Chapter 8
“Yes,” Bryn said dryly. “The aliens who grew me in their life pod left me with one on Earth so I wouldn’t get lonely.”
“Aliens?”
“Look—”
“You believe in aliens?”
“No! Of course not. Could you please get out of my—”
“You don’t like to shoot.”
“What?” Bryn asked, voice an octave higher than usual.
Ellis took the first good breath he’d managed since Bryn started talking. “You don’t look like you’re having fun is all.”
Bryn made a quiet sound of aggravated confusion. He dropped Ellis’s gaze. “What does fun even look like?”
“If you don’t know, you’re not having it often enough.”
“That’s not—okay.” Bryn squared his shoulders and gestured toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
Ellis didn’t budge. He swallowed around his heart. “So if it’s not fun, why do it?”
“You’re in my way.”
“Stress relief?”
“Whatever you need to think. Now move.”
“Control?”
“Would you—”
“Power?”
It was like Ellis had punched Bryn. He flinched and took another step away from Ellis.