Page 22 of Demon Shock

I glanced from Zach to Gyrik and nodded.

After spending the day with them, I felt comfortable enough to sleep in a room with any of them, especially with all the informational tidbits they’d dropped throughout the day. Theinfected were often silent, and while not as smart as a human, some knew how to work a doorknob…if they still had hands.

Being closed in a room with any of them was better than sleeping alone.

Gyrik followed me into the second room where a cold-weather sleeping bag and Pete and Repeat already waited on the bed. Someone had also moved their litter box and food and water bowls into the room.

“Did I do it right?” Gyrik asked when he caught me looking at their setup.

“You did this?”

His gaze shifted to the food and water bowls as he hesitantly nodded.

“You did great, Gyrik. Thank you.”

I sat on the bed and toed off the boots I’d loosened a while ago. That was another nifty little tidbit Will had dropped. Don’t take your boots off unless you have to or unless you’re somewhere you know you’re one hundred percent safe.

Pausing, I looked at Gyrik. “Does this count as a time I can take my boots off?”

He quickly nodded. “You are safe. I promise.”

I stripped off my sweater, too, but hesitated when I would have removed my jeans.

“What’s wrong?” Gyrik asked, watching me.

“I usually sleep in shorts. Sleeping in jeans probably won’t be fun.”

“You don’t have to sleep in anything.”

Zach’s entertaining stories about miscommunications ran through my head, and I grinned at Gyrik.

“Sleeping naked might be a little too cold for me.”

I watched the tips of Gyrik’s ears darken as he stared at me.

“I’m just teasing you, Gyrik. I know you weren’t suggesting I sleep naked. But if you promise to make sure nothing will sendme running out of this room in my underwear, I don’t mind removing my jeans.”

He gave me one of the blinks Zach warned me about and a jerky nod, so I figured it was okay. I didn’t hate jeans, and I understood why Will had suggested I wear them—to better protect against bites—but I really didn’t want to have to sleep in them if I didn’t have to.

Once I settled into the sleeping bag with Pete and Repeat snuggled around me, I told Gyrik he could turn down the small lantern he’d brought in with him. In the dark, I listened to him settle in front of the door.

“Zach told me a little about what life’s been like for you and your brothers. Do you ever get time to relax? Even while playing games, I saw how you kept glancing at the windows.”

“Yes, I relax.” His voice was slow and deep in the darkness. Soothing.

“How?”

He started talking about how he walked around and watched the kids play in his community or talked with his brothers or went to the other community to see if he could help with anything. While I wouldn’t have found any of that relaxing, thathedidspoke of the kind of person he was. Craving connection and involvement. A man not afraid of pitching in wherever, however.

Lonely.

“You’ve mentioned a few women today. Are you dating any of them?” I asked.

“No, I am single.”

I smiled into the darkness at the way he said it—like he was worried I’d misunderstand. Only someone with zero social awareness would have missed how he’d been watching me throughout the day. It hadn’t bothered me, though. After listening to Zach’s stories, I’d understood Gyrik’s attention,laced with a hint of fascination. I'd be fascinated, too, if I’d never seen a man before. Gyrik’s attention was flattering, honestly. But only because he wasn’t creepy about it. More like shy and apologetic. It was cute.

“Can I ask you some personal questions?” I asked.

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