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It’s not as difficult to touch her as it had been before.

Something shorted inside his brain after the overload of contact, but he has a feeling this new gift is only one-sided.

The moment he imagines her touching him, initiating it herself, he knows that won’t be anywhere near as simple.

Isn’t sure how or if he should say something about that.

The rational thing would be to put an end to all these games they’ve been playing.

He doesn’t need to touch anyone to survive in this world.

It is not a requirement. He’s just as weak for her now as he’s ever been, though.

“I think we should go hunting today,” she suggests, as if it’s no big deal. “Think about it while I make breakfast.”

Then she’s gone, leaving him alone to ponder how the fuck she thinks he’ll be able to hunt as if he isn’t a complete mess.

* * *

“It’s what’s best for the dog. He can’t keep eating noodles. I can go by myself or we can go together.”

Wade stares at her over his bowl of soup. She’s right, the poor dog can’t survive on pasta and apples. He’s unwilling to let her go alone, but going with her provides its own challenges.

“There are probably plenty of rabbits and squirrels outside the yard. We won’t need to go far. So what do you say?”

He wants to agree so badly it hurts. Stress begins to spiral at the thought of going out, but he shoves it down. He can do this. “Fine. We’ll go together.”

They wait until the sun begins to fade, since he can’t be outside in bright light. Somehow, she manages to make it seem like her idea instead of a hindrance.

They don’t take the dog. He can’t be trusted not to run off.

Not that Wade even cares because they’re not keeping this dog, anyway.

Should probably let him go now, but that can wait.

Get more food in him. Let him rest up. Maybe grow some, so he’s not such a runt.

Then he’ll be able to fend for himself more easily.

Wade sticks close to Kara as they move into the woods, not for his own safety but for hers. They can’t be certain Silas’s men aren’t looking for him. Odds are slim, but they aren’t zero. That has him on edge, nearly crawling up her spine.

She doesn’t seem to mind, or if she does, she hasn’t let on.

Kara is endlessly patient with all his ridiculous fears, and he can’t understand how or why she puts up with him.

Especially after what he did last night.

She should be leaving his sorry ass to go back to Paradise Falls instead of hunting with him for dog food.

They hunt with bows she brought out from a back room rather than waste ammunition, and he drops a squirrel without a second thought.

“Some things really are like riding a bike,” he mumbles. “How many you wanna try for?”

“Three? One for each of us?”

He nods, storing their first catch in a bag on his shoulder. “Lucky to have longbows out here.”

“Society is trying its hardest to rebuild. You can trade for these now. It saves bullets. Wanna play a game? See who can get the most?”

“I dunno. You’re a sore loser.”

She gasps. “I am not!”

“You pouted last night playing cards,” he deadpans.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Her even response is paired with a shot from her bow that takes out another unfortunate squirrel. She’s the hottest thing he’s ever seen as she walks out to pick up the game, bending to show off that jean covered ass.

It’s not intentional on her part. She’s just existing at the moment, and he’s the one swallowing hard with a lump in his throat.

“That was…good. Good job. I mean you’re….still good at that, but of course you would be. Always a good shot,” he facepalms, much to her delight.

She is the one who taught him how to use a bow, after all. Her father taught her when she was a child, long before he opted out and left her alone. She gave him a lesson one day on a random Saturday morning when they were fresh off a bar hangover and he felt like hurling instead of hunting.

“You better get your head in the game, Wade. We’re tied.”

They end up snagging three squirrels and two rabbits. He has no idea who won. He was far too distracted, spending the majority of the time watching her.

* * *

“Oh shit,” Wade scowls.

“Gator! What have you done?” Kara groans.

The house is a complete mess. Books have been toppled, one arm of the sofa sprouts stuffing, and the bedding from Kara’s floor mattress is now a nest in the living room.

The dog wags his tail as if they’d been gone for years while picking up a corner of the blanket to offer it to them.

“I think he missed us,” Kara laughs.

“This right here is why having dogs is a no-go. We brought you food, and this is what you do?”

“He’ll have to come with us next time. We can’t leave him here or half the house will be gone when we come back.”

Wade agrees with a grunt, gives the dog an unearned pat on the head and aims for the back porch where they begin cleaning their catches.

The rest of the day is quiet and peaceful. A meal on the sofa and another game of cards. An easy afternoon that leads into an easier evening. Kara offers him a book while she reads a novel. They exist together in this small space like they’ve done it for years, already experts at the mundane.

She’s the only person he could ever enjoy doing nothing with.

Later, when they’ve yawned enough to make sleep unavoidable, their lingering problem springs to the forefront.

“I don’t want to sleep in the other room, and I don’t want to tie you up.” She crosses her arms by the bed, defiant in a way that feels just as sad.

“Gotta pick one.”

“Wade, this is—”

“Please. Maybe just tonight. I don’t know yet, but I won’t be able to sleep knowing you’re close enough that I can hurt you again.”

She grabs a blanket and pillow with a shake of her head. “Keep the dog in here with you.”

“If I have another nightmare, you can ignore it. I’ll be okay.”

She only nods, leaving him alone with his thoughts as the door clicks shut behind her.

The room begins to close in on him. He wants to call her back and admit this is a terrible plan. Beg her to stay just so his hands will stop shaking and he can breathe, but he doesn’t. He can do this.

He is safe here.

The only one torturing him now is himself.