Tommy's First Friend | Z Nation

Chapter 14: I'm staying

An unfamiliar rock song softly plays and my eyes flutter open, coming face to face to an image of a short, blond-haired woman advertising 5000 sex tips and How to Tell He's Lying. I lay my head on 10K's chest to get a look at what else was inside the magazine and I laugh. A two-page cover of beefy men with tips on how to Up Your Game and the Bigger is Better Bicep Regime.

"Morning handsome." I lay my cheek next to his and kiss the side of his mouth. His mouth twitches and he pulls me on top of him, our faces a few centimeters apart. My heartbeat picks up—his hand cups my face, thumb stroking my cheek and he intertwines his other hand with mine.

"You slept well," he states and I shrug my shoulders. "Sleeping on a bed for once may have helped with that."

He blinks, nodding his head. "I'll carry it to the jeep."

"Carry what?" I ask, lightly chucking at how determined he looks. "The bed. I'll bring it with us."

I shake my head, a warm smile fixated on my face. "And how will you do that?"

"I'll find a truck to fit it in." He says as he moves his hand from my cheek, fingers running feathery touches up and down the middle of my back.

"I'd like that." I close my eyes, humming along to the tune playing one floor down. "Tommy."

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry." I tuck my face on the crook of his neck, kissing his jawline.

He gulps, his Adam's apple bobbing. "For what?"

"For worrying you." I thought of leaving. I'm sorry.

"Don't be. I'll always worry about you and that's never going to change." He tightens his hold around me and for a brief moment, I imagine us being back in the treehouse, reading a book and tucked in each other's embrace.

There's a big storm coming in the Midwest. Friends, I'm talking about mean weather coming in fast. Some reports of tornadoes. Find shelter and take cover. Now back to the soothing sounds of the apocalypse.

"We should probably get dressed," I say after hearing what sounded like Addy's voice downstairs. Their lookout shifts are probably over and I will never leave it down if she finds both of us naked. Just imagining Doc's smug face and her squealing made me pull my pants up faster. Before I could pull my shirt down, the door opens and lo' and behold, she's there, standing next to Mack.

She groans, smacking Mack's shoulder. "I told you to go up faster. Now look, they're done."

"If you wanted to see some action, I would be more than happy to show you some." He wiggles his blond eyebrows and I pull 10k in a rush, whose red face probably matched mine. "We'll be leaving now. Bhu-bye"

I run down the stairs, pulling 10k along. "Lyn wait—"

Everyone in the living stays still and stare at the both of us. "Ohohoho what do we have here?" Doc says, putting his cards face down. "What are you guys looking at?" I ask.

"Well for one, your boyfriend doesn't have any pants on missy. I win again Doc," Murphy explains, throwing the deck of cards down. A royal flush.

"Dang it Murphy, if you're going to use my deck, then stop pulling cards out from nowhere," Doc goes back to being engrossed in their game for once, too annoyed at losing to bother us. I'm so glad Warren and Garnett aren't inside and that Cassandra is sleeping.

"And I keep telling you, I'm not cheating." Murphy shrugs his shoulder, sending a wink our way. "Though that kid over there probably did a lot of cheating." I grab the kitchen knife that's next to the counter and throw it. Murphy pushes the chair back, shock apparent on his face. The knife landed right beside his hand. I smile back him, crossing my arms and leaning on the wall. Doc whistles as he shakes his head. "We still need this guy in one piece kid."