“If you think it wouldn’t be a problem?”
“No problem at all, the more the merrier.”
I put the gun in my holster and grabbed my things. I followed behind Phoebe as she led the way to where her group had set up camp. She explained that her boyfriend and a few friends had decided it might be best to go to the other end of the island to this beach where there were caves to help keep them safe. She said she had needed a few minutes to herself and that’s why she was away from her group, out on the road.
I heard the laughter of a man as we approached the camp. It was maybe ten feet off the main road hidden well in the jungle area.
As we approached the camp, one of the guys asked, “Find anything good?”
“Just this,” Phoebe replied pointing to me. “This is Shelly. She’s on her way to the Navy base and her car broke down so I thought she could join us.”
“Cool, someone who’s alive.” Said a dark skinned man. He was positively gorgeous with smooth black hair and light brown eyes that had flakes of green in them. “I’m Robert,” he said and shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“Daniel,” said the guy who had spoken first. He was more rugged than the others. He was tanned from spending a lot of time in the sun. He had messy brown hair, a short but unkempt beard and big muscles. He was definitely one to have in the group; he could knock a zombie out easily. Also, I was strongly attracted to him. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt such strong lust for a man on first sight. It was a nice distraction from the pain of my broken heart like a celebrity or teen crush.
The other guy in the group didn’t say anything. He just continued to eat his food.
The girl next to him, who was a tiny wisp of a thing with long brown hair and a friendly face smiled and said, “I’m Jamie, this is Freddie.” She nudged the gloomy man next to her.
He still said nothing. I got the impression he was not happy with my presence. I didn’t really care.
“Have some breakfast, Robert wasted some of the eggs and made too much,” Phoebe said.
“Habit,” Robert said. “Besides the Lord told me we’d have another one arriving.”
“Did he now? Is that why you made enough for about 5 more people?”
“Well he didn’t say how hungry she would be,” he said.
I laughed and took the plate he had made me as he spoke.
“We don’t have time to wait for her to eat,” Freddie said matter of factly.
I felt my patience snap in two. After everything I’d been through in less than 24 hours, I was not about to put up with this asshole.
“I’m sure I’ll be finished by the time you take down the tents and get all your things packed. Plus it seems you need some extra time to remove that stick that’s lodged up your ass.”
Everyone but Freddie laughed. He glared at Jamie and she immediately stopped laughing. I was tempted to take the .45 and shoot him.
“I like her,” Phoebe said.
“No one talks to me like that,” Freddie said ignoring Phoebes comment.
“Come on Freddie, you’re being a jerk” said Robert. Phoebe and Daniel nodded in agreement.
“I don’t want this bitch in our group,” he snapped.
“You seem to be the only one who feels that way,” Daniel said. “She has her own gun; I think she could prove to be useful.”
“I don’t want her here!”
“Nobody asked what you wanted.” Daniel replied.
Phoebe smiled, “Sounds like it’s settled to me.”
Chapter 8
Freddie didn’t respond to Phoebe. Instead he just sulked and fussed at Jamie, who I realized now was his girlfriend, about their tent. After fussing at her he began to help Daniel with getting things put away.
I sat down and began to eat the eggs that Robert had made. Robert was next to me, cleaning up the remaining remnants of their meal.
The eggs were delicious. I told Robert that I thought so.
“Thanks,” he said. “I used to be a chef.”
“You still are obviously,” I said.
He smiled big, “thank you. I guess it does take some skill to make something good on just a fire in the ground and not a stove.”
“Yeah and you did a great job. I’m a right awful cook so this is quite a treat. Where’d you get the eggs?”
“There were some wild chickens a few yards back and there were a bunch of eggs. I grabbed some as we walked up. Figured it be a nice breakfast. Nice to feel normal for a moment before the chaos of the day starts.”
“Yeah, true. It’s just too bad there’s no bacon. Now that’s a complete breakfast.”
He laughed, “That’s true. I make the best bacon.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it. So how do you all know each other?” I asked.
“Well, Phoebe’s my girlfriend; we’ve been dating for about five years now. Daniel’s been a good friend since we were teens; he stayed here after their parents moved back to the states after being stationed here. Jamie’s his baby sister, she moved back here after graduating high school. She and Freddie have been together for a little over a year now unfortunately.”
“So, he’s always like that then? Not some effect from the stress of being attacked by
