Page 9 of Say You'll Stay

“You’re thinking we should check it out?”

What he’s thinking is thatheshould check it out and then come back and get her if it’s safe, but she’ll assume he’s leaving for good. “We could swing by on our way out of the city. See what’s up. You know the route?”

“Yes, I remember how to get there.”

“Okay then, you good with this? Not saying we’re rushing right in. Don’t trust the government far as I can kick ‘em, but on the off chance it’s safe we should give it a shot.”

She pauses, surprise raising her brows. “Am I okay with it?”

“Yeah?”

She opens her mouth to reply, but her nose scrunches instead and a gag reflex kicks in.

“Oh my god,” she whispers in horror

Instantly, he’s worried something happened. Doesn’t matter that he’s been staring right at them this whole time, there’s a problem that needs fixing. He rushes over before he can stophimself, getting a whiff of the worst smell known to man for his efforts. “Holy shit.”

“I know!” She sniffs at the baby before laying a fussing Lucy on the bed and unwrapping the bunched-up diaper twice the size of her body.

Cole’s gonna pass out right here in this awful apartment. Fall flat on his face and call it a day. He’s never encountered such a dreadful smell, and he’s accustomed to repulsive things. His eyes water while Olivia fairs even worse, closer to the source.

His frantic attempt to wave the scent away only spreads and amplifies it.

“I’ve heard the first ones are bad, but I didn’t know it was this bad.” She flails for a place to put the dirty diaper, holding it away from her as if it’s a bomb.

“Hold on. Wait. Just wait a minute.” He runs for the kitchen, snatching a trash bag from under the sink and holding it open for her to toss the grenade into before tying it in several knots and pitching it straight off the balcony.

The only person in the room who looks pleased is Lucy. Her little face is rosy and her fists open and close in the air.

“Is she smiling?” he asks. This kid might be having her first grin and he watches her expression change, mesmerized.

Not that he cares. He doesn’t.

Not his kid. Not his wife. Not his family. Who gives a crap if she smiles or not? Except that it’s sort of cute, until he realizes the word cute formed in his brain, and he scowls.

“I think it’s just gas. It’ll be easier when we’re not in such a small space.” She promises, her amusement fading at his expression. “Then we can stay further away and the scent won’t travel as much. I know it’sawful.”

She’s been placating him since they met, like he’ll change his mind and leave them at any minor inconvenience. Must think he hasn’t noticed, but it’s not hard to miss when someone’s trying to manage him.

“Nothing to get worried about. Gotta figure out what to do about those, though.”

He examines a diaper, then goes to the kitchen for scissors and the bathroom for a head ribbon he noticed near the sink. Cuts the diaper in half and hands it over to Olivia along with the headband.

“Maybe tie that around her waist to hold it still?” He suggests.

“Did you just MacGyver a diaper?”

“If it works, then yeah.”

He missed his calling in life. Shoulda set up shop as a diaper crafter. It fits just fine. Snug enough to hold all the toxic waste inside and he has to curb the urge to offer Olivia a high five for solving this problem. He’s in his element so long as he’s got a task to focus on. Something to fix. It’s having to interact with them on a regular level that leaves him lacking.

“I’m good at checking out the safe zone,” she says, finally.

“Thing is, we’ll have a hard time driving there. Could hot-wire a car, but the roads are all a mess. Should wait until tomorrow, at the very least. Give us some time to rest first before we start hoofing it.”

“Cole, I made it here, didn’t I? If it’s not safe to stay, then we shouldn’t wait.”

“Didn’t say you couldn’t do it. I know you can.”

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