Kindred Spirit - Noah Harris Page 0,50
a man.”
“I’m hungry, tired, and cold. Sue me.”
Jacob grimaced in agreement as he looked around the small hallway they’d walked into. He wasn’t sure why, but there were strips of emergency lighting along the walls that were lit up, giving enough illumination to see and walk around safely. An open door on his right led to a storeroom, cluttered with boxes, bags, and other assorted containers. Another door to his left was closed, and he blinked when he opened it up to a fully furnished bathroom, shower and all.
“Uh,” Jacob said, frowning. “Does she stay at the store?”
Levi chuckled. “The store was her great grandfather’s house back in the day. They broke down most of the walls to make the storefront. The storeroom used to be a bedroom, and they just...kept the bathroom.”
Jacob squinted into the dimly lit bathroom. “And updated it.”
Levi shrugged. “Don’t ask me how Laura’s brain works. I’m sure she had some sort of reason behind it.”
Jacob eyed the other man. “This is why you wanted to stay here, isn’t it?”
“Fuck, yes, I wanted a hot shower.”
Jacob chuckled. “Fine, get your shower. I’ll gather a meal for us.”
The happy hum from Levi was all he needed to know he’d made the right decision. Jacob couldn’t help but rub the man’s shoulder, fingers drifting to linger on Levi’s jaw. Once again, the man didn’t pull away but seemed to melt into the touch. Jacob’s tired body stirred at the reaction, but he pushed himself forward, trying to focus on taking care of them.
Right along with the illogical existence of the bathroom, the emergency lighting ran through the storefront itself. Jacob was relieved to find that the front windows had curtains drawn over them, with only the glass front door left uncovered. That gave him more than enough room to move freely through the store. As he tried to look over the shelves for something they could eat, he heard the water turn on.
Smiling at the soft noise of pleasure and trying to ignore the subsequent twinge of his groin, he grabbed a few cans. From the cooler, he grabbed a couple of drinks, counting in his head as he went. They might have broken into the woman’s store and were stealing her goods, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t come back later and compensate her for them.
He stopped at the counter, looking over the small shelves on the wall. Jacob grabbed another bandage, knowing he would have to replace the one on his leg. His fingers hesitated at the small pharmacy, spying a few boxes of condoms and a couple bottles of lube as well. He didn’t imagine those were the sort of staples one would find in a small-town store, but he was reminded of Levi’s comment about how the owner’s mind worked.
With his supplies, he made his way to the back of the store. There was a pull at the wound on his leg, but he ignored it as he sat down carefully in the hallway. Using the tabs on the cans, he opened them and cracked open one of the bottles of water. As he took a long drink, a still wet, dressed, but happier looking Levi emerged from the bathroom.
“Feel better?” Jacob asked with a knowing smile.
“I’ll be great once I eat,” Levi told him, flopping down across from him.
Jacob motioned between the cans. “We’ve got ravioli and...ravioli.”
Levi snorted, taking one of the cans and one of the plastic forks. “Such a selection. You sure know how to treat a guy.”
“Only the finest for you,” he intoned as he grabbed the remaining can.
Levi popped a cold piece of pasta into his mouth and grinned. “After jerky and water all night, cold, canned ravioli tastes pretty good.”
Jacob nodded as he chewed. “Funny how things can be put into perspective, huh?”
Levi sighed. “I’m sure you probably think I’m a big baby.”
“Would I?”
“You haven’t complained once the whole time. You have to have been just as tired, cold, and hungry as I was, and you also got hurt in the process.”
“I don’t recall you complaining about any of that until we got here.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that I still picked this place for those reasons.”
Jacob shrugged. “Choosing a place because it’s warm, relatively safe, and lets us be comfortable while we rest isn’t a bad decision.” Motivated by creature comforts, sure, Jacob thought, but not bad. “If anything, I’m impressed.”
Levi looked up, frowning. “Uh, why?”
“Between the military and my time doing DDI fieldwork, I’m pretty experienced in