What a good day to be alive.
Infuriating Men
Olivia
It takes an hourfor us to reach the nearest water source.
Theo is more alert by the time we reach the edge of the small river. His eyes and nose have stopped streaming and he no longer sounds like he gargled gravel. He’s still shaky and a little weak on his legs, probably because of exhaustion, but he’s alive.Just. That was a close call, and if I hadn’t done what I did, both he and Rhys would have joined the walking dead.
Not that I care that much or anything. I was just doing the right thing and repaying the favour. That’s all.
I’m surprised that my plan worked as well as it did. My idea was to push a few of the cars using Bean and hope they would move enough to plough down some zombies attacking Rhys and Theo. But as one slammed into another and pulled on the chains, it caused a cascading domino effect.
And then I’d watched as oil and petrol leaked onto the tarmac and took a chance. Before the apocalypse, fuel was expensive and in short supply, so I was worried there wouldn’t be enough. Thankfully, there was and with enough flaming arrows, it ignited. Thank God cars don’t explode like they do in films, otherwise I would have condemned us all to death.
It’s obvious that was a trap, one designed to kill anyone who stepped in it. Question is, who set it up? The Scourge or another gang? We’re hoping for the former because none of us want to fight another gang.
I sigh and slip from the saddle as we stop at the river’s edge. Bean reaches down and greedily gulps at the cool water while Ketchup—who’s finally rejoined us—caws and perches on her favourite spot on the saddle. Harlow sits by my side and watches around us. She’s still tense after the fight with the horde, the fur on the back of her neck still standing on end. I place a hand on her head and scratch behind her ear. She relaxes a fraction and leans into my hand.
On the other side of Bean, Alex carefully places Theo back onto his feet and shrugs his pack from his shoulders. “We should rest here for an hour or two. Regain some energy,” he says as he opens his bag and begins pulling out supplies. “And I think we could all do with a wash and change of clothes.”
Rhys, who’s standing behind us with his hand on the butt of his rifle, grunts. He and Theo are covered in gore and other bodily fluids, and the stench is almost unbearable. Alex hasn’t fared much better, thanks to having to carry Theo for over an hour. I’m the only one of the group that isn’t caked in blood, but I’m not about to pass up a chance to wash and change.
I grab Bean’s reins and lead her down the river bank, hoping to find some privacy. Last thing I wanted to do was get naked in front of these three men with the scars marring my stomach and back. It’ll only raise questions; ones I don’t want to answer. The less we know about each other, the better. Distance will keep my heart safe.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Rhys demands.
I sigh. Of course, he’s going to be difficult. “Finding a more secluded spot so I don’t have to endure a sausage fest.”
Theo snorts behind me, and I just know he’s going to make some inappropriate joke. Thankfully, Rhys speaks before he can.
“Fine, but be back here in twenty minutes. If you’re not back by then, princess, I will go looking for you and drag you back.”
His message is clear; he’ll drag me back naked if he has to. My lips curl in frustration and I roll my eyes even though he can’t see it. “Yes, sir. Or would you prefer me to call you by another title? General or Captain, perhaps?”
There’s another snort, this time from Alex, while Theo chuckles.
“Sir is fine,” Rhys answers, and there’s something in his voice I’ve never heard before. Something deeper, darker, like a sinful promise whispered between bed sheets.
Nope. Not going there.
I swallow hard and suppress a shiver as I hurry down the river bank, not daring to look over my shoulder at him. I don’t want to see if the look on his face matches his voice… Okay, I do, but that’s the problem. After my last disaster of a relationship that ripped my heart to shreds, I’ve sworn off men. The less I have to do with them, the better. I can’t even do casual hookups because I get attached, and thatalwaysends in pain.
Believe me, I’ve tried. So it’s best I keep my distance and don’t fuck any of them because I’m a hundred per cent sure that I won’t survive my next heartbreak.
Whoever said it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all is a fucking liar. Or someone who’s only had their heart broken once. Try loving and losing several times and then come back to me.
It only takes a few minutes of walking before I’m able to find a secluded spot away from the guys. I slip the saddle from Bean’s back—much to Ketchup’s annoyance—and set it on the ground before taking off her bridle. The mare snorts, turns and begins rooting for grass. I’m not too worried about her running off; she’s got the recall of a well-trained dog. With Bean taken care of, I grab my supplies and haul them to the river’s edge.
I grab the dirty clothes from my pack and place them on the ground next to me. May as well clean them while I’m washing myself. Clean clothes follow, along with my towel and a bar of soap. With my supplies laid out, I strip, gritting my teeth as the chilly air bites against my flesh and causes goosebumps to explode across my skin.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as shivers wrack my body. I can only imagine how cold the water is going to be once I step foot in it.
Edging to the water’s edge, I place a toe into the lazily moving river and yelp. Oh shit, it’s so much worse than I thought. I’m in half a mind to forgo washing myself, but the need to feel clean overrides my reluctance.
“Ollie!” I hear someone shout, concern in their voice as footsteps echo in the forest.
I roll my eyes, knowing who it is as I crouch and cover my naked body as much as I can with my hands. “I’m fine, Rhys! It’s just the cold as fuck water!” I call back, not wanting him to come over. I still have just overfifteen minutes of my time left and I’ll be damned if I let him drag me back to them naked.
