Unbreakable threads

Chapter One Hundred and Two: The Grimes are Back together.

Carl followed her, his voice teasing but not unkind. "Relax. I'm not gonna tell Dad or anything. Just saying, it's... interesting."

Alyssa stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to face him, narrowing her eyes. "It's not what you think. Daryl and I... we're just—"

"Yeah, yeah," Carl interrupted, grinning. "You're just 'you and Daryl.' I get it. Nobody else does, but I do."

Alyssa stared at him for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "Good," she said finally, turning and starting down the stairs. "Then keep it to yourself."

Carl chuckled, following close behind. "No promises," he joked, but his tone was light, letting her know he wouldn't actually say anything.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Rick was already in the kitchen, a coffee cup in hand and a sharp look on his face as he glanced between them.

Carl and Alyssa took seats at the kitchen island, the quiet tension of the morning still lingering. Alyssa adjusted her holster, her fingers idly fiddling with the strap as she glanced at Rick, who was leaning against the counter with his coffee. Without much preamble, she dropped a bomb.

"I saw you last night," Alyssa said bluntly, her tone casual but pointed. "With Jessie."

Rick's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't say anything right away. Alyssa didn't give him a chance to.

"Pete's a creep," she continued, biting into the apple she'd grabbed off the counter. "I can tell it a mile off. You're gonna open up a whole can of shit if you keep doing what you're doing."

Rick straightened up, his grip tightening around the coffee cup. "It's not what you think," he said sharply, his voice defensive.

Carl scoffed from his seat, folding his arms. "It kinda looked like it," he said, smirking. "I mean, you kissed her. Didn't seem like just a friendly gesture to me."

Rick shot Carl a warning look before turning back to Alyssa. "You don't know the full story."

Alyssa raised a brow, leaning back in her chair. "I know enough. She's married. And you've got enough on your plate without stirring the pot."

Carl chimed in, looking a little confused. "Jessie's Ron's mom. He's... kind of my friend now. This is just weird."

Alyssa nodded in agreement, tossing the apple core into the trash with precision. "Exactly. We've been here, what? Two minutes? And you're already making moves on a married woman with a shady husband?"

Rick's face darkened, but he didn't respond immediately. He knew Alyssa wasn't wrong. There was something about Pete he didn't trust, and Jessie... well, she felt like a lifeline to something normal. But he also knew the risks Alyssa was pointing out.

"Stay out of it," Rick said finally, his voice low but firm. "This is my business."

Alyssa narrowed her eyes, standing up and pulling her jacket on. "It becomes my business if it puts Carl, Judith, or anyone else in danger," she said, her voice matching his intensity. "So maybe think about that before you act on whatever the hell you think this is."

Rick shot Alyssa a pointed look as he pulled on his own police jacket, the tension in his movements clear. Setting his coffee cup down in the sink, he spoke in a low, sharp voice.

"If you wanna keep up appearances, don't have Dixon jumping out of your bedroom window at the ass crack of dawn."

Alyssa froze, her hand halfway to the doorknob. She turned slowly, her eyes narrowing. "It ain't what it looks like," she started, her tone defensive.