“Seriously?” Daisy scoffed as she came into the kitchen, running a hand through her straight blonde hair. “It’s been years, and we’re living in the apocalypse. Sure, we messed up. We went about our relationship the wrong way, but oh my God, Tor. We’ve done everything we can to make it up to you, but all you do is pretend we don’t exist.”
Wiping my clammy palms on my leggings, I cleared my throat and moved past Jay toward the door. “You two haven’t attempted to speak to me like this until now, and to be honest, that’s how I prefer it. If you miss me, that’s probably just aguilty conscience. Even if I did miss our friendship, I don’t want anything to do with it now.”
“Tor, wait-” Jay started, but I hurried out of the house before I could hear anything else, the screen door slamming shut behind me.
My heartbeat pounded deafeningly loud in my skull as I forced my legs to keep me upright as I strode toward the big red barn.
Jay and Daisy used to be the two most important people in my life at one time. I didn’t understand how they expected me to get over the fact that they’d been seeing each other behind my back for who knew how longbefore I found out.
For the most part, Iwasover it.
But even so, I didn’t want to befriend either of them again—and I shouldn’t have to.
The earthy and dusty scent of the barn filled my nose as I stepped inside. “Dad?”
“Over here, honeybee! Just finishing up with ole’ Bessie here. I woke up earlier than usual, so she’s the last one.” Dad peeked out from behind our oldest cow with a bright smile on his face. His red hair had patches of white throughout it due to age, and it was probably the coolest hair ever.
Spencer ended up with Dad’s red hair, while I had Mom’s brown, but I had Mom’s blue eyes, and she had Dad’s brown eyes.
I grabbed the milk bucket from him before placing it in the refrigerator we had in the barn. I was more than thankful we had the refrigerator, thanks to the wind and solar power from our ranch.
“Okay, so why the hell did Jay and Daisy try to corner you in the kitchen?” Spencer walked into the barn, her voice echoing from the rafters.
“They did what?” Dad asked gruffly as he rose to his feet and patted Bessie.
I groaned, slapping my hand over my face before facing them. “Jay offered to help out more on the ranch, which was weird, but then Daisy came in. She basically told me to get over what happened in the past because she apparently missed me.”
Dad’s frown deepened, but before he could no doubt bad mouth them, Spencer did it for him.
“I don’t know why you didn’t just leave them on their own when shit went down. I would’ve left them for zombie food. Plus, Daisy’s a bitch around here to you and me—even if she does help out.” Spencer rolled her eyes before sighing dramatically.
“Spence,” Dad scolded her without much heat behind his words. “We can’tsaythat.”
“You think it all you want. I’ll say it,” she grumbled.
“I wonder that at times,” I admitted, scrunching up my nose. “But I don’t like that side of myself. Too bloodthirsty. Besides, all I did was bash zombie skulls to get to the car and the two of them joined. Jay actually saved me from being bitten. If he wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be here now.”
The atmosphere grew heavy as I explained the real reason they’d tagged along. I had told Spencer what had happened with Jay and Daisy, but I hadn’t ever gone into detail about how we’d taken on the zombies to make it home in the first place. It wasn’t something I liked to think about.
Dad let out a ragged breath before running a hand through his hair. “Well. I never liked the kid, but I guess he’s not theworstperson if he saved my baby girl.”
“I still hate them.” Spencer pouted as we started to lock up the barn.
“I don’t blame you,” I murmured.
Daisy had practically grown up alongside Spencer and I. Her parents used to be really close with my parents, but they hadnever found their way to the ranch. Daisy had assumed the worst, but she had Jay to comfort her.
Spencer was just as shocked as I was about their betrayal.
Dad latched the lock on the barn door before I heard shouts on the wind, making my spine snap straight.
The three of us whirled around to see two men running through the pastures, waving their arms wildly around as they shouted something at us.
“Spencer, go tell everyone to stay inside and lock the doors,now,” Dad stated gravely, and she took off without hesitation toward the house.
“I’m not leaving you alone with them,” I said stubbornly, swallowing a lump in my throat.
“I figured.” He stalked closer toward the pasture with me at his side.
