"Daryl, please! It's getting dark out. Can't you just walk me home?" Her bottom lip jutted out and her eyes were big and doe-like. "I'm scared!" She added for good measure.
He grunted softly, nodding ahead as he fell into step beside her.
"Thanks," she said with a self-satisfied grin as she slipped her arm through his.
"Tryin' ta make a scene?" He asked, gazing down at where she was touching him.
She shook her head. "Who, me? Of course not," she said, batting her lashes at him.
He snorted.
"You never know who's going to be watching," she said in a low voice.
"Right," he said, chewing on his lip as they walked.
She was quiet for the rest of the way, although her grip on his arm tightened a little. He lowered his head, moving beside her in companionable silence as she waved shyly to the neighbors.
She patted his hand gently when they came upon an impeccably manicured lawn. "This is me," she chirped. "Where's yours?"
He shrugged, shuffling his feet in the grass.
"Well, I hope you'll come in for a little bit," she said, her voice softer.
He snorted. "Ain't you 'fraid a what people might think?"
An amused smile spread across her features as she shook her head slowly. "Come on in. I'll make you dinner."
He nodded. "Alright."
She dug her key out of her pocket, pushing open the door and motioning with her hand for him to follow her inside.
His eyes briefly took in her generic space, the polished wood floor, upholstered furniture and marble countertops.
"It's better with someone else here," she said quietly.
He looked up to find her watching him from the kitchen doorway and he raised an eyebrow when he caught her gaze.
She shrugged. "I guess I just never liked being alone."
His eyes continued to wander and something tugged at his heart when he noticed her tattered blanket from the prison spread over the couch in the living room. She gestured for him to sit as she started to turn back towards the kitchen.
Upon further inspection, he noticed that the old worn blanket had been carefully laundered before being neatly draped over the plush couch.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and her face reappeared in the doorway. "Ya said you'd wash this ol' vest for me. Think ya might have time soon?"
She nodded. "Yeah," she said softly. "Take it off. I'll wash anything you want."
His head snapped up, wondering if this was a taste of the old Carol, messing with him again.
Her hands quickly flew to her face, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "Oh my gosh," she said with a nervous giggle. "I didn't-didn't mean for that to sound like… that."
He pursed his lips, trying to fight an amused grin. "Sure ya didn't."
"What?" She said innocently. "I didn't."
"Uh-huh. You're cute when ya blush."
Her eyes widened as her face flushed deeper. "Stop."
He shook his head, kicking off his boots and setting them by the door before returning to rejoin her in the kitchen. "Looks good," he murmured over her shoulder.
"It's beef," she said, her smile exposing her teeth as she looked up at him.
He nodded. "Guess I should clean up before dinner. Mind if I use your shower?"
"Of course not," she said. "It's right upstairs. There should be new clothes for you too, in the bottom drawer in the hall. Take whatever you want."
She watched him climb the stairs, only hesitating slightly, until his form disappeared on the second floor before returning to her work. She heard the pipes groan to life as he turned the water on, smiling as she set the table.
She moved into the living room to wait for him, her heart skipping a beat when she took in the sight of his boots by her door. "Oh, no," she whispered out loud to herself, her gaze darting up the stairs longingly.