Page 14 of Always You

“Jazz,” Alex said from behind, but I didn’t jump because I knew he’d be there. I turned to face him, my back hard against the door. “Hey,” he murmured.

“Hey,” I managed, noting how tired he seemed, with dark smudges under his eyes and his hair a tangled mess. Instinct made me want to say something, to ask if he was all right, and if there was anything I could do. It would have been the right thing to do, the human thing, if I had any of that human side left in me. But the words seemed to stick in my throat, held back by a wall of pride and stubbornness.

“I’m glad you stayed,” he said, but didn’t move toward me, or expand on that comment with reasons about how I needed to stay longer.

I still wasn’t sure I was staying another night.

What else would I do?

As I fumbled behind me for the door handle, I remembered it was locked, and I had the key in my pocket. As if Alex sensed I needed to get away, he took a few steps back as he smiled encouragingly.

“I have to go…” He excused himself. “… things need doing.” Then, he went in the opposite direction to where Doc had gone, heading into an office space near the front entrance. I’d noticed the computers in there and wondered if I could get online to message Harper, missing my daughter more than anything right now. Maybe before I left. Maybe today? Or if I stayed, perhaps tomorrow.

I unlocked my door, slipped inside, and locked it again.

Checked it just in case.

The room felt too quiet. If I were outside, I’d be walking to keep warm, searching for a new place to sleep, or trying to find work. In here, everything was so damn nice, but prickles of unease made me shudder at the silence.

I switched on the TV, more for the noise than anything. I heard the gentle buzz of a home renovation show, and I sat down on my bed.

Should I stay one more night? My chest was already looser from being out of the cold, and my hands were softer, the cracks not bleeding.

Just one more night.

I didn’t have to see or speak to Alex.

Doc said so.

Chapter Eight

Alex

I wokeup when Marcus tapped my shoulder, and his voice broke through my sleepiness. “Wake up, sunshine.” My head snapped up from the keyboard. A string of nonsensical characters glowed on the computer screen.

Rubbing my eyes, I tried to focus on Marcus, who was staring at me with concern and amusement.

“Carl tells me you’ve been covering his night shift for the last three nights. What’s up with that?” His tone was casual, but his eyes searched mine for a deeper answer.

“No reason,” I mumbled, straightening in my chair and stretching my spine. I was monitoring the front door just in case Jazz needed something or left. But then, it had morphed into something else, a habit fueled by my restlessness and inability to sleep. Today marked day four of Jazz staying with us, and each night felt longer than the last. Mostly because I was trying to stay awake in the day as well.

Idiot.

Marcus raised an eyebrow, not buying my half-hearted dismissal. “No reason, huh? Nothing to do with a certain soldier in the room down the hall?”

“No,” I lied. “Yes,” I amended when he quirked an eyebrow.

“Maybe try sleeping in an actual bed tonight?” he suggested, amusement lacing his voice. “It works wonders, I hear.”

“I can’t,” I snapped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”

Marcus raised his hands in mock surrender. “It’s okay, but you need rest. We can’t have our fearless leader falling apart on us.”

“Yeah.”

“You know, you could have asked Carl to wake you up if anything happened.”.

“It could be too late.” I knew he was right, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of responsibility that had settled over me. “I know, I just…” I was unsure how to explain the mix of concern and duty, keeping me tethered to the desk night after night.

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