My breath catches in my throat. I grow very still. “About what?”
“You’ve liked having me around to help sometimes, haven’t you?”
The tension relaxes inside me.
I’m safe again. Fine.
I have to be.
“I have,” I admit. “For an obnoxious, clueless asshole, you’re pretty good to have around.”
Later that morning me,Micah, and Molly hike to Cleverly to pick up some more food. We’ve sorted through some of the salvaged items I’ve got socked away and pulled out enough for the week’s provisions.
The big silent guy who works for Logan is getting on a run-down ATV as we arrive at the old bar where I trade for food. Deck is his name.
He sees us and visibly brightens, waving us over.
Micah meets my eyes. “Up to you.”
“It’s fine. He seems like a decent guy, whether he works for Logan or not. You can talk to him if you want, of course.”
“Okay.”
I wasn’t sure whether I would go over with Micah or not, but he makes the decision for me by putting a hand on my back and bringing me with him.
Deck’s eyes move back and forth between me and Micah as we approach. He’s a wary man. Everyone is who’s survived this long. But he’s not mean and hard the way a lot of folks have gotten.
He’s smiling for real when we reach him.
So is Micah. “Hey, good to see you. How’s Lilah?”
Deck nods, his smile widening as he gives an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Micah chuckles. “Glad to hear it. So she’s not riding out with you all the time anymore? Because she’s pregnant?”
Deck nods with his head and his closed hand.
“Probably smart. Gotta be careful.” He glances around the small township. “When did y’all start coming round here?”
Deck counts out three on his fingers.
“Three months ago?” Micah says. He’s obviously well practiced in communicating with Deck by gestures and expressions. “So you’ll be around here fairly often then?”
Deck nods. Then he points toward Micah and then toward me, bringing his hand toward his chest in a gathering motion.
“Sorry, man,” Micah says with a laugh. “Kat isn’t Logan’s biggest fan. She isn’t gonna join up with him.”
Deck points only toward Micah with an obvious question on his face.
“I don’t know yet,” Micah replies. “For now, I’m hanging with Kat till she kicks me out.”
Deck accepts this statement without objection. He leans down to scratch Molly’s head, delighting the dog so much she wriggles happily.
When he straightens up again, his expression changes. He makes a sign with both hands closed into fists and crossed in front of him, bringing them apart.
Micah clearly knows this sign. “Yes,” he says in a quieter tone. “We’re safe. We’re good.”
Deck nods and pats Micah on the back, giving me another cheesy thumbs-up that’s clearly intended to make me smile.
