Page 71 of Citadel

His face twists slightly. “Del.”

I continue. “But it doesn’t always have to be you helping me while I do nothing for you. I can help you too. At least a little. I want to.”

“You don’t owe me anything. Anything.”

“It’s not transactional. It’s not because I owe you. It’s because we’re… we’re partners.”

His face changes. Softens almost imperceptibly. “Partners, are we?”

I gulp. “I mean, yeah. For now. I’m not saying it’s a permanent situation, but right now we’re partners. So we can help each other and accept help without it being about owing.” With a little smile, I add, “I’m not trying to role-play as your little wife or something like that. I just like to do things for you.”

He glances away. His cheeks are slightly flushed. I suddenly realize he’s self-conscious. Maybe even embarrassed. All he manages to say is, “Thanks.”

I’m hiding a smile as I kneel back down and start washing the clothes again.

* * *

The next morning, my jeans are still a little damp, but the rest of the clothes are dry. We get up an hour before dawn, eat some leftover possum, and then start off back down the highway, hoping to close the gap between us and the others as soon as possible.

I’ve been in an adrenaline-fueled zone for days now, barely even tired no matter how far we’ve had to walk and how broken my sleep. But it must be starting to wear away now because I grow more exhausted as the morning progresses, my body getting heavier and my mind fuzzier as the hours pass.

I really just want to lie down right on the road and curl up into a fetal position and close my eyes. But I can’t. Breanna is in trouble. She needs me. She doesn’t have anyone else.

So I push on. And when Cole asks if I need a break, I tell him no. I don’t want to waste the time.

It’s just past noon—the sun bright and hot at the top of the sky—when Cole says, “I can carry you piggyback if you want.”

I choke on a startled laugh. “I’m not going to ride piggyback! I’m fine.”

“Are you? You’re lookin’ like you might drop.”

“I’m not going to drop. Honestly, I’m feeling kind of beat up today, but I’m doing okay. I don’t want to stop.”

“Didn’t say we should stop. Offered to carry you. You’re so tiny it wouldn’t be a problem.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m not that tiny.”

“Yeah, you are.” The corners of his mouth lift in the most endearing smile.

I blush and try my hardest not to melt inside. “Well, I appreciate the offer. If it gets too bad, I might take you up on it, but I’m not there yet.”

“Okay.”

We’ve stopped walking now. I shift from foot to foot and stare down at the ground. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

“What way?”

“Like… Like…”

Like I’m the most precious thing in his world.

“Like you’re going to kiss me or something.”

He chuckles and reaches out to take hold of one side of my jaw. “Maybe I will.”

I hold my breath. Wanting it. Expecting it. But a slight flicker of motion from down the road distracts me.

I gasp. Freeze.

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