The Gender Lie(11)

Amber gave me a nod of approval once I was done. “Very handsome,” she declared with a mischievous look in her eyes, and I stuck out my tongue at her.

We moved back through the galley and up the stairs. Quinn gave a little wolf-whistle when Amber reappeared, but Solomon smacked him on the back of the head, making him flinch. The men had already changed—they were wearing suits similar to mine.

Owen threw us a thoughtful look, and then nodded his own approval. “It’ll have to do,” he said.

Alejandro walked up. “We’re almost to the coordinates you gave me—are you sure you don’t want to be dropped off closer to the city?”

Owen shook his head and offered Alejandro his hand. “No, this will be fine,” he said. “We have arranged other transport into the city.”

Alejandro looked dubious, but reached out and shook Owen’s hand. “Be ready—I can only get within a few feet of the shore without risk of beaching her. You’ll have to jump the remaining distance.”

“Yes—we’ve been through this before,” Owen reminded Alejandro.

“I know, but it’s just worrisome to me—you’ve got two fine ladies with you.” He shot me a gaze and I swallowed under his scrutiny. “I’d hate for something bad to happen to them, if you’re discovered.”

“Discovered for what?” asked Owen, his voice rising an octave in the appearance of innocence.

Alejandro arched a snow-white eyebrow, and just shook his head disapprovingly. “You young ones think you have it all figured out,” he muttered. I wasn’t sure if Owen heard or even cared, but I had to smile at his words.

I hoped this wouldn’t be the last time I’d see Alejandro. There was a depth to him, and it felt like he was a kindred spirit.

Alejandro cocked his head and peered past Owen’s shoulder. “All right,” he announced, clapping his hands together. “Get your things, lads… and lady,” he said, dipping his head toward Amber. He also shot a wink at me, and I hid my smile behind my hand. “Your drop point is about two minutes away, give or take.”

He sauntered back up to the pilot’s station, humming. I quickly got caught up with the rest of the group as we started inventorying our things and organizing the bags. I pulled my backpack on, tucking the mask into it.

Then we all lined up on the bow. There was a wooden plank extending from the tip. Owen stood at the front of it as Alejandro steered us toward the shore. There would be no mooring the ship to disembark—we would have to jump over the water below.

I felt my heartbeat accelerate at the thought—the water might be diluted here, but that didn’t make it much less dangerous if one of us accidentally fell in.

Owen’s posture was seemingly free of that fear. He stood tall, one hand resting on the rail behind him, while the shore loomed ever closer. Then his muscles tensed and he leapt. For a second, he seemed suspended in the air, frozen in that moment of flight until time caught up, and he landed on his feet on the other side.

One by one we followed, until only I remained. Solomon was waiting for me, so I took a deep breath and launched myself at him. For a harrowing moment, I thought I had miscalculated and that I would plummet into the murky waters below. But then Solomon grabbed me as my feet hit the soft earth, and he held me tight until I was stable again.

Owen had already climbed up the steep hill and had dropped to one knee, surveying the terrain above. We waited in silence for him to give us the all-clear. I glanced back at the boat, but it had already turned and was moving away from us, downriver at top speed. I waved at Alejandro, but his back was to me. I felt a little sad that I didn’t get to say goodbye.

Just then, Owen let out a low whistle, and we were climbing. We crested the hill and looked around—the area was wide open, with barely any trees.

“Where’s our ride?” I asked.

He gave me an apologetic smile. “About an hour inland. We’d better get moving if we’re going to meet them in time.”

I grimaced, not looking forward to an hour long trek in my suit, and pulled my bag over my shoulder. I understood why Owen had made me change on the boat, but I resented the whole costume thing all over again.

Owen took point and the rest of us followed. Amber was holding up her skirt high as she pushed through the deep grass in the field, and I smiled.

Maybe my suit wasn’t the worst thing to be wearing out here.





6





Violet





The sun was uncomfortably warm on my head. We had been sitting for over an hour, waiting for our ride to show up. According to Owen, they were late but on their way. There wasn’t much to do during the wait, so most of the group elected to take a nap. I refrained, mostly because I didn’t want to worry about my disguise getting messed up from sleeping on the ground. Owen had also refused, saying that his contacts needed to see him first so that they didn’t shoot everyone and ask questions later.