back of the desk chair.

“You’re paying for that.” Dane sat up and rubbed his eyes. “You’ve been through this before?”

“Are you kidding? I hook up with my exes whenever I get a chance. It’s a lot like makeup sex. The difference is, I don’t get into long, committed relationships, like you do. I’ve tried a few times, but it doesn’t last.” He got up, retrieved his knife, and sheathed it. “It’s bad enough you want me to run interference for you, but you’re messing up my game. Sofia looks like a mountain I’d like to climb.”

Dane ignored the labored metaphor. “Wait a minute. You think it’s bad I want you to keep Jade away from me? I’m being faithful to your sister.”

“It’s not faithfulness if somebody has to make you do it. If you’re going to go back to Jade sooner or later, I’d rather Angel find out now, instead of down the road. It’ll hurt her less.”

“It gives me a headache when you say something that makes sense.”

“Screw you, Maddock.” Bones smiled to show he had not taken offense. “I’m going to get some fresh air before I go stir crazy.”

Just then, there came a soft knock at their door. Bones gave him a look that said, What did I tell you? He opened the door to find Jade standing there, looking abashed.

“I… needed to talk to Maddock about something.”

“Go ahead. I’m going out for a few minutes.” Bones left without looking back.

Jade sat down on the bed, facing Maddock, and gazed at him, her brown eyes shining with deep emotion.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“I’m not sure.” She looked down at her hands. “It was fun today. You know, solving the puzzle, proving a legend was true, almost getting killed.” She laughed. “God, I’ve missed it. I know that sounds crazy, but I never feel more alive than when I’m with you.”

“Nostalgia’s a funny thing. It makes you forget the bad times.”

Now, Jade met his eye. Her gaze was hard, but her words soft. “You’re trying to sound callous, but I know you better than that. Tell me you don’t feel it too.”

“Of course I do. And yes, our highs are pretty high, but you can’t deny that our lows were sometimes about as low as you can get.” He poured all his effort into ignoring her eyes, which always mesmerized him, and her other features that he found just as enticing, and concentrated on the bad times: the fights, the jealousy, the months apart.

“It’s called a roller coaster, and people love them. How boring is life if there aren’t any ups and downs?”

Dane had no reply.

“You don’t have to give me an answer. Just promise me you’ll think about it. About us.” Jade’s smile faltered and faded into a tiny frown. She stood and headed for the door.

“Leaving already?” Dane didn’t know why he’d said that. From the time they’d checked into the hotel, he’d wanted nothing more than for the two of them to keep their distance from one another.

“I want to get back to the room before Bones tries something with Sofia.”

“He won’t be happy.”

“He will when I remind him about the punishment for adultery in a Muslim country.” She looked back over her shoulder, a wicked gleam in her eye. “I don’t actually know what the law is in Egypt, but I’ll make up something suitably horrible.”

“Nice one.” Dane winked at her. “Sleep well.”

Jade looked at him for another long moment before opening the door. “Goodnight, Maddock.” She stepped outside and closed the door.

Dane stared at the door, fighting an irrational urge to go after her. What was his problem? He was in a good relationship with a girl he’d known forever. Why would he even consider throwing that away?

He turned out the light, yanked the covers over his head, and, when Bones returned a few minutes later, pretended to be asleep. It was going to be a long night.