Ruaan looked at the water bottle in his hands.
Harolin was still crouched in front of him, waiting with the patience of someone who had decided this conversation was happening and was not going anywhere until it did.
"I was jealous," Ruaan said.
He said it to the water bottle first. Then he looked up.
Harolin looked at him. "Of Lev."
"Of whoever the new inmate was," Ruaan said. "Oren told me there was a beautiful one. Long hair. And that you walked them to their cells yourself." He shrugged with one shoulder. "I didn't even see you with anyone. I just heard it and went to my room and got sick."
Harolin was quiet for a moment.
"Did you see me with Lev?" he said.
"No."
"I met him yesterday for the first time. During processing." Harolin's voice was even. "I walked three new inmates to their cells because I was already there and it was faster. That was all of it."
Ruaan looked at him.
"I've known you for two weeks," Ruaan said. "I had no reason to trust that."
