She closes her eyes, shoulders sagging as a tear slips down her cheek. It takes everything in me not to rush to her side, pull her into my arms, and kiss every trace of hurt away.
“You haven’t lost me,” I say, voice low and steady.
She squeezes her eyes tighter as she shakes her head. “Jensen?—”
“I’m right here, Alley.”
She doesn’t answer. Just swipes at her cheek, trying to hold it together.
When she finally opens her eyes, she avoids mine, letting my last words hang in the tension between us.
I take my first bite of chicken and chew—but not for long. A second later, I’m pounding my fist against my chest, coughing. “Holy shit,” I choke out, grabbing my glass of water and downing half of it to force the bite down. “That’s so dry it’s a choking hazard.”
Her lips curve—barely—but it’s the closest thing to a smile I’ve seen from her in months.
“What’d you expect? It’s hospital chicken. You’ve gotta drown that shit in gravy.” She finally brings the mashed potatoes to her mouth, then pauses. “What are you, worried you’re gonna get fat?” She smirks, then flips the spoon upside down and pulls it out slow, her tongue catching every last bit like it’s the best thing she’s tasted in weeks.
Somehow, my mouth gets even fucking drier. My dick twitches in my pants, and I let out a sharp breath of a laugh. “Would you judge me if I said yes?”
And there it is…
A smile.
The most beautiful smile stretches across her face, complete with that one dimple that puts me on my knees every goddamn time.
I’d fucking kill for that smile.
Heat flashes through my veins as I try to steady whatever the fuck’s happening in my body.
“Yes.” A small laugh escapes her lips as she shakes her head. “So, holding the gravy—is that your recipe for all the new muscles?”
A smirk tugs at my mouth, and I lean in a little, cocking a brow. “So, you noticed, huh?”
“Hard not to.” Her eyes roam over me, slicing heat into every inch of skin as they drag across me. They land on my forearm, where I’ve got my sleeves pushed up just a few inches.
“And the tattoo… That’s new.”
I chuckle, low and deep. “Yep. A lot of things are new.”
“It’s like I don’t even know you anymore,” she says, spooning up more potatoes.
That one hits harder than I want to admit. Because in some ways, she’s right. And in others, I’ve never felt more like myself.
“I’m the same where it counts.”
My gaze follows her spoon as she brings it to her lips. She takes another bite, pulling the spoon from her mouth slow—slower than before. My eyes stay locked on her lips, and my brain short-circuits.Jesus.
I shift in my seat. “Alley…” I clear my throat, trying to play it cool. “If you keep sucking on that spoon like that…” I let out another low chuckle. “Fuck.” My voice drops. “You trying to kill me?”
She pauses, eyes lifting to mine, brows arched. The corner of her mouth quirks. “Didn’t know walking zombies turned you on.”
I laugh—hard.
She grins, a little sheepish, but there’s a sparkle in her eyes. “Come on. I look like hell, Jensen.”
“You could never look like hell,” I say, still smiling. “You look tired as shit, yeah, but still the hottest zombie I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re such a dumbass,” she says, laughing.
