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“Might be a way to sneak in. I could try around back, leave you two somewhere safe and pop over the back fence to see what I can grab. Fill up the water bottles somehow.”

This stealth mission is just about the worst idea he could have suggested. “No. We have to stay together no matter what.”

“If they’re hostile, I don’t want you two around when they first see us.”

“You don’t even know if you can get in back there. And if you do, then getting around without being caught is….”

“Can wait until it gets dark—”

“Cole.” She cuts him off, pausing to gather her thoughts instead of frantically rifling through them for a way to convince him this is unacceptable. “I can’t risk losing you.”

He gives her that half squint he often wears when she says something that shows she cares about him, like he can’t help but be puzzled by it. Finally, he softens in understanding. “Alright, but if we’re going up to the gate to say hello, then I’m going first. Don’t argue, okay? Please.”

Reluctantly, she nods her agreement and takes Lucy when he hands her over. He could be walking into gunfire the moment he steps out of the woods, but desperation leaves them little choice.

“Gonna be okay. We can’t risk her catching a stray bullet.”

“I don’t want you catching one either. Whatever happened to don’t expect any heroics ?” She counters, knowing full well he’s right. Her priority is to protect her child above all else, but it doesn’t mean she’s not worried about him.

“That was then, and this is now. Things change, and hey, I made it this far, right? Basically Teflon now.”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t even joke, you’ll jinx yourself.”

“Stay put.” He presses his lips to her forehead in a fast kiss that catches her by surprise, before backing away and emerging into the daylight with his hands raised.

A warning shot is fired at his feet and her heart races. She clutches Lucy tight, watching from the trees and praying that she won’t lose him today.

“We’ve got a baby with us!” Cole yells out. “We need help.”

As if on cue, the baby goes from happy to screaming, proving Cole’s statement and perhaps saving his life in the process. The guns drop a bit, alert but no longer so quick to fire first and ask questions later.

“Let us see the baby.” Someone yells back.

Cole tilts his head, signaling her to show herself.

It’s difficult not to rush straight for him, but she goes slow and keeps her body angled to the side, blocking Lucy to prevent a clear shot.

Most people wouldn’t gun down a baby, but that was before the world went to shit and now all that’s left are the types who might have no problem doing just that.

They’re waiting on the precipice of salvation or death, their lives in the hands of those who could be worse than Ray’s group for all she knows.

The longer the minutes tick on, the more vulnerable she feels as adrenaline zings through her veins, begging for fight or flight and being allowed neither.

All it would take is a few well-placed bullets and their journey would end here. It would be better than dehydrating to death, she thinks, shocking herself with her own morbid thoughts.

Then, the gates creak and groan to open for a man who looks like he’s been granted a shower sometime within the last week. Maybe even the last day.

“Looks like you found us at the right time. Welcome to Magnolia Hills.”

* * *

This place is untouched by the virus. Safe and welcoming, those first few bullets notwithstanding. It should be everything they’ve hoped for and it’s hard to find an argument for why it’s not as they’re led through a manicured Main Street and waving citizens.

Shops are open and families gather on green space. Someone’s passing out muffins and cotton candy from one of those big machines she’s only seen at fairs. The three of them have been gifted so many smiles that it’s become unnerving.

It’s as if the rest of the world isn’t dying outside that fence and Olivia isn’t sure how to react.

The leader of this town has given the grand tour and led them to a private room with running water, fluffy pillows, and clean sheets.

“We’ll need to keep the cat for quarantine,” he says evenly.

Cole shakes his head. “No.”

“It’s only for a week. Standard procedure. We have other pets here and we can’t be too careful. No one is sure yet what the virus does to animals. You can see her at the vet’s office any time you like.”

“We don’t even know that we’re staying a week,” he replies.

“Then you can take her if you leave before then.”

They are attached to this cat now. The idea of giving her to anyone, even for a few days, isn’t ideal. There is little option, though, when food and a hot shower are on the other side of their agreement. The cat is suffering too without supplies.

Reluctantly, Olivia nods and Cole fishes Flower out of the baby’s carrier to hand her over.

“Where’s the vet? You have cat food available?” she asks.

“Just up the road on the right side. You can’t miss it. And yes, we have all the things she’ll need.”

That’s all the reassurance they get before their cat is taken away and they’re left alone.

“ This is weird.”

“ Something ain’t right here.”

They speak in unison, and Cole lets out a relieved exhale. “I thought you were gonna be all for it.”

“Well, it’s nice I won’t lie. It looks perfect.”

“Too perfect?”

“Yeah. There’s no way there’s not some weird, seedy underbelly going on here. And does that man even have a name? He wouldn’t say. It’s odd.”

He flops down on the clean bed in dirty clothes. “Real odd. Don’t like him. Got everyone here playing make-believe. You see how they talked to him? Like he brainwashed them all.”

“Off!” she chastises. “Not until we shower. I want to feel these sheets on my bare legs tonight without our dirt on them.”

He rolls away and onto his feet with a wince. “Forgot I’m a mess.”

“We’re all a mess. It’s not just you. I can smell myself and I can absolutely smell this baby. Seedy underbelly or not, I’m grateful we’re here and have a chance to get clean.”

“Doesn’t mean we’re staying, though, right?” he asks, quietly. “Feels wrong. Can’t put my finger on it.”

“It doesn’t mean we’re staying. We’ll leave soon as we get some rest. Hopefully, they’ll point us in the right direction so we aren’t stuck out there again wandering aimlessly.”

“If they let us leave.”

“This isn’t the Hotel California. We can check out any time we want or we’d be locked up right now.”

He only grunts in agreement, pacing the room and peering out the windows. “You go on and shower first.”

“So you’re agreeing that I smell?”

His mouth drops open a fraction. “Nah. No. You don’t. You smell fine. Good. Baby smells fine, too. Like…you know, a baby.”

“Relax. I’m screwing with you. We reek, but thanks for saying we don’t.”

She washes Lucy first with water and soap from the sink and then leaves her swaddled in a fresh towel on the bath mat while she showers .

The hot water pelting her skin elicits a groan of pleasure and in that instant, she wonders if she’s being stupid to consider leaving a place that still offers this small luxury.

Didn’t think she was that dirty until it begins to flake off her arms and then she balks in embarrassment, remembering how close she’d been to Cole all this time and how he didn’t say a damn thing about it.

Maybe he’s gone nose blind, or he really is that kind to let it slide and never once ask for some space. He’s been getting a bit ripe himself lately, but she’s so smitten that she overlooks it, and feeling the safety that comes with being near him is worth it.

Almond body wash foams as she scrubs and the shampoo smells of vanilla. It’s not until she’s washed her hair twice that her thoughts stray to how badly she wishes he were in this shower with her.

Her hands begin to stray as she wonders what it might be like to have him here.

She travels across the swell of her sore breasts, down her stomach, and hesitantly between her legs. It’s been months since she last touched herself, way before Lucy was born, and a part of her is scared to explore if anything has changed.

She’s a stranger to her own body at this point. The unknown keeps her fingers above where she wants them.

If Cole were here, would he touch her?

S ex isn’t an option yet, but she wants so badly to be closer to him that she burns for it.

Self doubt keeps her quiet. How could he want her like that after what he’s seen?

How he found them? Their first meeting hadn’t left much to the imagination.

He’s never made an overt move, but there are moments that make her wonder if he feels the same way, and if he, like her, is just terrible at showing it.

There were a few times at the cottage when he’d been in the bathroom longer than usual…that one time at the nursing home when he showered…and she wondered if he might have touched himself and thought of her.

She’s no one’s fantasy, but if she could be anyone’s, then she’d hope to be his.

There’s nothing stopping her mind from running wild. Instead of dwelling on her doubts, she imagines him behind her, his thick cock against her ass and her body bracketed in those wide shoulders, one hand traveling down between her thighs.

Her own hand takes his place, ghosting across clean skin to rub where she’s already swelling in anticipation. Doesn’t linger yet. He’d keep going, tracing her heat and teasing her entrance.

So far, everything feels familiar. The bleeding has stopped, and the pain is gone. Mostly. Maybe she’s not damaged beyond repair after all.

‘ This kid’s gonna ruin the only thing you got going for you.’

She heard it enough during her pregnancy to start believing it might be true.

Emboldened, she goes a little further, bracing one leg on the edge of the tub and a hand on the wall. Imagines him stroking her tenderly, begging permission to go deeper and her body responds with a flush of wetness that meets her fingers.

Can’t expect him to touch her if she can’t even touch herself. She needs to check that she’s not completely different now, so she can feel more confident going into this with him later. If it ever goes that far.

She’s so worked up that her pulse throbs against the pads of her fingers, but the fear of finding something wrong makes her hesitate. Quickly, before she can overthink it, the tip of her finger slips inside. So far, so good, can barely feel it.

Oh god, she thinks in horror, is she numb? Are her nerves dead? What if she can’t feel him at all when they finally get there?

She pushes further up to the second knuckle in a near panic, desperate to feel something, anything, and the sharp sting at her overeager effort is both welcome because it means she’s not broken, and a whole other worry all its own.

One of her own slim fingers hurts . She can’t imagine the pain of taking the entire length of him inside her.

She gives up, pulling her hand away and feeling her arousal fade fast. There’s no hope of reclaiming it even after a token attempt at focusing on the spot that could get her there.

She hasn’t had an orgasm in months and she won’t be getting one tonight, either.

The water runs cold and she curses in frustration as she turns it off.

It’s fine.

Women have babies all the time and they have sex after or there wouldn’t be any siblings.

It’s just too soon, that’s all. She needs another couple weeks to heal, and then it won’t be an issue.

Don’t rush this. It’s fine. He may not want you anyway, so what does it matter?

When she finds him waiting in the bedroom, his face lights up at the sight of her before she says a single word.

“You look good,” he says shyly, somehow managing to make her feel beautiful with three words when she’d been in the middle of berating herself .

He takes his turn in the shower and she does not think about him naked in there alone.

Nope. Absolutely not.

Her daydreams aren’t doing her any favors today, so she thinks about Lucy instead.

Lays her on the bed and unwraps the towel so her little arms and legs spring free.

Olivia can’t keep the smile off her face at the sight of her daughter, so perfect and happy and so very alive.

After all the hardships they’ve endured, she’s still thriving and if someone told her how all this would play out weeks ago, she’d have been in disbelief.

Was so sure back then that her ex would be their downfall one way or another if the virus didn’t get them first. While one of those is still a threat, the other is only a memory she can’t shake.

She bends down and kisses Lucy’s chubby hands, giving them a gentle squeeze.

‘ I love you.’

‘ You’re so smart.’

‘ I’m so happy you’re here with us.’

A comment between every peck earns her a giggle to follow, and that’s how Cole finds them later, on the bed having a quiet moment. He pauses in the doorway, water dripping from damp hair, looking like he’s walked in on something he’s not a part of.

“Come here,” she offers a hand in invitation and slips her palm into his when he comes close. She tugs him down beside her and he goes easy, his relief at being included obvious even if he’s trying to hide it.

She’s never given him a reason to doubt that they’re a unit now, the three of them together under whatever label they land beneath, but he’s likely given himself plenty of doubts .

“You look good, too.” She smiles, threading her fingers through his towel-fluffed hair. It feels like a bold gesture to touch him this way, yet he allows it.

A knock at the door startles them both, putting them on edge, but it’s only a food delivery offered on fancy china dishes and that fear quickly transforms into suspicion.

“Think it’s poisoned?” he says dryly once they’re alone.

“I’m hungry enough that I’m willing to risk it.” She takes a bite of fresh scrambled eggs, wondering where the chickens are. “This is a lot of trouble to go through for two people off the street begging for sanctuary.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“We leave tomorrow?”

He nods, tearing off a piece of bread with his teeth. “Hell yes.”