“We can’t,” I say simply but making sure my voice is soft and kind. “We’ll probably never be truly safe again. That doesn’t mean we can’t find rest.”
Wade closes his eyes, letting out a long breath. Like a puppet whose strings have been cut, Wade falls against me. His face finds my shoulder, his arms wrapping around my back. My hands follow suit, wrapping around his back, holding him tight.
I don’t know which of us needed this more but we just hold each other, breathing in sync, being present in the moment. We deserve this. We deserve a break. We deserve when good things fall into our laps.
“I’m not sure I believe that, but I like that you believe it,” Wade finally says, clearing his throat as he straightens. He looks over at the stove, letting the tiniest smile play at his lips. Good lord, he’s so pretty when he smiles.
“I was able to use my lighter to get the fire started on the burner. I thought it would be nice to eat a hot meal for once.”
“Thank you, Briggs.”
I find some spoons and divvy up our food into two bowls. Tonight we’re having baked beans and canned salmon. It’s a bit mushy but I’m not about to complain about a hot, filling meal. It warms the pit of my stomach in a way I haven’t felt since we hit Canada. We sit side by side on the couch, staring at the empty fireplace.
Tomorrow we can start cleaning everything up. We can get a wood pile going. We can start venturing out in order to find a town where we can gather supplies. All of that can wait until tomorrow though. Right now, I’m just happy to be sharing this moment with Wade. I’m happy at how far we’ve come.
I hate to admit it but, I’m just happy. Period. Having Wade beside me, feeling his warmth soak into me where we touch, listening to him eat. All of it just makes me happy.
When we’re done eating, Wade pushes the old fridge against the door, an added layer of security while we sleep. I’m assuming we haven’t heard any zombies so far because we’re just too far away from where humans were. This part of Canada must have been pretty barren which suits our needs just fine.
“What are you doing?”
I look up from my place on the floor. I look down at the sleeping bag in my hand and shrug. “Getting ready for bed?”
Wade crosses his arms over his chest. “For the first time in a long fucking time, we have access to a bed and you’re planning on sleeping on the floor?”
“You should take the bed, Wade.”
“Weshould take the bed.”
I look down, feeling my cheeks heat. We’ve been sleeping together for a week but the idea of being in the same bed as Wade leaves me wanting to squirm. I want it. I want it so badly I’m ready to beg but at the same time, I hold myself back. I’m not going to make Wade uncomfortable, especially because sharing a bed with him will mean something different to me than it would for him.
“Briggs,” Wade says and my eyes snap up. “Quit overthinking it. I’m used to your snoring. I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep without you.”
I open my mouth and snap it shut. He wants to sleep with me! He wants me in the same bed as him!
“I don’t snore,” I say, tossing my sleeping bag onto the couch and standing up.
“Right, and I’m not a werewolf.”
I jab my elbow into his ribs as we make our way into the bedroom. He snorts, rubbing at the spot.
The room is cold but there’s a thick quilt on top of the bed that’ll keep us warm. Plus, sleeping next to Wade is like sleeping next to my own personal furnace. As a werewolf, he runs so much hotter than me.
We strip down to just our boxers, socks, and shirts before getting into the bed. I turn onto my side, my back facing Wade.
I let out a surprise noise as he pushes against my back, plastering his chest against me. One of his arms goes around my middle, holding me and pushing me back against him.
“This is how we always end up sleeping anyway,” he murmurs against my shoulder. “Might as well start here for once.”
“Right,” I say, my entire body going lax in his hold. This is nice. Really, really fucking nice.
I could get used to this.
“I forgot how nice beds are. I feel like I’m about to sleep in the clouds.”
I chuckle softly. “I missed how nice pillows feel.”
“You usually sleep with your head on my arm.Myneck on the other hand.”
