Revolution (Collide, #4)(29)

I jerked Sherry to me and squeezed her with all I could muster without hurting her. She laughed happily. "This was all I wanted."

"I worry. That won't ever change," I defended.

"I wouldn't change one thing about you. If you didn't worry about me, I'd be worried about that." She smiled. One of those smiles that was solely to placate me and make me feel moths in my guts and googly eyed, as she called it. It was totally working.

I just kissed her. To feel her breath as she gasped into my mouth, to feel her warm fingers as they gripped my arms like she was hanging on for life, to feel the buzz she caused me, like being drunk without the hangover. I kissed her good and long and dangerously.

When I finally released her, she had that glazy eyed look that made me want to drag her to our room…but we didn't have a room anymore. I sighed. Things were so different now. I kissed her forehead and said, "Gah, I love you, baby."

"I love you, Finch," she whispered, the slight hitch giving her away.

"I love you more."

"Unfathomable."

I smirked at her inability to let me win. I peeked up to see Cain waiting for Sherry, but trying not to watch us. I nodded to him and he sauntered over, putting a hand on my shoulder. "We'll be back before you know it."

I turned to give him my full attention. "I know you'll take care of her," I lowered my voice, "but I promise you I'll murder you in your sleep mafia style if-"

He laughed. "Dude! That was awesome! Say it again." Before I could say anything he continued, "I get it. You'll murder me dead." He chuckled again. "You know me. You and Sherry are family. I promise you I won't let anything happen to her."

"I am standing right here," Sherry said and smirked at us both.

"Where?" Cain joked and looked over her head. "Can't see a thing."

"Down here, turd."

"Turd? I'm wounded. Is that even a real word? If I were writing a novel right now, turd would be underlined in red," he goaded and laughed as she slapped his arm.

"Turd," she repeated and reached up to hug me. "Please don't worry so much. Make sure Lily brushes out her hair because if you don't it's a rat's nest."

"Ok." I touched her cheek. "Bye, baby."

"Bye."

One side of her mouth rose in a half smile. She let Cain lead her to the elevator, a beaten messenger bag over her shoulder. Not everyone was up yet, but there were plenty of us awake to see them off. Lily wasn’t one of them. Sherry said it would be too much to see Lily upset about her leaving so we let her sleep.

We'd been over and over the rules and things they needed to remember. They were well equipped to handle this, taking the Jeep and clean clothes so they didn't look like rebels.

Simon pouted by the elevator doors, but I barely saw him.

The elevator doors closed and Sherry and I both leaned until the little sliver of each other through the crack was gone. I swiped my face with my palm and plopped myself onto one of the bean crates. Gah, this sucked.

"Sherry is a smart girl," Jeff told me. He was attempting to un-knot a shoelace from his sneakers. "And Cain is perfect for this."

"I know that," I said a bit harshly. I was tired of everyone making out like I was overreacting.

I don't think you're overreacting. I'm just trying to offer you some comfort.

I'm afraid there's none to be had, brother. How's Marissa?

Good. His smile was proud. Really good, if you don't count morning sickness. Her belly is starting to stick out a little. It's…awesome knowing what's inside there.

Delivery isn't going to be fun.

I remember Katie. He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. I know it seems cruel to bring a baby into the world like this, but I still can't help but be happy about it. It makes sense to me; to bring life into the world when so much life is leaving it.

I nodded and smiled. You're getting wise in your old age, papa bear.

I'll take that badge and wear it proudly.

I bet. Hey, uh…what are we going to do about Simon?

He's sure cocky, isn't he?

I grimaced. Yeah, he is. I don't get it. Josh was cocky, but this is insane. He's reckless.

We'll keep an eye on him. Cain's gone, so he should tone down a bit the next couple of days.

Don't remind me. Cain was gone and so was Sherry. Why don't we make ourselves useful and figure out a way to make a clothesline and get a pipe to run water to the kitchen. Sherry would be happy to find that when she got back.

Deal. He got fed up and cut the shoelace straight through with a knife.

"You know we don't have replacement laces for that, right?"

"They were knotted. I'll just glue it."

"Glue it?" Billings said and took it from him as if to examine it. "You can't glue that! Try some duct tape."

"Duck tape? What's that?"

"Duct tape," he corrected, enunciating the 't'. "It's…ah, here." Billings pulled a roll from a compartment in his cargo pants leg. We gawked at him in disbelief. He shrugged. "What? You never know when you're going to need duct tape."

Catnip



Chapter 13