Page 15 of Romancing in Rot

Clair had not.

She’d given me a look and said, “I’m just encouraging proper lab safety.”

Apparently the end of the world can take almost everything, but it cannot take the teacher out of Clair Rains.

I load the bottles into a crate carefully, then set the cans beside them.

We’re moving closer to Chicago today. Closer to the fuel and supplies that might get us to Trish’s family farm in Montana. Closer to open land, fewer bodies, and the nearest thing to safety any of us have left.

If the farm is still there.

If her family made it.

If my idea of cutting through a dead city doesn’t leave us stranded outside Chicago with empty tanks.

My idea.

My fault if it doesn’t pan out.

I carry the crate toward my truck, gripping the handles too tight.

Jacob stands outside the driver’s side door, already halfway into a grin because apparently my suffering improves his health.

His short brown hair is a mess from running both hands through it, and that look is already on his face. Too casual. Too pleased with himself. The look he gets right before he says something designed to make me regret loving him.

“We’re all set to leave,” he says, breath fogging in the cold. “Got everything packed on your end?”

I nod, shake the last of the cans loose from the line, and toss them into the bed.

He leans his forearms on the door and glances around camp. His grin grows.

Shit.

“So,” he drags out, “what did Clair want to talk to you about?”

Nothing ever stays private in this group.

I don’t even look at him as I sign, “Wants me to train her.”

“Interesting.” He nods, deeply fake. His eyebrows bounce. “You planning on finally making a move?”

I sign, “Fuck off.”

Jacob laughs, then lowers his voice. “You know, for a mute man, you have a very loud personality.”

I give him a flat look.

He laughs harder, then leans back from me like he needs distance in case I decide to punch his smug face.

Smart man.

Then his expression shifts. The grin fades, not all the way, but enough.

“Why not?”

I go still.

Because the woman I care about flinched when I tried to comfort her.