Page 17 of Zombie

Kade had come over every morning since I’d been rescued, as if he feared I would somehow disappear again. He most likely felt more guilt than he wanted to let on. I refused to talk about what had happened, and I could tell it was eating away at him. I could also tell he was not handling the breakup with Evelyn well.

I knew he loved her more than anything in this world; however, I also could understand his reasoning for wanting to call things off. He needed to protect her and, in his eyes, breaking up with her was the only way to do that. I had a sneaking suspicion that this would not be the end for them, though. You couldn’t have a love like they did and not be together. But I kept my thoughts to myself.

Today we were picking up Evan from the hospital. I climbed into Kade’s SUV and he drove us to our destination. Evan, or as he was called by others, Machine, met us outside the hospital drop-off zone and jumped in the back.

“Get me the fuck away from this place,” he grumbled.

“On it!” Kade said, pumping the gas.

We sat in silence for several moments before Evan popped his head in between the two front seats. “So are you going to tell us how you are really feeling, Len?” I knew he meant well with his question. And I also knew that he and Kade were chomping at the bit to find out what was going on with me.

“I’m okay, everything is healing,” I said with a chipper tone. There was no way I was going to tell them about the nightmares and how my anxiety had skyrocketed. If they knew, they would demand I seek help and I just wasn’t ready for that.

Kade let out a scoff as Evan narrowed his brows at me.

I looked at both of them with a deadpan expression. “I. Am. Fine,” I enunciated. “The more you ask, the more annoyed I am going to get with both of you.”

Evan put his hands up in surrender and leaned back against his seat with a huff.

After a few silent moments Kade ended the conversation with, “We just love and care about you. We want to make sure that you have all the resources you need after everything you have been through.”

I stayed quiet but reached over and squeezed Kade’s forearm as reassurance.

I hated being treated like a glass doll. As if I were broken. I was tough. I kept telling myself I could handle it, though my nightmares begged to differ.

We continued the drive in silence and for the first time, I felt awkward with my best friends. As if they were strangers to me. I never kept anything from them, but since I was taken, I’d been having a hard time getting a grasp on my emotions. The only person who knew the extent of my injuries and what really happened was Dante.

He’d continued to send me check-in texts every morning, which I thought was sweet. Every time he texted me, I got giddy for a reason I couldn’t quite understand.

And speak of the devil, just as I was thinking of him a message popped up on my phone.

DANTE:

Morning, how is the bruising on your ribs looking? They should be starting to get a yellowish color.

ME:

Morning!

I wished I could see him again. Part of me even contemplated playing up my pain so he’d come over, but I thought better of it.

ME: They’re still pretty dark, but lighter than when I first saw you.

DANTE:

Sometimes these injuries take a little longer to heal depending on the immune system. Please remember to ice and rest.

I smiled at his text and let the happy endorphins fill me.

ME:

Sir, yes sir!

I accompanied the text with a GIF of Tom Hanks saluting.

When we got to Evan’s penthouse, we were greeted by his very excited Rottweiler, Lucy.

“Well hello, my beautiful Lucy-goosey,” I cooed at the dog, scratching her ears.