She’d gone straight to bed after relaying the information about the hourly sentry patrols to Phobos. She heard the others whispering about her once they thought she was asleep. Apparently, even Thrym had been sent out looking for her. Thrym had guessed Romy was with Nancy and the others, but guilt swamped her as she listened to his concerns over her behaviour that morning in Houston’s office.

In typical knot fashion, they knew Romy would speak when she was ready. And Romy resolved to do so once they were clear of the settlement. More than ever, she wanted to be away from Jimboomba. Away from Lucas and Atlas, and the gorgeous Tina.

She stomped beside Phobos on the way to breakfast the next morning. Sleep had been elusive and fitful last night. Sensing her disquiet, Phobos grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly, questioning her with his eyes. Romy shook her head, and he gave her a small smile.

If only Atlas would take a simple hint like that.

Romy gave his hand a quick squeeze and untangled her fingers, seeing that Elara was watching with a small frown. That was all she needed—for the others to think her and Pho were attracted to each other. Honestly, Romy’s stomach rolled at the thought, as handsome as Phobos was.

“Deimos said he would meet us at breakfast,” Thrym said. “Cover story: he was injured during landing. Shouldn’t be hard to stick to, being as it’s true.”

If anything could have salvaged Romy’s day it was this news. It almost made her burst into tears again. This had to be hormonal. She’d never cried so much in her life.

Romy skimmed across the floor when she spotted Deimos already sitting at their table.

“Dei!” She kissed his cheek and threw her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“You all right, lovely?”

Like she was going to spill the plasma to a man just healed from the brink of death. She nodded with a beaming smile. “I am now that you’re better.”

Deimos suffered through hugs from the rest of the knot. “‘Better’ would be a comparative term. But I’m out of bed and I’ve been worse.”

Nancy was watching from the table where they usually sat. Excusing herself, Romy approached them.

“We’re just eating together today, but I promise we’ll be back tomorrow. It’s only because Dei is out of hospital,” she explained.

Freya’s eyes were huge. “I see that.”

Eddie smiled. “W-what about Thrym?” he asked the girl.

“What about him? Deimos is drop-dead man stuff.”

Romy felt the same drop in her stomach as she had when Freya mentioned Thrym yesterday. It made her feel better. For a moment, Romy had thought she might have felt something in return for Thrym. But maybe she just didn’t like anyone showing interest in her knot.