Page 59 of Say You'll Stay

“This place reminds me of one of those. So much junk in here, but there could be a few hidden gems.”

He tosses the shirt onto the sofa beside her before opening another box, only to flinch on reflex, cursing a blue streak when the cat pops out. “Fuck, you scared me, you little shit. When did you leave the baby? We could have forgotten youhere. Then what?”

“We would have noticed she was gone.” Olivia smiles as he picks up the cat. He plops Flower over his shoulder, patting her back as if burping a baby, and Olivia can hear the purring clear across the room. “She’s far too attached to you to let us leave without her.”

He huffs. “I’m still not a cat person.”

“Sure, sure. I can tell.”

“Keeping her is only practical. She’s a personal heater for the baby.”

“Oh, she has a job now? I see. Yes, that’s very practical.” Olivia grins.

Just as he’s about to reply, the baby’s laughter interrupts them and they both pause.

“Did she just laugh?” Olivia untucks the baby from under the blanket.

“Think so. Looks like she’s smiling, too. That’s not gas, is it?”

“Looks different. More deliberate.” Lucy lets out a giggle and Olivia gasps in surprise at the confirmation. “It’s the first time she’s done that.”

He moves closer, as fascinated as she is. “How do we make her do it again?”

“I dunno….make a face?”

Cole sits beside her and sticks his tongue out at the baby, who finds that more than amusing. With each silly face that makes her baby giggle, she finds herself overwhelmed by a rising wave of affection for him. Her smile spreads wide as the child’s laughter fills the room.

When his expressions run dry and Lucy loses interest, Olivia looks up to find him gazing at her instead, more unguardedthan she’s ever seen, her own feelings mirrored back at her.

“I like the way you look at me,” she says softly.

He doesn’t shift his eyes like she thought he might, but holds her stare like he’s glad she caught him. “Good, because I like looking at you.”

There it is again, that forbidden flutter in her lower belly that fans out into a tickle between her legs. Never has she felt more exposed, both physically and emotionally, yet she trusts this man completely. She can only hope that isn’t a mistake.

Then Lucy laughs again in an unpracticed combination of a gurgle and a giggle, and some of the tension between them fades.

“You think this is pretty funny, huh?” Olivia says to Lucy.

“Everything’s funny now that she’s showing us her sense of humor.”

“I’m glad she’s got a good one. We’re going to need it.”

Despite being stranded in a dark gas station, uncertain of their next move, a happy baby brings light to the darkness.

* * *

They’ve been circling the same ten square miles of woods for the last few days. At least, that’s how it feels.

There’s no shortage of food and supplies for looting, but one thing they can’t find is water. All the faucets fail to turn on and the one small pond they stumbled across lured them in with false hope, only to reach out several decomposing arms from its depths.

They’re wasting precious energy trudging through the woods and the last of their water was used up last night. It won’t be long before they’re fucked.

Cole assures her that they’ll find something soon. All these wild animals need water, and one pond can’t provide for them, but they haven’t found another source yet.

Through all of this, the baby strapped to his chest is oblivious to the circumstances. For someone who made a pastime of crying not long ago, she can’t keep the smile off her face. When they stop to rest, Lucy reaches for his hair, trying to grab a chunk.

Things are quiet. With a place to sleep and some water, their journey could be as easy as a walk in the park or a camping trip, but they lack both, and that fosters anxiety. Her bones creak, her back hurts, and it’s difficult to think of anything but how thirsty she is. Cole must feel the same, but they don’t complain. Moaning about it will only make their throats run even drier.

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