My brows raised as I tilted my head at them.
“We thought you could use the extra eyes. Safety in numbers, and quite frankly, they need to get their heads on straight. If they can’t handle working with you as a team, they don’t return back here.” Benjamin crossed his arms as they came up, and Daisy bit down on her lip without saying a word.
“Okay,” Nathan murmured, and everyone grew tense.
I knew that was the smart thing to do. I’d been able to live with them for so long because they mostly avoided me and never made the comments Daisy had since the horde. It was a toxic environment due to her constant issues with me, and the zombie apocalypse was bad enough.
“I wish I could go with you.” Spencer threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly.
I let Nathan hold my golf club as I hugged her back. “I know. But Mom and Dad need your help with the animals. Besides, I think Ava could use your support right now.”
She sniffled and pulled back with a nod. “I know, I know. Be safe out there, okay?”
“I promise.”
“Here. This will be easier for now.” Nathan fastened my golf club to my backpack.
“It takes two days to get to the town in the east,” Micah explained, clasping his hands together. “We tried to go to the city in the west when we ran into the horde, but that trip is over a week long, maybe more. With the weather the way it is, we don’t have that long so we need to go to the town.”
“Are we taking the horses?” Jay asked, but Nathan shook his head.
“No horses. Better to go on foot in case we run into people. Raiders are notorious for only hitting towns and cities. Everything may be wiped out already honestly,” Nathananswered with a frown. “Horses will make it more difficult to hide if we need to.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat as Calix bumped his shoulder against mine.
“We should be back in four days then.” Micah glanced around the group. “It’s important to stay together and not wander off. I’ll lead this trip, so what I say goes. Got it?”
Everyone nodded, including Jay and Daisy.
I just hoped this trip would go smoothly, but the ball of dread nestled in my lower gut told me something even worse would happen.
“Everyone double check their bags. Make sure everyone has enough water and food for a week,” Nathan instructed as he slung his backpack off. “Have at least two extra sets of clothes and your weapons.”
“I’ll grab the tent.” Micah went toward the larger shed. “Nathan, can you grab the rope?”
“I think Calix should grab that,” he teased, and Calix’s face went red before he stalked off toward the treehouse to get the rope currently tied to his bed frame.
Spencer grabbed my arm and pulled me away with a wide grin. “Bondage play?”
I groaned as I nodded, but I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading over my lips. “Yes. Calix is surprisingly really into restraining me, and not just because of the lack of control.”
“I’m jealous,” she whined, and I frowned before pulling her into another hug.
“The world may have ended, but don’t give up hope just yet. I’m sure someone is out there that you’ll click with.”
“If we ever find them,” she muttered before pulling away and shaking her head. “I accept the loner life for a little longer.”
“Can I talk to you?” Jay interjected, running a hand through his hair.
I glanced back and noticed Daisy was gone and raised a brow.
“Daisy went back to the treehouse to grab something,” he explained.
“You can talk.” I crossed my arms along with Spencer, who glared daggers at him.
“Look, I know since the horde came through things got worse with us and Daisy.” His frown deepened, and he tapped his thumb on his palm. It was a nervous habit he’d had since I’d known him. “But it’s because she’s worried you still have feelings for me. I made the mistake of venting to her about the attention you were showing your boyfriends, and she took it as jealousy. My point is, she’s not thinking rationally. I owe you so many apologies. I doubt you can forgive me, but I don’t want us to be thrown out of this place because Daisy can’t control herself.”
I let out a long sigh. “Why do you care who I’m involved with now?”
