Page 8 of Zombie

Lennie gave him a bright smile and cautiously turned around in a circle. “Right? I think I’m going to tell Kade that this is the new uniform for The Hive. They are so comfy.”

How was this girl joking right now?

Bohdi laughed and put out one arm for her to come to him. Before I had to see them touching, I cleared my throat and handed her the folded piece of paper.

“Here’s my number. Please text or call me with any questions or concerns.”

Lennie took the paper and gave me a nod with a soft smile. Without a word, she walked over to Bohdi as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Thanks again, Doc,” he called over his shoulder before they left the building.

As I worked on sanitizing my lab, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lennie. Was she home and resting? Was someone with her? I would have offered to stay with her. Or would that have come off as weird? I was almost done with my lab two hours later when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I took it out to see a text message from an unsaved number.

UNKNOWN:

Thank you again, Dante, for your help today.

My heart began to speed up as I realized it was Lennie.

DANTE:

You’re welcome. Are you home safe?

LENNIE:

Yes, currently in bed watching New Girl.

I rolled my eyes. What was the obsession with that show? Phantom, Arrow, and Badger never could stop quoting it when we were together, and now I was finding out that yet again another person in my life watched it.

When I didn’t respond, she sent another text.

LENNIE:

Should it feel like I can’t breathe at times?

Her text put me on high alert. She’d been breathing fine when she was with me. Had something happened? Did she have internal bleeding that I missed?

DANTE:

Are you experiencing chest pain or tightness?

LENNIE:

No. Just hurts when I breathe.

I let out a sigh of relief.

DANTE:

That is normal with a cracked rib. If for some reason you are gasping for air, have chest tightness, or severe chest pain, then I need you to call me right away.

LENNIE:

Aye, aye, captain.

I smiled at her response and imagined her giving me a salute. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, she sent me a GIF of Tom Hanks saluting on a boat.

I placed my phone back into my pocket with a smile on my face. I quickly replaced it with my usual frown.