“Haven’t you and Bryce been together since birth?”
“Close.”
“He doesn’t like me.”
“Not really, no,” I said, shaking my head.
“Is that why? Because he knows how you feel about me?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know how I feel.”
“You just said you like me.”
I shrugged. “I like everyone.”
“No you don’t.”
“That’s true.”
Joey put the gun on safety, showed me, and then took a step closer. He was so close that I could feel his breath on my face, and see the sweat glisten between the thick, dark whiskers of his five o’clock shadow. He was so unlike anyone I would normally be attracted to, but then again, I didn’t know whom I would be attracted to because I’d been with Bryce for so long.
“I like you, too,” he said. And then he walked away, leaving me in a puddle of holy shit and inappropriate thoughts.
After several moments, I walked to the porch and sat on the top step. The storm door opened and closed, but it wasn’t until I saw two perfect legs that I knew who it was.
“Hey,” Ashley said.
“Hey.”
“You know what I miss?”
“Your flat iron?”
“Date night. You and me getting all dressed up and meeting Bryce and Coop somewhere fun. Just hanging out and talking about all the stupid stuff we used to do when we were kids.”
I smiled. “Yeah, that was fun.”
“You know what else I miss? Music.”
“Cheeseburgers.”
“Facebook.”
“Movies On Demand.”
Ashley laughed and shook her head. “I miss the mall.”
“In about a week, we’re going to miss toothpaste.”
Ashley looked at me in horror. “Are you serious?”
I shrugged. “Dad had a few boxes, but between nine people . . . it’s almost gone.”
“You know what else I miss?” she asked. I waited. “You being in love with Bryce.”
I craned my neck in her direction. She met my glare. “You don’t know anything about anything, Ashley.”
“I know what I saw in the field a minute ago. You better be careful. That guy in there loves you more than life itself. You don’t want to mess that up.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“Then stop.”
“You stop.”
Ashley narrowed her eyes at me, and then shook her head. “We’re all stuck here. No sense in everyone being miserable.”
I picked at my nail. “No, just me, right?”
“Are you
“No.”
“Okay, then.” With that she stood up and went inside.
Movement just over the hill in the field caught my eye, and before I could yell to the others, Scarlet blew past me, a hatchet in her hand. She took care of the ted, and returned to the porch like she’d just picked a flower or something. She stood next to me, staring at the road. Since she was outside, anyway, she probably thought it was as good a time as any to wait for her girls.
“You still think they’re coming?” I asked, feeling awful as soon as the words fell out of my mouth.
“Yes,” she said without pause.
Nathan came out and stood beside her. Right at my eye level, I could see their fingers touch, and then intertwine.
“I guess I’ll go in,” I said to no one in particular.
I passed Joey and joined Bryce in the kitchen. He and Cooper were cooking with Zoe. That consisted of her sitting on the counter being entertained by Cooper while Bryce cooked.
I sat at the table and sighed.
“Bryce said you’re feeling bitchy,” Zoe said, matter-of-fact.
Bryce froze and looked back at me for a reaction. I peeked over at Joey, who chuckled to himself.
“I guess I am,” I said, sighing again.
“Why?” Zoe asked.
“I don’t know. My dad died. The world is over. We’re stuck in this house together waiting for Scarlet to have a meltdown when she figures out her girls aren’t coming . . .”
“You mean we’re safe and we have each other?” Zoe said.
I looked up at her, feeling instantly guilty and yet cheered up by her sweet smile. “Yes. That’s what I meant.”
Scarlet
NATHAN WAITED FOR ZOE TO fall asleep, and then he came to the laundry room with a smile and a wink. Elleny had just fallen asleep downstairs as well, and I was sitting on the dryer, waiting for him. He leaned in between my legs, kissing my lips.
“What is the plan?” I asked.
“I want to fall asleep with you.”
“Is that all?” I smiled, and let him lead me to the front bedroom. He was so incredibly sweet. Knowing that made me wonder what kind of clueless moron he was married to. Zoe was snoring lightly through her nose as she lay on the far side of the king-size bed. Nathan crawled to the middle, and I lay next to him on my left side. His arms were wrapped around me, and his face was buried in my hair.
He took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about this all day.”
I smiled. “Oh yeah? I’ve been thinking about yesterday all day.”
“Don’t remind me. I can’t kidnap you to the backyard in the dark.” He squeezed me, bringing our bodies closer together.
The conversation naturally fell silent, neither one of us feeling the need to fill it with nonsense that didn’t matter. Quicker than I expected, Nathan’s breathing evened out, and his arm relaxed. A few times, his hand would tense, and he’d grip my arm, or his whole body would jerk. It had been so long since I’d slept with someone else besides the girls, I’d forgotten adults did that, too.
The girls. It had been months since I’d seen them. Guilt washed over me for lying next to Nathan, happy, when they were probably huddled alone somewhere, scared to death.
Patrolling the road made me at least feel like I was doing something to help get them to Red Hill, but it wasn’t enough. If they didn’t get there, soon, I would have to go look for them.
I stood up, trying not to wake Nathan as I slipped out of the room. Just as I reached the kitchen, the French doors opened.
“Scarlet,” Nathan whispered. He hadn’t been asleep that long, but his eyes were heavy. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just going to bed.”
“You’re not going to stay with me tonight?”
“I don’t know that I should. It might upset Zoe.”
He smiled. “That’s really sweet of you to think of her, but I don’t think that’s it. Talk to me.” He took a few steps into the living room.
