Page 122 of His to Burn

She didn’t look surprised. “You want to stay here for the night?”

“Yeah. Sun’s down in a few hours. Better to hole up now than scramble later.”

Asia nodded, but Caitlin butted in. “There’s still at least three hours until sunset.”

Asia answered before I could. “I know but do we want to gamble on finding another place by then? I don’t think you enjoyed sleeping outside last night.”

I could tell Caitlin wanted to argue, if only on principle, but she kept her mouth closed.

After another beat, Asia kept going. “All right. Let’s get settled in.”

Everyone moved inside the gas station. Miles, Lourdes, and Elliot secured the doors. Bridget went through the food, assembling a makeshift meal. I watched her count cans and divide crackers like it was sacred math.

“Can you help me with this, Jack?” Caitlin asked.

She held a glass bottle of sparkling water. Expensive-looking and out of place here, but there was a row of six others in the dead drink cooler.

I took it from her and twisted off the metal top.

“You did that with your bare hand? I thought you needed a bottle opener,” she said.

She stepped closer, shifted her weight onto one leg, pressed her fingertips to her jaw.

“Enjoy your drink, Caitlin,” I said.

“I’d enjoy it more if you had one with me.”

I didn’t look at her again. “I’ll pass.”

What Caitlin wanted wasn’t lost on me. I used to be the man who would have taken her up on it.

Not now, though.

I told myself I was smart. That we were in a world of shit, and I wouldn’t let my dick get us in any further.

Rational and undeniable. But that wasn’t the half of it.

Truth was, Asia ruined me.

That whole end-of-the-world thing should have killed any desire for sex.

Except it didn’t.

Not when Asia was near.

Not when I got to watch her twenty-four-seven and see her hold this shit together like it was her calling.

Being this close to her and not being able to touch her was fucking torture.

And not the only thing weighing on my mind.

I wanted to get her to her uncle’s farm as fast as I could, but…

The idea of leaving her there twisted something in my chest.

I sat with Miles and Elliot and quietly ate, trying my hardest not to look toward Asia where she sat with Lourdes, Bridget, and Caitlin.

I didn’t last long. I finished the meal and then found myself drifting toward her, where she now sat alone.