Break Free The Night (Book 1) by E.M. Fitch

I’ m not sure I prefer you this way. Last night you were mor e… affectionate ?” he added, his head tilting as though in question as to whether or not that was the most appropriate term. He seemed satisfied enough though at her outraged expression. Kaylee felt her cheeks flare and her gaze darted to the bed.
     
    I did make a fool of myself last night.
     
    She licked her lips and brought her eyes to the window where the sun was shining far brighter than she had been awake to see in some time. She remembered hitting her head and the strange warmth flowing over her stomach and the splitting headache and fuzzy vision that followed. She also remembered tucking herself into Jac k’ s arms, cuddling into him, inhaling his unique, clean scen t …
     
    She brought a hand up over her eyes and groaned.
     
    “ Wha t’ s wrong ?” he asked, and his voice was finally infused with a hint of caring.
     
    “ Nothing ,” she grit out .“ Could you please leave now ? ”
     
    “ Are you going to get up ? ”
     
    “ Fine, just get out so I can get dressed .” She heard him take one last bite of his apple before his mumbled ,“I’ ll be right outside . ”
     
    Kaylee groaned again as she heard the door shut. She let the covers drop and glanced down at her stomach again.
     
    I t’ s really not that bad, she thought before picturing the pandemonium that probably occurred as a result of the injury. Her father almost certainly went ballistic, Emma was most likely terrified, and Andrew would have been pacing by her bedside all night if Anna would have had allowed it. It all did seem kind of silly over a cut and a bump on the head. Kaylee swung her legs over the side of the bed, pressing her feet to the cool floor and taking a few deep breaths.
     
    No dizziness, no head rushing, no stars.
     
    She felt fine, a little silly perhaps for having gotten injured in the first place, but healthy.
     
    “ Why are you up ?” came a sleepy voice from the cot across the room. Ann a’ s head peaked out of her covers, her dark hair askew and her eyes blinking .“ Not that I’ m not happy to see you awake, but it ca n’ t be noon yet . ”
     
    “ Guess I got to sleep a little early last night ,” Kaylee answered sheepishly. Anna snorted a laugh.
     
    “ Guess you could say that. Not a bad night overall though ,” she continued, tossing her covers to the side and throwing Kaylee a worn tee shirt. Kaylee pulled it over her head, grateful, and instantly felt more secure .“ You two found people . ”
     
    Ann a’ s voice had an unmistakable tone of victory and Kaylee grinned for the first time that morning. Anna had been right: they were not the only ones left.
     
    “ You know what this means right ?” she said, her tone eager and her eyes now shining brightly.
     
    “ You do n’ t have to mate me with Andrew ? ”
     
    Kaylee did n’ t know what made her say it and she regretted it instantly at the look on Ann a’ s face. But she was still riled from her conversation with Jack, still achy, and still angry and hurt over what she had overheard last week.
     
    “ Oh, Kay ,” Anna said, her body still and her voice hushed .“I’ m sorry. You heard us . ”
     
    Kaylee noted that she did n’ t deny it, apologize, or make excuses. It was a simple fact now.
     
    “ I heard ,” she answered, averting her eyes to her bedspread and picking at a stray thread.
     
    Anna sighed and Kaylee refused to meet her gaze. But moments later she felt the bed dip next to her and two strong arms came around her and pulled her into a warm hug.
     
    “ Them being here, it proves I’ m right ,” Anna whispered, rocking Kaylee slightly. Kaylee was surprised to find tears gather in her eyes at the tender gesture .“ It proves w e’ re not the only ones. And re-population is not the focus, not really. Talking about it is more the means to an end. Any one of us attempting to have a child would be... Well, at least it's not the focus, not right