Page 21 of Say You'll Stay

They’ll have to leave. This place isn’t safe long term, but for now, she’s desperate to stay. If she’s forced to run for her life all over again so soon, she isn’t sure she can keep bouncing back. Thankfully, Cole doesn’t make a choice without her. That’s something she’s still getting used to.

She stops Andrew before he can leave, wanting to get one thing straight without waiting another moment. “I need you to know that we ran into some trouble before you found us. That’s what this is from.” She gestures to her faded split lip and browning circles ringing her arm. “Cole wouldn’t hurt me. No one said anything, but I know what the assumption would be. I should have said something sooner.”

“We were coming to that conclusion ourselves. Cole doesn’t fit the description. Not the way he’s been carrying on talking all sweet to that baby.”

“Jesus,” Cole groans. “Everyone and their grandma’s been snooping. I haven’t beencarrying on.”

“Sorry, man, better get used to it. You got a daughter now. This is what happens. Turns you soft in all the good ways.”

This is the problem with being a fake family. People think it’s real and then a weird twist forms in her stomach, teasing the possibility of what-if. She has to remind herself that she doesn’t know him well yet. It’s too soon to let her mind conjure up scenarios where none of their relationship is fake.

He isn’t interested, anyway.

Not a chance in hell.

Cole falters for a reply, choosing to change the subject. “About the one who didn’t make it. Why’d you stab her in the head like a rotter? She wasn’t bit.”

“People pass here frequently from natural causes. When the second resident came back after a heart attack and tried to eat someone, we started making sure, just in case.”

Olivia squints, putting the pieces of a grim puzzle together. “But that would mean—”

“That death is all that’s needed to turn, and a bite only gets you there faster. That’s what we think, at least.”

“Heard that rumor floating around,” Cole replies. “But it wasn’t confirmed before the news cut off.”

“We all have whatever this is already?” Olivia whispers. “Everyone?”

“Don’t know for sure, but it would make a lot more sense about why it got so bad, so fast,” Andrew replies.

Her first thought is that she brought her daughter into this world already infected. Barely a week old and she’s saddled with a virus that’s killing most of the population.

When they’re alone again, she can’t help but let the stress of it spiral. “If what he’s saying is true…”

Cole shrugs. “Even if it is, that doesn’t change anything. You still have plenty left to fight for, right?”

Without Lucy, this knowledge could easily consume her. “Right.”

“So, the safe zone is toast.”

“Sounds like it. I’d like to stay here for now. I know it’s dangerous if those people come back, but the pros outweigh the cons. They’ve got all the supplies I need. Things for thebaby.”

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I mean, they’ve got toilet paper and everything. We’re living in a palace here,” he jokes.

“Never knew how much I’d miss that until it was impossible to find.”

“People dying in the streets and all the crazies stocked up on ass paper.” He peers over to Lucy, where she’s begun to wiggle awake from her nap. “I see you found her some fresh wraps.”

She no longer wears his spare shirt. Soiled it through the sagging diaper and Olivia had no choice but to use a small fluffy towel from the bathroom.

She hums out an agreeable sound, taking up her spot on the bed to curl around the baby.

“She’ll need real clothes soon,” he continues.

“Got to be a baby store somewhere that hasn’t been ransacked.”

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