“I ran Avery’s original calculations through the simulation Max built. Look what happens.” I clicked the simulate button again, and Asher watched the wormhole machine explode on-screen.
“But if I change one section to my new numbers, everything seems to work. Or at least the first part of the experiment does. I haven’t gotten all the way through yet.” I changed the numbers again, and the computer ran through the project successfully.
Asher started pacing the lab. “This just doesn’t make sense. How could Avery and his team have missed this? It seems like it’s a fundamental problem with the initial mass structure.”
“Maybe they compensated somewhere else?” I played with the numbers a bit. “See, if you leave it like this, the mass generator will work — up to a certain point. But once you pass this threshold, everything changes. It becomes unstable.”
Asher leaned closer to get a better look at the computer, and I couldn’t help but watch the way his long eyelashes grazed his cheekbones. It should be illegal for any guy to have lashes like that.
I frowned and jerked my gaze back to the computer. I didn’t need this kind of distraction, especially if he’d hooked up with Amy last night. He was nothing but a flirt and a smart ass. Letting my guard down around him was only going to get me in trouble.
He straightened and shook his head at me. “You’re right. I’m not sure how you…”
I jumped down from the stool and moved away from him, arms crossed. “How I figured that out? Gee, thanks. I appreciate your faith in me.”
Asher rolled his eyes. “Stop being touchy. If you had let me finish, I was actually wondering how you’d spotted something so tiny. Just one little section off. Almost like it was on purpose to hide something.” He stared at the screen and shook his head. “I think we need to go use the main simulator and test this theory. I trust Max and Zella and Amy and their design, but I want to make sure we’re a hundred percent certain before we bring up something this big to the main project team.”
I nodded. “The main labs should be empty today. My dad said Avery has them working in another section. They were running a few pre-tests I think.”
Asher and I headed down the hall toward the main project suite. I knew we were underground, but the sheer size of the labs down here was astonishing. This level alone had to be at least the length of three football fields. And even though it was Saturday, the place bustled with people. We wove between groups of scientists deep in discussion and tried to stay out of their way as they walked.
Asher had shoved his hands deep into his pockets, and he stared straight ahead as he said, “You know, I don’t appreciate you immediately jumping to the conclusion I think you’re stupid all the time. I’m not sure how many more times I need to say it, but I don’t.”
I stopped short in the middle of the hall and gaped at him. “Excuse me?”
He walked a few steps past me and then stopped with a shrug. “Just because you don’t believe you’re smart enough to be here doesn’t mean it’s true. You’ve been here a month — you need to get over it. I’m tired of your self-esteem issues. I already told you why I picked you for the team. You can either believe me or not, but don’t keep making me defend myself.”
I opened and closed my mouth, but nothing came out. What the hell was his problem? Where was this even coming from? “Seriously? You’re going to give me a hard time about not believing in myself? I’m sorry I can’t pretend to be an arrogant ass**le like you.”
Asher glared at me. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re doing it again. All I want is for you to believe in yourself, not to pretend to be something you’re not.”
Our furious glares locked, and we stood frozen in place until one of the scientists bumped into my shoulder. I looked away with a frown. “This isn’t really the place for a discussion about my issues. We have a bigger problem to solve first.”
“Fine.” Asher turned on his heel, and we walked the rest of the way to the lab in silence. At the door, he ran his finger through the print scanner.
“Welcome, Asher Rosen,” the computerized voice said.
The doors slid open, and we stepped inside. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t the huge warehouse spread out before us. The ceiling was so high I couldn’t see the iron girders holding it up or the far end of the space. Cold air snaked across my skin, and I shivered. If I’d known I’d be visiting the Antarctic, I would have brought a sweater.
“Over here.” Asher’s voice was expressionless as he made for a bank of computers along the wall. The blinking lights and computer screens reminded me of the pictures I’d seen of NASA control centers. Knowing QT, that probably wasn’t too far off.
I stared off into the shadows. “What are they using all this space for?”
His gaze never left the computer, but at least he answered me. “They’re building the wormhole machine and will conduct the first tests here in this lab. They’ve created a triple-enforced structure made of a titanium-tungsten alloy that should be able to withstand the mass field generated by the experiment.”
I nodded, but he still wasn’t looking at me. I slid onto the stool beside him and logged into the computer. “Are you going to tell me what’s really going on?” I asked, glancing at him from the corner of my eye.
“It’s nothing.”
“Right. You jump down my throat like that all the time.”
Asher let out a shaky breath. “I got an email from my mom last night. And it didn’t help Amy was around when I was reading it. I know she thought she was trying to help by asking questions, but she just wouldn’t leave me alone about it.”
“But I thought you hadn’t heard from your mom in months.”
“Exactly.” His blue eyes glinted with anger and something I guessed was hurt. “And the first time she contacts me is about this freaking project. Not to see how I’m doing but to get the details about it. To see if it’s going to threaten her top-dog status.”
“I’m sorry, Ash.”
He turned to look at me. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I didn’t mean it.” His lips pressed together in a grimace. “If anyone has a problem with self-esteem issues, it’s me.”
I bumped shoulders with him, trying to cheer him up. “We could start our own club. I’m sure we could think of a few more people who’d like to join.”