“Uh…” I wasn’t sure what to say back to that. So far he’d been nice and seemed pretty sweet—which I wasn’t expecting, especially from someone his size. But was he hitting on me?

“Matthew dropped off your suit. I put it in a locker for you. You’re going to want to take those clothes off though.”

All my muscles tensed. I’d been wrong about Tyler. “Excuse me?” Who the hell did he think he was?

He held up his hands. “I ain’t gettin’ fresh. Even if I am open to it.”

“What’s your—”

“Just let me finish.” His arms looked even thicker as he crossed them and stared down at me.

I should’ve felt more intimidated, but something about him didn’t seem creepy, despite what he’d said. “You don’t want to be wearing anything under your suit because it’s hotter than a witch’s tit in church out there, even with the cooling system. Can’t expect it to work a miracle against the heat of the surface. You’re going to want that cold AC on your bare skin. Best if you strip before you put it on. You can store your clothes in the locker. No one’s going to mess with them, and don’t you worry. I’ll be doing the same.”

I opened and closed my mouth but couldn’t find the words. Tyler might have a point about the cold AC on your skin, but did he really think that I would undress in front of him? And the bots?

“You think I’m a perv.” He laughed. “No. I won’t be watching. You can find a place around one of these stacks if it makes you more comfortable, but I’m tellin’ you. You’re gonna regret your clothes ’bout five seconds after you step onto the surface.”

I glanced down at my shorts and tank. They were moisture-wicking, thin, and skintight. I figured on or off wouldn’t make much of a difference. But since I was new here, I was open to suggestions. “Maybe I’ll—” A bot flew in behind me as another came closer from the side. I stepped to the right, and they moved with me. I moved the other way, and they moved again.

There wasn’t an inch of privacy in this cargo bay. Jason wasn’t going to allow that. Not when there was a free show to be had.

I looked directly at the bot in front of me and scratched my nose with my middle finger. “You know what, I’m from the desert. I’ll be fine.”