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Nathan came out and stood beside her. Right at my eye level, I could see their fingers touch, and<br />
then intertwine.<br />
“I guess I’ll go in,” I said to no one in particular.<br />
I passed Joey and joined Bryce in the kitchen. He and Cooper were cooking with Zoe. That<br />
consisted of her sitting on the counter being entertained by Cooper while Bryce cooked.<br />
I sat at the table and sighed.<br />
“Bryce said you’re feeling bitchy,” Zoe said, matter-of-fact.<br />
Bryce froze and looked back at me for a reaction. I peeked over at Joey, who chuckled to himself.<br />
“I guess I am,” I said, sighing again.<br />
“Why” Zoe asked.<br />
“I don’t know. My dad died. The world is over. We’re stuck in this house together waiting for<br />
Scarlet to have a meltdown when she figures out her girls aren’t coming . . .”<br />
“You mean we’re safe and we have each other” Zoe said.<br />
I looked up at her, feeling instantly guilty and yet chee<strong>red</strong> up by her sweet smile. “Yes. That’s<br />
what I meant.”<br />
Scarlet<br />
NATHAN WAITED FOR ZOE TO fall asleep, and then he came to the laundry room with a smile and a<br />
wink. Elleny had just fallen asleep downstairs as well, and I was sitting on the dryer, waiting for him.<br />
He leaned in between my legs, kissing my lips.<br />
“What is the plan” I asked.<br />
“I want to fall asleep with you.”<br />
“Is that all” I smiled, and let him lead me to the front bedroom. He was so inc<strong>red</strong>ibly sweet.<br />
Knowing that made me wonder what kind of clueless moron he was married to. Zoe was snoring<br />
lightly through her nose as she lay on the far side of the king-size bed. Nathan crawled to the middle,<br />
and I lay next to him on my left side. His arms were wrapped around me, and his face was buried in<br />
my hair.<br />
He took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about this all day.”<br />
I smiled. “Oh yeah I’ve been thinking about yesterday all day.”<br />
“Don’t remind me. I can’t kidnap you to the backyard in the dark.” He squeezed me, bringing our<br />
bodies closer together.<br />
The conversation naturally fell silent, neither one of us feeling the need to fill it with nonsense that<br />
didn’t matter. Quicker than I expected, Nathan’s breathing evened out, and his arm relaxed. A few<br />
times, his hand would tense, and he’d grip my arm, or his whole body would jerk. It had been so long<br />
since I’d slept with someone else besides the girls, I’d forgotten adults did that, too.<br />
The girls. It had been months since I’d seen them. Guilt washed over me for lying next to Nathan,
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