Page 23 of Dating After the End of the World
When we finally calm down, Tessa speaks first. “Greg, if you really don’t like her, why don’t you just tell her?”
“Yeah, just break up with her. Gently, of course,” I add.
“I can’t. She’s totally obsessed with me. If I break it off with her, she’ll kill me. Plus ...” He trails off and shrugs. “You know.”
“Know what?” Tessa asks.
“I mean, she’s the only girl here my age who isn’t family—well, besides you, Tessa. I mean, you’ve got nine years on me, but I could go to Cougartown.” Greg wiggles his eyebrows up and down.
She gives him a disgusted look and says, “Forget what I said. I think you should stay with her.”
“I agree, she’s lovely,” I say, backing Tessa up.
“You sure?” He looks at Tessa, trying to do his best impression of a male model.
“You better be careful, Greg, or I’ll sic Blake on you,” she quips.
“Pfft. I’m not afraid of Blake. He’s a little bitch ...”
“I’m a what?” Blake asks, startling us. He stands in the doorway, having quietly entered without any of us noticing his presence. Closing the door behind him, he walks in with a sword in hand. Both he and his weapon are covered in decay, remnants of the biter he slayed.
“I think you heard me—otherwise you wouldn’t be asking me to repeat it.”
“Oh, come on. Say it again for me then, Gregory,” Blake challenges.
“Boys, there are enough things to fight beyond that fence out there, so we don’t need any of that in here.” Elaine’s words insert themselves between the two men as she points her spatula back and forth.
“Yes, ma’am.” Blake nods and looks to JJ. “You ready for our run?”
“Yup. Just gotta put my boots on.”
Blake grabs a rag and wipes down the blade of his sword.
“What run?” I ask.
“Supply runs.” JJ takes a seat on the steps and starts lacing up his work boots. “We do several a week,” he adds.
“I wanna go,” I say, lifting my chin.
“No,” Blake says without missing a beat.
“Why not?”
“Because you haven’t gone through training.” Blake washes his hands at the sink. “And you’d be a liability.” He doesn’t even look at me while he scrubs at his fingernails.
My annoyance with him only continues to grow, so I reach across the counter and shut the water off. That gets his attention. Blake finally lifts his head, meeting my gaze.
“I’m not a liability, andyoudon’t get to decide what I can and cannot do. So, whether you like it or not, I’m going.” I turn from him and head toward the stairs, sliding past JJ. I take them two at a time, in a hurry to not be left behind.
“Where are you going?” he calls out.
“To get my shoes and jacket,” I yell back.
“For what? A workout? Gardening? Because you sure as hell ain’t coming with us,” Blake hollers, his voice growing faint the farther I ascend.
I don’t know who he thinks he is, but one thing is for sure: he won’t be telling me what to do—not now, not ever. I hear the front door open and close as I reach my bedroom. Racing to the window, I see JJ and Blake walking side by side toward one of the trucks.Damn it.
“Wait!” I yell, hoping my voice will travel through the glass and stop them in time.
