I shrugged.

“I’ll probably, you know, work-out for a bit then-“

Alice stopped and lifted her head, pushing her glasses up her nose.

“Wrong answer.”

She turned to me.

I frowned.

“You need to get out of here, go for a walk, see a movie, have lunch with Jenny or Shane or-“

I cut her off and snuggled more deeply against her.

“I’d rather just stay here with you, Al.”

She sighed and set the laptop to one side, pulling me into her arms. I settled back against her.

“I’m alright, Dana.” She said after a moment, her breath warm on my hair. “I’m not going to spontaneously combust if you leave me alone for a few hours, or you know-“She squeezed me. “- even a day.”

I shifted so I could look at her.

“Don’t make fun… This is serious. You could have really been hurt- he could have-“

She kissed me gently and I yielded to the kiss for a moment before continuing.

Al got in first. “But I’m not, and he didn’t, Dane…” She stroked my face.  “You can’t be with me 24 hours a day, its not healthy and its not going to work…”

I swallowed, looking into her chastising eyes.

“Alright, I know. I know that, it’s just…” I feel like its my fault, I wanted to add. And if anything happened to you I think I’d die. I closed my eyes for a second, trying not to show my fear to her.

Alice was looking at me expectantly.

“Just-just promise me you’ll be really careful ok?”

She nodded.

“No letting anyone in unless you’re sure who it is. No going off somewhere and not telling me …”

She nodded again, her lips quirking suddenly:

“No talking to strangers…”

I gave a frustrated sigh, and she rolled her eyes.

“I get it, Dane!  I’m not a total idiot; you don’t have to worry so much.”

I sat up on the sofa, hugging my knees to me.

“Yeah, well I can’t help it.”

Al grinned and gave me a little shove.