It turnedout Everett’s idea involved hanging out at the fenced-in playground right behind the school, complete with a jungle gym, swing set, and merry-go-round. The place was deserted, with every kid eager to flee school for the weekend. The school parking lot was virtually empty, too, since the teachers had also cleared out. It was as private a spot as you could get this close to town, butstill…
“Are you kidding me?” I demanded as he sat his ass on a swing and threw me asmile.
“What, are you too cool forplaygrounds?”
“Babe, I was too cool for playgrounds back when I was the right age to play on playgrounds.” I ran a hand over the sturdy wood of the play set and jiggled the frame to test for stability before gingerly sitting my bulk down on one of the swings next tohim.
“Well, you’re hanging withmenow,babe,” he teased. “And I’ve never beencool.”
I laughed and inhaled a deep lungful of the warm autumn air. It smelled like fresh cut grass and reminded me of years spent playing football over at the high school, or kicking a soccer ball with Matty in ourbackyard.
“So, listen. I have a really important question for you,” Ev said somberly. “And, uh… as much as I like you, your answer to this could really impact the future of this relationship. Are youready?”
“Iguess.”
I’d heard from my mom that she’d invited Everett to the memorial thing she insisted on planning for Matty’s anniversary, so I figured it could be aboutthat.
Or maybe he wanted some level of exclusivity in our relationship, which I was sure I could handle. It felt like a long time since I’d thought of anyone but himanyway.
I steeled myself. “Ask.”
He leaned his head on the chain of the swing and watched me steadily. “If you had to pick three people to be on your team for the zombie apocalypse, who would youpick?”
The breath whooshed out of my lungs. “What?”
“Which threepeople…”
“I heard you! I mean… that’s your important question?” I narrowed my eyes. “Are youinsane?”
“Are you saying that the zombie apocalypseisn’timportant? Because, honestly, Si, I was hoping you were smarter than that.” He shook his headsadly.
I blinked in disbelief and he smiled, bright and wide andchallenging, all that light and life just inches from me, warming methrough.
I scratched the back of my head. “Well, Bruce Campbell, the guy who played Ash inEvil Dead,obviously.”
Ev snorted rudely. “Tooobvious.”
“Obvious for areason.God. You want a job done, you hire anexpert.”
“Uh huh. Not impressed,” he said airily. He pumped his legs to make himself swing higher. “Whoelse?”
I thought for another minute. “Do they have to bereal?”
“Like Ash fromEvil Deadisreal?”
I grinned at his sass and let myself swing slightly. “Fine.Lancelot.”
“From the Knights of the Round Table?Why?”
“In case the bullets run out, obviously. He’s good with asword.”
Ev made a gagging noise. “That’s gruesome!” hecomplained.
“Because zombiesaren’tgruesome?” I retorted, turning his earlier tone onhim.
His laughter rang through the air. “Okay, and numberthree?”
“That’s tough. But I’m gonna say… Dwight Schrute fromThe Office. Because he’s a farmer.” I tilted my head and smiled innocently. “So I’ll have food, just in case it takes Ash a minute to killeveryone.”
