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“Hell no.There’s more where he came from.I’m going to let this itch build.”
“Poor unknown man won’t know what hit him,” Roland said with a shake of his head.
Once Molev returned in looser-fitting shorts and a shirt, we watched movies and waited.When dinnertime rolled around, no one needed to voice their doubts, and I tried not to think about what the delay might mean.
The light faded outside.Katie was the first one to start yawning and drift away.Steve and Brandon were next.Roni started another movie, and even though I was tired, I didn’t leave.I wasn’t ready yet for snuggle time next to Molev.
Sid gave up after another thirty minutes.Roland watched him go and looked at us.
“I know there are guards outside and a fence around the perimeter and a whole damn mountain range keeping the infected out, but it still feels weird just going to bed without a lookout, you know?”
“Hit the rack,” Roni said.“I’ll stay up.”
He smiled slightly, nodded, and left us.
Roni waited until the door closed then stopped the movie.
“Put on your big girl pants and take him to bed.Tomorrow will come early.It always does.”
She left me alone with Molev.
“I hope one of your brothers likes aggressive women,” I said, staring after her.
“Roni will find what she is looking for when we return.”He moved his arm to rest on the back of the couch behind me, and I almost grinned.Did he know that was a human move?Probably not.
“Are you tired?”he asked.
“Yeah.”I turned to him, sitting sideways on the couch.“It’s not a good sign that they didn’t send anyone today.It could mean they don’t intend to keep their word.And if they can’t keep their word with this, how can we trust anything they say, including your request for volunteers.”
He cupped the back of my head and brought his forehead to mine.His eyes closed, and he took a slow calming breath.I did the same and realized how much I’d needed to take a moment and just breathe.
He held us together like that for several more breaths before he released me.
“You need sleep.”He stood and held out his hand.
“I’m not ready for things to be different between us,” I admitted.
“I know.Come.”
I wasn’t exactly sure if that meant nothing would change or if he was just acknowledging my reluctance.
With my hand in his, he led me to our bedroom.Like the night before, I stripped out of my pants and tossed my bra aside, choosing to sleep in my shirt and underwear.
Molev kept his shorts and shirt on as he got in beside me.He didn’t leave space between us tonight but went straight for the cusp-of-sleep snuggles, pulling me close to his side and resting an arm over my middle.
“I understand nicknames,” he said out of nowhere.“Mom is a nickname for Julie and a title of respect.It has meaning for her.Why are you called Andie?Does it have meaning?”
The question relaxed me, and I rolled toward him.
“Not really.It’s just a shortened version of Andromeda.I liked it because it was gender-neutral.So when I was applying for jobs, they couldn’t tell if I was a girl or boy.”
“Why does that matter?”
“It’s not supposed to, but it does.Men tended to get more preference in our society.They have more control.”
Molev gave a slight laugh.“I hope they continue thinking that way.”
“Why?”
