Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
There’s enough sunlight to see the first half of the store. Then his flashlight comes in handy for the shadowy rest. Whoever went shopping here before us only took what they needed and didn’t attempt to trash the place. Which is the right attitude to have. There might not be many of us left to share the current surplus of resources, but there’s no need to be a dick about it.
“We should probably talk about what happened.” I select a pair of nice blue-and-gray hiking boots. “Oh, these are on sale.”
“I think the days of worrying about what things cost are over.”
“I just mean the boxes are stacked here instead of out back.”
“How about that,” he says. “I knew your shopping skills would come in handy.”
Happily, they have one last pair in my size. “Do they have thick socks? Wearing these in is probably going to be a bitch.”
He hands me a pair of woolen socks from another rack. “We don’t need to talk about what happened.”
“You killed someone. Um. Those are neon orange.”
He blinks, tosses the offensive socks aside, and reaches for another pair. This time they’re an acceptable shade of cream. “I eliminated a deadly threat. You’re welcome. How about these?”
“Thanks.” I sit down and start the process of swapping out footwear. My poor sweet Converse. They have served me well. But if hiking boots will make him happy, then I am willing to play along. For now. There’s also a small chance he might have a point about them being sturdier and better suited to this new lifestyle. “I believe it’s important that we take the time to process the things that happen to us. Let’s be honest. It’s not like therapy is going to be as readily available as it used to be.”
He snorts.
“I am being serious.”
“I know you are, and I appreciate the concern.”
“Then come on,” I say. “You’re the one who wanted me along for the ride, buddy. So talk to me.”
He hangs his head for a moment. Then he says, “It’s not the first time I’ve killed someone.”
“Oh. When you were in the Marines. I didn’t think of that.”
“That guy in the park…there was nothing anyone could do to help him. He got a quicker and less painful death than he would have otherwise. I promised I’d protect you. That’s a promise I intend to keep.” He drops to one knee and tightens the laces on my boots. “How do they feel?”
“Fine. Good. Let’s move on to the next topic of conversation,” I say. “So what are you actually going to do if and when I want to leave?”
He pauses.
“I know we touched on it briefly the other day, but I feel like it deserves a more thorough and robust discussion, now that we have a minute or two to spare.”
He gazes up at me, face shadowed in the low lighting. “You could have just left now, while you were outside alone.”
“Would you have come after me?”
It takes him a moment. But eventually he answers, “Yes.”
The sigh I dredge up is from the sub-cockles of my soul. “Dean…”
“Only to talk to you. To try and convince you to stay with me a while longer.”
“This relationship is so toxic.”
“Not to take you prisoner again,” he says adamantly. “Okay?”
“What if I announced my intention to leave, and we discussed the situation and still found ourselves at an impasse? What then?”
He swears beneath his breath. Profusely. “Then I would allow you to leave.”
“You would allow me to leave?”
“Yes.”
“That you still think you have any claim on me or my comings or goings is a concern,” I say. “But I feel that this is at least a step in the right direction. And you saying it while down on one knee in a pose of supplication doesn’t hurt.”
“Great.”
“Do you have your wallet on you?”
“It’s in my back pocket.” He cocks his head. “Why?”
“I don’t have my purse or my phone. None of the things that used to be so vital. It’s a weird feeling being in a store in this situation.”
“Your phone is in your backpack,” he says. “The network is down, but I thought you might want the photos on there or something. Just don’t spend too long on it.”
“Why not?”
“We have no easy way of recharging.”
“Right.” I wriggle my toes inside the new boots. “There’s a storm coming. What’s the plan for tonight? Are we staying here?”
“No. Other people might stop for supplies. Let me grab some stuff and then we’ll go.”
I nod and check out the rest of the store. “How long do you think it’ll take for everything to fall apart?”
“Not long for this place.” He rises. “The broken front window will let in the weather. As for others…it’ll depend on how sturdy the building is and how hard the storms hit. Nature will reclaim it all sooner or later.”