Alex gave a little smile and put her plate next to Lila’s, both barely fitting on the shared tray. She picked up a pitcher of orange juice. It clinked against their glasses as she poured. “I didn’t know if it would be too forward given my position, especially with my behavior a few weeks ago. Chef said I shouldn’t ask.”
A month ago, Alex wouldn’t have cared what Chef thought. Then again, a month ago Alex hadn’t smacked her around in front of the High Council of Judges. Lila hadn’t yet put her friend’s mother and little brother in a holding cell, either.
They’d both done things they regretted.
“We’ve had breakfast many times.”
“You’ve never been prime while I’ve been a slave.” Alex sat down across from her, her movement slow enough to barely disturb the bed.
The mattress barely wobbled. Orange juice sloshed in their cups.
“Things will be different when it’s official. I won’t be having breakfast with Chief Randolph. I’ll be having breakfast with President Randolph. Truth be told, I think everyone has always assumed I was a snitch, and that it couldn’t be helped since we’d been friends for so long. Things will be different now.”
“Is that what you think?”
“Yes. I could never have imagined sharing a meal with a slave when I was prime. It just isn’t done. You know that. Stop pretending we’re both something we’re not.”
“I’m not—”
“You don’t know what it’s like among the workborn when the highborn aren’t around. They get jealous and gossip about the strangest things. Others are the sweetest and kindest of souls. Chef, for one. If you pout around her long enough, she might make pancakes all week.”
“She almost does that now,” Lila said, trying to stifle a yawn.
She failed in her attempt.
“If I had known you’d be this tired, I would have let you sleep.”
“What time is it?”
“Six, just as you asked. You slept for ten hours, Lila, but I’m not sure it was enough.” She placed a few utensils before Lila so that she could sort out her breakfast. “What did your doctor say?”
“Nothing about staying in bed.”
“Maybe you should anyway. You just had surgery.”
“A CUT reversal is not surgery.”
“Is too.”
“Barely. And ten hours is plenty of rest.” Lila dumped several pancakes onto her plate. Yesterday’s nausea had disappeared, and now that she had food in front of her, she was ravenous. She hadn’t eaten much the day before, and planned to make up for it. “I have work.”
“What work? You have no job right now.”
Lila’s fork paused over her eggs. “Why don’t you twist that knife a little harder?”
“I just meant—”
“I know what you meant, but I have a great deal to do before I leave the security office.”
“You’ll take a nap later if you need it?” Alex hinted, pushing the maple syrup toward her.
“I don’t need a nap. I’m not a toddler.”
Alex wrinkled her nose. “You’re fussy enough for one.”
“Yeah, well, you look like one.”
“You smell like one.”