Tomorrow, we’d all part ways, never to see one another again.
Tonight, I intended to make the most of every second we had together.
Twenty-Eight
sadie
While we were scavenging in the empty apartments yesterday, Tim found someone’s wine stash. He brought a couple of bottles up to the rooftop—one red, one white—to celebrate our last night together.
As the sun disappeared and the festoon lights picked up the slack, my first glass of Chardonnay went down way too quickly. I sipped my way through a second and decided it would be my last. It would only make our goodbyes harder in the morning if I had a hangover.
“I haven’t heard this song in years.” Tim sat back in an armchair, bobbing his head to the classic rock album Owen had loaded into his old school CD player.
“Which means I’ll be hearing it over and over for the next few days,” Varesh said. “Off key and a lot louder.” He’d taken the end seat on the couch, his crossed leg rocking in time with the beat.
“At least your husband serenades you,” Laura said, squeezing into the remaining space with her family.
“Who are we kidding here? If I opened my mouth to sing, you’d just tell me to shut it again.” Owen’s eyes gleamed with affection, his arms draped along the back of the couch to make room for the girls.
And I had my favourite seat—one I never could have imagined occupying in all the time we’d lived next door to each other: Theo’s lap.
When we first came up here, he dropped into the armchair opposite Tim. As I passed by with my wineglass, Theo gave me a lazy smile and pulled me down with him. Now, his hand rested on my hip, his fingers swirling distracting patterns on my leggings.
I sipped my wine and met Tim’s eyes over the rim of the glass. My chest ached with the weight of what we were about to lose, the laughter and memories warm enough to cut through the chill in the air. I couldn’t predict when I’d feel anything like this again.
Tim pressed his lips together and nodded slowly, as if he understood without having to say the words out loud.
Dammit. My eyes filled with tears. I sucked in a breath and pasted a smile on my face. “Did you pack your CD collection?” I asked Owen, setting my half-full glass on the coffee table.
All of us had spent the afternoon loading our cars with whatever we could cram into the space. Tomorrow, Laura, Owen and the girls were heading east, while Theo would take me south-west. Tim and Varesh had agreed to wait five days for Ava before joining us at the farm. I wanted to beg for more.
“That, and everything but the furniture.” Owen slid the girls a knowing look.
“We’re never coming back here.” Willow pushed off the couch and went straight to the treadmill, taking her last opportunity to practice her funny walks. “I’m not leaving all my stuff behind.”
“It’s all right.” Laura smiled as the low whir of the motor kicked in. “We’re starting over,” she said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to get you settled at Auntie Ro’s.”
A silent beat passed, broken by the squeal of tyres and shouting from somewhere down on the street. Up here with the people I cared about most, I could almost forget what was waiting for us outside these walls.
“At least we know our weapons work when we hit the road in the morning.” Theo slipped his thumb under my jacket and touched the bare skin on my lower back. “Gav came through with the goods. No flimsy replicas.”
I didn’t know if it was the cold air or his touch, but I shivered and tried to hide my reaction. “And you guys have Ellie with the mace finishing strike,” I said to Laura. “I got the one who vomits at the sight of blood.”
“Hey.” Theo pulled me closer and pressed a kiss on my cheek. “I didn’t throw up this morning.”
I patted his thigh as my face heated. “I’m proud of you.”
His eyes glimmered in the low light. Tempting, thrilling. Too personal for our current company. I cleared my throat and looked away.
Laura caught the exchange and gave me a sad smile. She wouldn’t be around to see our relationship develop, and I’d miss watching her girls grow into women. I’d never get to meet her sister, Ro, or visit the place where they’d spend the rest of their lives—however long that lasted.
God, I hoped they lasted.
My throat tightened, and I had about three seconds before I lost my composure. I passed Theo his glass, then lifted mine again.
“Why don’t we do a toast?” I shoved down the emotion and waited for everyone to raise their glasses. “To a successful day fighting zombies.”
“And staying alive,” Tim said.
