Page 90 of Claimed By Ruin

I looked around the room, still not quite used to it, but on my way. Uncle Levi finally insisted we move him downstairs. Said he didn’t need to take up so much space. I resisted, but he was insistent, and I knew that it would make it easier to take care of him. Still, it took a while to get used to this.

This was Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Levi’s room, but slowly, day by day, we made it ours. Jack, he of unending ingenuity, sourced a king-size mattress and box spring from God knows where. Even got a featherbed and matching duvet for it. We still had the same cherry four-poster bed, but added a nightstand for his weapons and ammo.

“You got to spend some time with Miranda today?” he said.

“Yeah. She helped out with the inventory,” I said.

I plopped down on the bed, and Jack lifted my feet, putting them in his lap.

“Your ankles look swollen,” he said, frowning at me.

“Of course they’re swollen. I have two times the amount of blood I should, not to mention the weight of your son. Swollen ankles seem like a given.”

“You need to take it easy,” he said, massaging my ankles.

“Get your hand off my feet, Jackson,” I said.

He laughed. “I thought women were supposed to love that shit.”

“I don’t know about women, but don’t touch my freaking feet,” I said.

He smiled, and I held his gaze, then reached out, stroking his cheek. He kissed my palm, then looked at me.

“I told her something that maybe I should have told you,” I said.

“Everything okay? Is it the baby?”

“Everything’s fine. It’s just…” I swallowed, looking away from Jack, then forced myself to meet his eyes. I’d had this conversation with Miranda, but having it with Jack felt…different.

“I’m scared, Jack,” I said.

“Welcome to the club,” he said.

He smiled, and I looked at him, a question in my eyes. “What, you don’t think I’m scared?”

“I mean…no?” I said.

“That’s not very astute, Counselor. I’ve never been more scared of anything in my life,” he said.

I looked at him in disbelief.

“I’m not,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “World’s fucked, but we’re together, and we’ll get through it all together. No matter what, right?”

“No matter what,” I responded, and then I leaned in for his kiss.

THIRTY-THREE

Jack

“Fuck!” Asia screamed.

I smiled down at her, and she looked like she wanted to throttle me.

“I don’t want that to be my son’s first word, Counselor,” I said.

“If you don’t leave me alone, it’s going to be your last word,” she said.

I smiled, kissing her sweaty forehead, which only made her that much more angry.