All of us follow, and I breathe a sigh of relief when Ethan stays next to the gate. The less time I spend with that cunt, the better.
“Are you okay?” Theo asks softly, his hot breath fanning against my neck.
I shiver and nod. “Yeah, I’m fine. The guy is just a prick is all,” I reply as casually as I can while reminding my traitorous body that Theo is onlypretendingto be my boyfriend. Even if it feels right to be cuddled up to his side or to have his lips pressed against my skin. It means nothing.
“True. We’ve always thought Ethan was a massive twat. I’m just glad we refused to allow his entry into Haven.”
“Haven?” I glance up at him with a furrowed brow.
“It’s the name of the settlement we’re from, off the south coast of Wales.”
Understanding dawns. “Right, I remember you telling me about it just before I agreed to come with you guys.” I pause. “What’s it like there?”
Theo’s eyes flare with surprise. It’s the first time I’m showing interest in any of their lives.
“Well, it was a holiday park before shit hit the fan, so there’s a ton of accommodation. Mostly caravans, but there are a couple of cabins and chalets that are newer, all of which are powered by solar panels. A small wind farm the owners installed on the beach next to the park runs the rest of the place.”
His gaze turns wistful. “It’s a beautiful place. Calm, quiet,safe. You’d never know that there’s an apocalypse happening beyond the walls.” Hisexpression morphs into a frown. “But it can be stifling. There’s over a hundred people living there now and they can get nosy when there’s nothing much to do. And while it’s safe, it can get boring doing the same thing day in, day out.”
As he speaks, I think back to my little cottage and the simple life I was living before I started this journey. I expect to miss the place or feel homesick, but I don’t. All I feel is… relief. And excitement at the adventure I’m on. Granted, it’s more of a suicide mission than a fun-filled adventure, but it’s different from the monotony that my life was before this.
It’s honestly a revelation. Before the world ended, I never thought of myself as the adventurous type. I often preferred to stay at home to read or watch documentaries rather than go out, which pissed my ex-fiancé off to no end. And yet here I am, enjoying the unpredictability of life outside my safe little cottage.
Or maybe it’s just the company I’m keeping.
“What about you?” Theo asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “What’s your home like?”
My immediate reaction is to brush him off and turn to safer topics, but I stop myself. It’s only right I share something of myself since he agreed to help me with Ethan. “It’s just a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. My nearest neighbour is about two miles down a small country lane. It’s… quiet at the cottage, simple. Monotonous.”
Theo hums in understanding. “I get that. Sometimes we need something more to our lives than just survival.”
“Easier said than done.”
“True, but I imagine that’s probably why you were so eager to go after yourbrother.”
I shake my head. “No, I wouldn’t exactly call myself eager to go get myself killed trying to save him.” I hesitate, wondering how I can explain it to him. “Tobias has always been there for me during my darkest days, but sometimes I feel that’s all he’s ever going to see me as; a broken girl in need of care. I want him to see that I’m not her, that I’m capable of more.”Even if I’m still that broken girl.I keep that part to myself.
This is the most I’ve probably ever shared with anyone, and I feel exposed in a way I’ve never experienced before. It’s disconcerting. I try to pull away, but Theo tightens his hold around me and keeps me pressed against his side.
“In the few days I’ve known you, not once have I seen a broken girl. All I see is a beautiful and strong woman who’s more than capable of taking care of herself and others.”
I shift, uncomfortable with how personal this conversation has become. I don’t know how to react to his words. While I’m touched that he thinks I’m beautiful and capable, I don’t truly feel like that. I’m also panicking because this is the opposite of what I should be doing. I should maintain my emotional distance from these men and yet here I am, getting up close and personal with one of them.
Fuck. I knew this was a bad idea.
Theo must sense my panic because he thankfully lightens the mood. “Although I’m sure Rhys will disagree a little with me. He’d probably call you insufferable, irritating or a pain in his ass. As well as more colourful curse words,” he says with a chuckle.
I roll my eyes and relax now that the conversation has steered into safer territory. “The feeling is mutual.”
We arrive at a row of paddocks, only half of which are in use. Sheep, a few cows and two horses happily graze, barely payingattention to us as Mark motions to one of the smaller paddocks that’s overgrown with thick grass. Perfect for Bean.
“The grass in there should be enough, but there’s some hay if you need it and there’s a bucket ready to be filled with water from the hand pump behind us.”
I get to work settling Bean down for the night, not wanting to keep everyone waiting. Once I’m done, Mark leads us back around to the car parking area of the motorway services that’s bustling with activity. It’s overwhelming to be around so many people after being almost alone for the past thirteen months, so I gravitate toward the guys. Theo notices and pulls me back against his side, even though Ethan is nowhere to be seen.
I should put a stop to this, but I’m finding it increasingly more difficult to remember why.
Shark Tank
