“Cal’s teaching him how to split wood for the fireplace.”
“Satan’s spawn has an ax?” I stalk past Rex to the kitchen window that faces out back. Luckily, Cal’s the one with the ax while Devon watches.
“They’re fine.”
And he’s not lying because Cal’s . . . laughing. Like, genuinely laughing as he hands Devon the ax. And that little psycho is smiling too.
What fucking universe did I just wake up to?
Haven’t seen Cal laugh like that in years. Since his sister was alive. My chest tightens but not due to fear.
It’s something else. Something overwhelming that makes my eyes wet.
Rex groans, then coughs a little beside me, and I turn to find him staring out the window as well.
When I lift a brow, he huffs. “Haven’t seen Devon smile like that. Ever.”
“Liar.” I clear my throat and shove him with my shoulder, grateful for the distraction. “That little psycho is obsessed with you. Has all heart eyes for you.”
“Eh, this is different. He genuinely seems happy right now.” Rex puts his mug down on the counter. “He had a hard life. Don’t know if he ever had friends. Didn’t have siblings, that much I know. His father was a piece of shit.”
I look back out at the boys. Friends. Something so simple, but after most of the population died coming across people is rare, let alone finding someonefriendly. I’m lucky to have had Rex and Colt through most of it.
And Cal had his sister for a while.
Seeing him with Devon . . . Shit, I almost forgot the world we live in now. The two look normal, like friends fucking around. But a new thought enters, eating away at my momentary happiness.
My fingers grip the corner of the counter, my knuckles turning white. “We’re old.”
“No shit.”
I shake my head. “No, I meanweareold. Way older than them. They’ll outlive us.”
“Your point?”
I turn to face Rex. “What happens to them when we die? They’re going to be alone again. Going to have to survive by themselves.”
The corner of Rex’s eye ticks right before he tenses. “Thanks for shitting on my mood.”
Looking back out the window, I let out a deep sigh. “Visit more. Let them bond. Maybe . . . if something happens to us . . . they can have each other. They won’t be alone then.”
“This about them—or you?”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Rex lifts his mug and takes a swig of whatever’s in there. “You’re guilting me into coming by more often.”
“Didn’t think of it that way, but fuck it. Sure. Yeah.” When he starts coughing again I lean into him. “You getting better or worse?”
“Better. Was bad there for a while. Thought I wouldn’t make it.” He stares off. “You’re right though. About those two bonding.”
“Damn, love when you say those magic words.”
“Asshat.”
“Gotta ruin it, fuckface.”
Rex places his mug in the sink, then leans against the counter, crossing his arms and pinning me with a stare. “Why you holding back with Cal?”
