Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Kellen needs a doctor too, but we’re shit out of luck.
“We need a second to catch our breaths,” Gerry grunts. “I’m too old for this shit.”
“At least you got lunch,” Kellen mutters, smirking at me. “No stock options for you. You’ll never live that down.”
He’s making jokes, which is better than him dying on me. I’ll take it.
“We’ll need our strength for whatever comes next,” I state, sitting up so I can pull my backpack off and into my lap. “Let’s all put something into our bellies.”
We don’t have much between us from what we’ve gathered, but it’s enough for everyone to get a few swallows of soda and water and some nibbles of the snacks we’ve acquired. There’s even enough to allow us another break in a little while. After that, we’re fucked unless we escape this hellhole or miraculously get rescued.
I’m not sure what comes next and I can’t think that far ahead.
“Everyone, try to rest,” I instruct. “We need to huddle for warmth the best we can, too. Night is upon us and being stuck in wet clothes isn’t going to be comfortable.”
Thank fuck this shit didn’t happen in the winter or we’d be totally screwed.
Kellen brings his legs up to make room in front of him. Gerry sits beside him with Elise and Hope on his other side. Brian helps Kyle move Barb, setting her in the middle of our huddle. Brian sits down on the step beside Hope and Kyle sits on the step next to Barb. Frannie sits beside me on the step, leaning against my side.
We’re a pitiful group, all nine of us trying to survive, packed together on the landing, but we’re still alive. We’re all still here.
Kellen’s head lulls to the side and rests on my shoulder. This close, despite being submerged several times, I catch a hint of his cologne. Still smells expensive. My eyes fall shut and I inhale the comforting scent. There’s not much to take comfort in right now, so I allow myself the indulgence.
I hug my backpack to me, hating how tears are beginning to prickle behind my eyelids. Now that we have a moment of respite, I can’t help but think of the loss of my brothers. It’s an ache deep inside my chest that hollows me out. Knowing I’ll never give Jesse shit again for being a bratty teenager makes my stomach churn. Never seeing Aaron’s reassuring smile again has a sob choking my throat.
What happens now?
How do I even go on without them?
A cold hand curls around mine and squeezes. I open my eyes, following my gaze to where Kellen’s large hand grips me.
I don’t know this man.
Hell, this afternoon, I hated him for being such a dick.
Now, I’m grateful for his presence.
I need someone to cling onto or I might as well just let myself drift out to sea.
“We’re going to get through this,” Kellen whispers. “I promise.”
I’m not sure if it’s meant for me or himself or the entire group, but I latch onto it anyway. I believe his every word because I can’t mentally afford not to.
We’re going to get through this.
We have to.
Kellen
I don’t like feeling weak or being injured or needing caring for. Ever since Mom died—I’ve been officially on my own and doing a damn fine job all by myself. I survived my father, survived moving across country, survived entrepreneurship.
And here I am surviving the apocalypse too.
Except I’m not doing it alone.
I have seven employees and Tyler.
Honestly, without Tyler, I feel like this would be a helluva lot harder than it already is. He’s proving to be more than a capable leader. Tyler is strong and remains composed in the face of terror. Compared to him, I’m weak, just like my father always said.
Yet, somehow, Tyler doesn’t make me feel that way.
He’s easy on the eyes too…
I desperately try to squash down that thought. I’ve been fighting that part of me for far too long. Having a conservative, strict rancher father, being gay wasn’t accepted. Hell, it wasn’t even allowed. His scornful laugh when I’d come out to him and Mom as a teenager still haunts me to this day. She’d run interference like always, assuring me that though she didn’t understand my sexuality, she still loved me.
But Dad?
He thought I was a joke. That this was some phase I’d grow out of and later regret. My father truly never understood my attraction to men or the fact it wasn’t something I’d simply get over one day.
I never got over it.
What he did instill in me, though, was insecurity over my sexuality. I don’t date and I certainly don’t get into any sort of relationships. I’ve successfully scratched the itch from time to time via dating apps, but it was never for more than a hookup.
Tyler stirs something deep inside me. His youthful face is hardened with stories I’m curious to know about.