Yes, that was in line with the man Dillon was now.Callous, unfeeling.Vindictive.I knew damned well one reason Dillon let me stay in Creepy was because I was all alone here.He wanted me all to himself.That may not be the case if I joined the Stayers or if other survivors started showing up in this town.That explained the odd talk of us getting married the other day.Like I’d forget months of him blackmailing me for sex and marry the guy.
My anger propelled me off my butt.I waddled back to the couch and lost the boot.I’d have to put some weight on it today, because I’d have to use my right foot to drive to Alexandria later tonight.Whirling my foot around, I noticed it didn’t hurt as bad since whatever Mabel gave me kicked in.But my head was swimming, too.My eyes heavy, I felt the other effects of the medication.It wouldn’t hurt to nap for a bit.I wanted to leave as soon as the sun started setting as to miss whatever patrol Joey planned.Not to mention, it was unwise to travel alone at night.Hours until sunset, I had plenty of time to rest.
I dreamed of the days before the pandemic, of ice cream and Mardi Gras.The crowds of people all packed together on Bourbon Street like cattle.I was in the middle of them surrounded by beads, hats, jazz.I gazed up to see people hanging over the balconies.Then, I was back in college, I guess, because I was afraid of missing class.Naked as my mother made me, I walked into embarrassment, but the class was full of the undead.
I woke up sweating, and that was before I noticed the pitch black of the room.Geezus.How long did I sleep?Sitting up, I was reminded of my aching foot.Carefully putting pressure on it, I tried walking to the window.It hurt like hell, but I could apply a bit of weight.Hopefully, enough to press the gas pedal until I could hit cruise on the highway.Sighing, I drew up the blinds, knowing it was way past dusk.Pushing the dial on my watch made it glow green, revealing the time, nine pm.A light outside caught my eye.A flashlight.That was dumb and must have been the guard my brother promised.The light would only draw the zombies near.I knocked on the window to get the person’s attention.The noise could draw them too, but I had no choice.The orb of light bobbled in my direction.I kept gently tapping as they made their way toward me until they were on the porch in front of the window.Wade lit up his face like he was about to tell a ghost story.I went to the door and unlocked it.
10
“Get in here,” I calledand let Wade inside.Locking the door behind us, I scolded him, “What the hell are you thinking with that light?You’re going to attract zombies.”
Click, he turned it off.“I know, I know.I only just turned it on.I heard something.”
Because I knew the way in the dark, I went to light some candles.“Probably just a critter.”
“It was bigger than that.”Wade came up behind me, trying to help.I guess he’d also gotten used to seeing in the dark, too.He took the candle from me and produced a lighter.
“Could be a bear.”
“I’d take a bear over a zombie.”
Wade’s face was lit up again as the wick caught fire, but this time I noticed how handsome he still looked.Most men looked better as they aged, and Wade was no exception.Though he had dark hair and eyes, and more scruff than I remember on his chin, his face underneath, his smile was boyish and noble like those actors who play superman.But his eyes, they seemed rough, like he’s been through some shit.
He put his arm around my back.“Shouldn’t you be off your foot?”
“I suppose.”I let him help me to the couch.He’d carried the candle over and sat it on the coffee table in front of us.“Get the blind, would you?”I noticed I’d left it open, a mistake.
Wade walked across the room and back again to sit beside me.I enjoyed the show, trying to decide which side of him was better.It was a tie.He relaxed back into the cushions, so unceremoniously, and stretched out.He made himself at home because sometimes this had been home for him.I hadn’t seen him since he and Joey last came down for a visit about two years ago before all this mess started.It was only fitting when my brother moved, he’d take his butt-buddy with him.Growing up, Joey and Wade were inseparable.Him being my brother’s friend always made him off-limits, romantically, if he, being a ladies’ man, wasn’t unavailable, already.Not that he’d ever looked my way.Those facts had also made him irresistible to me.We always want what we can’t have and all.
Well, I’d had a crush on Wade until I fell madly in love with Dillon, anyway.
Wade leaned in close and touched my lower leg.“Let’s prop this foot up.”He drew my leg up until my ankle rested on his thigh.“Doesn’t that feel better?”
I nodded and blushed as he platonically stroked my foot.Unlike my love for Dillon, my crush on Wade, unrequited, didn’t seem so far away anymore.
We sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment as I shot down every usual conversation opener.Usually, I’d ask him how his mother was.I knew they’d buried his mom in her backyard and didn’t want to bring it up.He hadn’t asked.She’d not been too stable, anyway.They were never on good terms.He had no other family in Creepy.Or I’d ask about his work.He and my brother were both air traffic controllers at O’Hare International Airport.Strike that.Or I’d ask about his band.He’d been in one here, and I’d remembered he’d put one together where he’d moved, and they played around Chicago.I supposed bringing up more dead folk was a bad idea as well.
