Page 168 of My Undead Love Life

“I’ll go twice. First and last.”

Spencer immediately straightened. “I’ll go first.”

I looked at her.

She lifted her chin like she expected an argument and had already sharpened herself for it.

I smiled faintly. “You’re with me.”

That seemed to surprise her. “You’re not going to tell me to sleep?”

“I know better than to argue with the woman I love.”

Keith muttered, “Smart man.”

Luck sighed dramatically. “Growth. We love to see it.”

Oxi tugged the blanket higher. “I love seeing sleep, actually.”

“I miss Sofia’s bunker,” Luck said, teeth chattering even though he was sandwiched between Oxi and Keith.

“Same here,” Spencer sighed.

Keith pulled the blanket over Luck’s shoulder with the resigned air of a man adopting a stray. “When we get home, we’ll be warm and safe again.”

Spencer’s eyes softened. “I can’t wait.”

“Only one more night, flare.” I reached over and tugged her closer to our spot near the window. She melted into me.

Eventually, the room went quiet.

Keith’s breathing evened out first, though his hand stayed on the rifle near his chest. Oxi stayed awake longer than he pretended, green eyes half-open, watching Spencer until exhaustion dragged him down. Luck muttered something about warm socks and bunker bins before finally going still.

Only the two of us were awake. We sat near the window, our bodies squished tightly together beneath a shared blanket, backs against the wall, weapons within reach. The boards in front of us left a narrow gap just wide enough to see the yard and tree line beyond.

The snow outside glowed faintly under the moonlight.

“You okay?” I asked.

Spencer didn’t answer right away. Her shoulder pressed into mine, and her knee touched my thigh. The warmth of her, even through layers, was distracting in a way I had no business allowing while on watch.

“This is just a lot,” she said.

“I can imagine.”

“It’s weird being here. I thought it would feel familiar, but it doesn’t. It feels like someone took a memory and broke all the bones in it.”

I looked at her. Her gaze stayed on the thin strip of darkness beyond the boards.

“I hate that,” she whispered. “I hate that the farmhouse looks like this. I hate that Sofia is alone. I hate that Frank and Jan died. I hate that Olivia died right after Oxi got the truth. I love that I have you four. I’m so happy, but I’m still scared all the time.” Her voice cracked on the last part.

I shifted closer, letting my arm settle around her.

She leaned into me even more. “I hate that I love all of you so much that now there’s more to lose,” she whispered.

My chest tightened. “I’m scared, too.”

She looked up at me. “You are?”