FORGET MY LONGEVITY GENE; my life may be cut short by the tight, unforgiving gowns every night. The only thing that buoys my mood is my new, full access all over Avida. Which means, for the first time in a year, I can spend the night with Cy again. At dinner, he’s much quieter than usual and we’re separated by Élodie, who asks for updates on all the day’s activities. After dessert, Cy leaves with Élodie so abruptly that the transport door closes before I catch up with them. “In a hurry?” Micah says from behind me.I try to extinguish my disappointment before I face him. “Not really.”“I heard that you and Cy are . . . working on something.” He pauses for a long time, but I don’t give him an inch.“I’m tired, Micah. It’s been a long day.”“If you try to leave, you have to take me with you.”I give him the rudest stare. “I don’t owe you anything.”“I know. You have no reason to believe me, to trust me. Nothing. But I have to get away from Sean and Julian.”
