Given by Ashlynn Monroe Page B

around her life. She’d
thought she’d be mostly allowed to just live, without the protection facility
interfering. “I’m still going to try that cup of coffee,” she grumbled.
    Jared gave her a small nod. “I’ll personally make it for you.
I don’t think it will hurt a bit before you’re pregnant.”
    She liked him; it was unavoidable. As much as she didn’t
want to like anything about being here, she saw the benefits.
    Jared handed her the muffin and juice.
    “Thank you, this is very thoughtful. What time is it?”
Krista began yawning as soon as she’d asked the question.
    “Almost one. I wanted to make sure
you were okay. After last night I… How are you?” She
thought his flush was adorable.
    “I’m fine. Thank you for checking on me. Would you like to sit
with me while I eat?”
    He nodded exuberantly and plunked down next to her. “You
look pretty this morning,” he said.
    She didn’t feel pretty. Her mouth felt sticky, and he was
right, she reeked of cigar smoke. “Thanks. So what are you guys up to today?”
    “We all took our two Giving weeks off. Most of us work or
study so much we aren’t used to having this much time on our hands. I’ll be
working on my homework this afternoon, but otherwise I’m just hoping to spend
time with you. Everyone is going crazy downstairs waiting. We made a
rotation—unless you want to p…pick who gets what nights.” He rubbed the back of
his neck and looked away.
    So far, nothing he was talking about was making her feel
happy she woke up. “Whatever,” she replied and then realized just how terrible
her single word reply actually sounded. “Umm, sorry, I—dang it, my neck hurts.”
    “I can help you,” he said cheerfully, pulling her so that
her back faced him. He slid the robe off her shoulders.
    “So now you’re a chiropractor too?” She really didn’t mean
to be so snippy, but all his talk of food restrictions and rotations had put
her in a terrible mood. She just wanted to explore her new world.
    His hands began rubbing her neck and shoulders. His pressure
was firm, but not painful. “Tell me if I’m hurting you.”
    “No, it feels good.”
    “I’m sorry, Krista. I know this isn’t easy for you. It’s not
easy for us either. If the world were different, we wouldn’t find ourselves
having to share. This is going to be harder for some of us than others. Sharing
a woman doesn’t come naturally. I’m pretty easy going, but hell, it’s still
hard for me to know tonight you’ll be in Braxton’s bed.”
    Krista held her breath. Braxton’s bed. She didn’t know if she was ready for him. She wished she’d saved the nightgown
now. “Where’s your washing machine?”
    “Steve does all the laundry. Do you have something for him
to wash?”
    “I don’t have many clothes. I’d love to have what I’ve worn
washed today. I can do it if you just show me where the washer is.”
    “Right now?” He sounded a bit
pouty.
    “Yes, please.”
    “All right, let’s go.”
    “Wait, I need to get dressed.” She opened the closet and
took out her last set of clean clothing.
    “Wow, that’s all you have, huh?”
    “They didn’t give us much at the protection facility. We
wore uniforms, like prisoners. This is everything I have that’s not standard
issue from the facility. I’m lucky to have as much as I do. Most women leave
with just the clothing on their backs, some have to leave in uniform even. I
guess they figure we’ll spend most of our time naked anyway, so why waste tax
dollars.”
    “I don’t know if you realize how hard the world was hit
economically. Since women worked, they paid taxes too. When everything went
crazy, the economy crashed. Just think about industries that make tampons and
cosmetics, sure there are boy-girls who need a new lipstick or blush, but what
about the tampons?”
    “Yes, let’s feel sorry for the tampon manufacturers. Oh, the humanity!”
    Jared grinned. “Okay, maybe not them ,
but I’m serious,