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The thought ran through her mind, and instead of immediately pushing it away, she let it sit there for a moment.
Agoodday.
She tugged her eyes open, releasing a deep breath as she stared up at the ceiling.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt a sense of satisfied exhaustion.
“You okay?” Maddie asked from beside her.
Saff tilted her head to the side, looking at her as a light cough forced its way out of her lungs.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Tired.”
Maddie nodded, but Saff caught the minor flash of concern that skipped over her features.
It felt so odd—so foreign—to see someone concerned for her wellbeing. And if she really thought about it, Maddie had seemed to care for a while. Even before they arrived at the settlement.Maybe even before the bunker.
Another cough came out, and she watched Maddie’s look of concern grow.
“Don’t sleep in the basement again tonight.”
The corner of Saff’s mouth pulled up into an almost-smile at the commanding tone of Maddie’s voice.
“I’m not.”
Maddie’s face changed into one of surprise, and Saff couldn’t blame her. She’d probably expected her to put up a fight.
“Oh,” Maddie mumbled. “Okay good. Where are you gonna sleep then?”
Saff rolled her head back until it was facing the ceiling again, then closed her eyes. “This couch.”
Maddie scoffed. “This one is even more uncomfortable than the one in the basement.”
Saff grunted, much too tired to argue.
“You know, my offer still stands,” Maddie continued. “We can share my bed.”
Saff opened her eyes, tilting to watch Maddie again. Her head had begun to pound somewhere along the walk back to the house, and it was making it hard to think. But one thought did make its way into her mind.
Sleeping next to Maddie.
Her warmth.
The way she held onto her wrist and fiddled with her bracelet the last time they’d fallen asleep beside each other.
She hadn’t let herself think about it before. She’d shoved away any memory of that night. But now, she couldn’t. Or maybe she could if she really tried, but she just—didn’t.
Maybe it was the exhaustion, or maybe it was something else.But either way, she let herself remember.
She let herself remember the way it felt to wake up with Maddie fast asleep in her arms. To wake up with Maddie’s face tucked into her chest, clutching her shirt.
She let herself remember.
“Okay.”
Maddie paused, almost like she thought she might have mis-heard her. “Okay?” she repeated.
Saff watched the way she tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, shifting almost nervously.
