Isolation , Jones, Nathan [top 20 books to read TXT] 📗

you could too,” she murmured. “But mostly because then we wouldn't have to stay fifteen feet apart.”

That smile absolutely melted him, and not just because of the obvious affection in her expression; talking to him seemed to lift some of the burden of care from her shoulders, reassuring him that in spite of everything they'd been through, she remained the cheerful, kind, and above all optimistic woman he'd first befriended and then fallen in love with.

She was beautiful in that moment.

That is, she was always beautiful of course. But seeing her drawn and pale with stress from their current situation, but undaunted and still so full of love and hope, he knew he'd remember her as she looked now for the rest of his life. A memory he'd treasure of the woman he loved.

He hadn't realized just how fierce his feelings had become until that moment. “I love you,” he blurted without even thinking, then felt his face heat when behind him Chet and Ben both snickered.

Gen's eyes softened, although her cheeks also reddened as she glanced at the people with him. “I love you too,” she said without any other sign of embarrassment. She glanced at his patrol again. “Do you have a few minutes to talk? It feels like it's been forever since we've been able to, with me trapped behind the barricades and you busy dealing with Jay.”

It had felt like forever for him too; she'd been able to get a few notes to him, all of which were currently folded carefully in his pocket. But of course he couldn't pass any notes to her in return, and any messages he gave her through others would be awkward if he wanted to say anything romantic.

Chet clapped him on the shoulder, making him jump slightly. “We'll get back to our route, boss,” he said, giving Gen a strained but genuine smile. “You can catch up to us.”

“Okay,” he said, feeling a bit bad about suspecting his friend; Chet was a good man, and if he had burned down houses in Wensbrook he had a valid reason to want to. Not that Nick approved, but . . .

Gah, why did he always get these dilemmas dumped in his lap?

“How are you doing?” he asked Gen as his patrol moved out.

She grimaced. “I probably look like a wreck, don't I?”

He hesitated. “You look beautiful,” he said honestly. “But this craziness with Jay is stressing us all out, and I want to make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard.”

“I hope you aren't either, since you're in the thick of it,” she said. “I worry for you.”

That admission warmed Nick's heart, but he wished she wouldn't deflect his own worry. Still, he didn't want to press the issue. “How's Billy holding up with all this?”

Gen flashed that warm smile again. “He's an inspiration, a testament to how resilient kids can be.” She laughed ruefully. “Honestly, he's comforted me as much as I've comforted him through all this.”

“That's good to hear. Ricky and Tallie both miss him.” He jerked his head towards the house. “What about Bruce and Winn? Did they come with you?”

“Yeah, they're down in the basement seeing how many trips this will take.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I'm surprised they haven't come out to say hello.”

“Well I'm glad I have a chance to talk to you.” He felt his cheeks heat. “I've missed you. It was hard enough when we had to stay fifteen feet apart, but at least we could still talk.”

She sighed and settled down on the top step, looking off into the distance. “You think Jay might've been telling the truth about walking away from this, before someone burned their houses down?”

Nick glanced to the southwest, as if he could see Wensbrook even with it forty minutes away. “It seems a bit convenient. Jay's always saying things to make his side seem like the victims and everything they do justified. The fact that we just hit him with an ambush and he was threatening to kill us all the day before really doesn't do much for his story, either.”

“Yeah, you're right. Even if it was true, though, they're certainly back now.” Gen sighed again. “What do you think he has in store for us next?”

Nick turned to look back at her. “What do you mean? He's in the middle of burning down a bunch of houses, that's what he's got in store.”

“And after that?” she asked, brow furrowed in concern. “He's already pulled so many tricks out of his sleeve, what else can he do?”

“I don't know,” he admitted. “I've been trying to think of things he might try so we can defend against them, but it almost seems like he's running out of moves.”

A glimmer of hope entered her gray eyes. “You think so?”

Nick nodded. “He's already done everything he could to us without getting too close to the town or camp, things like keeping us from scavenging, hitting our outlying houses, and turning away people headed for the quarantine camp. Now all that's left is to attack us or try to sneak into the town or camp again, and we're too well dug in and vigilant for that at this point.”

Gen looked relieved at his reassurances, although her brows were still furrowed in worry. “What if he thinks of something he can do besides all that?”

That's what I'm afraid of, Nick thought grimly. But he gave her the most confident smile he could manage. “Then we'll think of it first and be ready for it.”

She smiled back, the warmth in it once again transforming her strained features. “I wish I could give you the biggest hug right now.”

He unexpectedly felt his eyes burn; maybe it was his exhaustion, or the constant stress he was under and the dangerous situations he'd been in lately, but he hadn't realized how much he needed to see her, to talk to her. “I love you, Gen,” he whispered.

“You have no idea how good it feels every time