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“Oh you poor thing,” I said with a slight smile to show I was teasing.I ripped open the peanut butter bag and handed him one.“Give it a try.”
He popped it into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
“It is good,” he said.
I slid the whole meal toward him and guided him through how to warm everything and put it together.
Tom and Kevin stayed at the table long after they were done eating to watch.Gradually, they joined the conversation and gave advice about which MREs were good and which ones to avoid.We all learned that Molev didn’t care for anything with tomato in it and wasn’t as into sweets as we were.Or vegetables.The way he talked about Spam had me inwardly grinning.The guy really liked his meat.
When we finished in the kitchen, I showed Molev to the bathroom, and he surprised me by asking if he could have a clean shirt to change into after his shower.It shouldn’t have surprised me, though.His once-white t-shirt was covered in infected blood and a lot of his own on the back.
“Let me see what I can find, and I’ll leave it outside the door for you.”
“Thank you, Andie.”
I asked Kevin and Tom to keep an eye on him and went to search the house for something he could use.Since the beds were occupied and I didn’t want to wake anyone, it took me a while to find a shirt I thought would work.
When I finally returned to the main bathroom, I found it empty with the bloody shirt in the garbage.The dining room was empty too.Not sure where else to look, I went outside and headed for the barn.I found Molev there, arm wrestling with scrawny Tom.It wasn’t an even match by a long shot.Tom tried to wrestle Molev’s arm to the table by using both arms and all his body weight while Molev sat there smirking at Tom’s brilliantly red face.
“Come on, Tom,” Kevin said.“Use your legs and your core to push away from the floor.You’re strong.You know you are.”
He was, but not compared to Molev.
Molev’s grey skin gleamed, and the spotlight highlighted every ridge.His pectorals jumped as he shifted position and glanced at me.I had a hard time looking away from that scar-riddled chest.Scars shouldn’t have been that sexy.The grey skin either, for that matter.
Finally jerking my gaze up, I met his and held up the shirt.
“Whenever you’re ready,” I said.
Roni reached out and shoved my arm down.“If you love me, you’ll leave him alone,” she said softly.“I haven’t seen this level of amazing in a very long time.”
I wasn’t sure if she meant the epic struggle or the muscle display.Both were nice to watch and far better than the endless monotony of travel, fighting the infected, and guard duty.
“I’m next,” Roni called out when Tom finally gave up.
Molev gave her a look that was slightly different from his normal blank slate.He actually frowned a little.
“I do not wish to see you hurt again,” he said.
“Please,” Roni scoffed.“I could bench Tom.”
“Whatever,” Tom panted.“I used to weigh more.”
Roni sat across from Molev and placed her elbow on the plank.Molev slowly lifted his arm.They clasped hands, and Roni grinned at him.
“I’ve seen what you can do and know you’re holding back for us.But how much?”She barely finished speaking before slamming his hand to the surface of the plank.
“That’s what I thought.Do it again,” she demanded, releasing him and lifting her hand again.
They did that several more times, each match becoming increasingly harder until she was finally struggling like Tom had.Kevin chuckled, watching her, but Tom had already left.
“Son of a bitch,” Roni panted.“Kevin, get in here and help me.”
Kevin waited for Molev’s nod before adding his weight to Roni’s effort.I watched them struggle with growing amusement.
“Andie, get your ass over here,” Roni said.
“I doubt it’ll do any good.”Yet, I moved closer and set the shirt for Molev on the plank.He watched me closely as I circled and went to join Kevin.
