“We should leave,” says Avan. “Take the children and find somewhere safe away from these bastards.”
“Like how we ran from the military base?” asks Reema. “What are the odds there are going to be people like this everywhere?”
“High,” says Leon grimly.
Reema taps out a beat on the arm of her chair. “What we need is more people so we can defend this place properly.”
Dean frowns, but he doesn’t disagree. “In the meantime, I want to double up on the watch. I don’t like the idea of anyone alone out there. One person watches the road into town and the other walks the length of Church Street and Oak Street. Both with the walkie-talkies and binoculars. You’ll be in view of each other the whole time. But from the ends of those streets, you can pretty much see the other half of town. Hopefully if anyone is trying to sneak up on us, we’ll see them.”
THURSDAY
Watches are decided randomly. Dean and I are allotted the last one of the night. Which means we get a decent amount of sleep before being out there. So long as we’re able to not lie awake staring at the ceiling, stressing about the situation, of course. I managed to get a few hours.
No idea when I last saw the dawn. The sky full of stars fading as the horizon changes color. From black and gray to purple and blue. Then orange and gold as the day begins again. Birds start singing and the world awakens. It’s a beautiful thing.
I stand guard by the school bus. It keeps you mostly out of sight, but able to watch the road into town. Dean takes his turn doing the walk down Church and Oak. We both wear walkie-talkies and pistols strapped to our belts. My black leather jacket is done up all the way and a blue cotton scarf wrapped around my neck against the cool morning air.
Dean’s steps are unhurried and steady. And his head turns this way and that, keeping a lookout for attack or any sign of danger. There’s something about the set of his wide shoulders. It makes me feel like we’re going to be okay. Or maybe it’s my vagina talking. I don’t know. He has somehow become my emotional support safety item. But I am definitely now focusing on the road into town. The threat against us is real and valid and I need to concentrate.
Sophie and Hazel are delighted to be having their much-asked-for sleepover. They’re in one of the spare rooms at Natalia and Leon’s. It made sense, since they got picked for the daytime watch. I went over and read them a chapter of the dragon book to help settle them down to sleep. However, the whispers and giggling probably went on until midnight. They were so excited.
I didn’t used to have much to do with my neighbors. Nothing against them; life was just busy. People tended to come and go without me learning their names or much about them. I don’t hate being part of a tight-knit community. It’s nice to know we’re all doing our best and looking out for each other. Losing most everyone you ever knew makes you appreciate people more.
The road leading into town is still empty—the same as it’s been for the last hour. Mist rises from the ground as the sun slowly rises. Seems everything is silver and gold in the early hours. It’s magical seeing the world wake up like this.
Dean strides toward me in his big-ass boots, blue jeans, and Henley. Such a serious face. No doubt he is worrying about how to protect everyone. Life was so much simpler when I hated him. My thirst for the man has always been apparent. But when lust turned to like turned to…I don’t even know what this is. Shit sure got awkward fast.
“What?” he says.
“I was thinking about you.”
“So you frowned.”
“Yeah.”
“Makes sense,” he says. “Everything quiet?”
I just nod.
He is so pretty up close. The hard line of his jaw and the cut of his cheekbones. I love how rough his stubble feels under my fingertips. Heat radiates off his body and the temptation to lean into him is immense. To just bury my face in his chest for a minute and breathe deep. Comfort can be found there. I know it would make everything better.
And then there’s the temptation to take a bite out of his thick neck. Never before have I been so weird about someone. Don’t even get me started on my fascination with his mouth.
This is such a bad idea, me and him. The absolute worst. You would think the death of billions of people and the end of life as we know it would encourage me to make sounder decisions, but here we are. In all honesty, the possibility of my contributing to the gene poolisa real concern. Me and my nonsense need to be kept separate.
And I am staring so hard at him, it takes me a minute to notice him staring right back at me. He does nothing, however. Just stands there watching me, waiting to see what I’m going to do.
Nothing in this world should be taken for granted. We could die at any moment.
Fuck it.
With two handfuls of his shirt for purchase, I smash our mouths together.
There’s nothing polite or nice about this. We’re teeth and tongue. The taste of him goes straight to my head, and yes. Icould happily do this for days. Strong hands cradle my head and hold me to him.
This has to be the best of all highs. He’s made me an instant addict. I want to climb him and wrap myself up tight in his body. To crawl beneath his skin and make myself at home. Which is not like me at all. I don’t just give myself away. You have to be careful. Take it slow so you don’t get your heart broken. So some careless person doesn’t shatter you into a thousand sharp pieces.
When I step back, we’re both breathing hard. His hands curl into fists, like he has to stop himself from reaching for me. Because we both want more. But there’s no need to panic. We knew we had chemistry. This could still just be about sex. It’s not like I’m in love with him, because that would be absolutely ridiculous.
