“They’ve worked up until now.”
Dakota shook his head. Frowning, Jamie took another drag off his cigarette, then pushed it over. At that moment, Dakota thought it was the exact thing he needed. The first breath of nicotine that spiked his brain instantly calmed him. “This the reason you smoke?” he chuckled.
“I guess. I picked it up in the army.”
“Helps your nerves?”
“It does.”
It’s sure helping mine.
Taking another drag, Dakota passed the cigarette back to his boyfriend, then stood and made his way to the railing. The zombie Santa had apparently lost interest in the click of the zippo and had wandered to the other side of the street, toward the photography store he’d heard they’d initially rescued Desmond from.
“Nothing to worry about,” Jamie said, pressing a hand against his lower back. “I’ll have someone get on the roof and start luring them away again.”
“Again,” Dakota said.
“Huh?”
“You said again. We’ve had to do this twice in the past three days.”
“I can’t help what they do.”
“I know. That’s what scares me so much.”
Jamie stood, set the cigarette between his lips, then wrapped his arms around Dakota’s waist.
“Jamie?” he whispered.
“Huh?”
“What’ll happen if no one comes for us?”
“I don’t like to think about that. It’s better to think someone will come than to think no one ever will.”
Dakota tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
Was it really better to be ignorant and hope that someone would come for them?
He didn’t know.
He didn’t think he wanted to.
Jamie raised his voice to draw the group’s attention. “Listen up, everyone! I’ve got something I want to talk to you about.”
“Is this about the zombies?” Dustin asked.
“Somewhat,” Jamie replied, waiting for the last of the voices to die down. “As you all are aware, we’ve been having a bit of difficulty keeping the zombies away from the asylum. This is in part due to the barrier we’ve constructed on the west side of the road. This means the only way the zombies can leave is to the east, up the snake road that leads to the main highway.”
“So what you’re saying,” Ian spoke up, “is that they’re basically trapped.”
“Exactly,” Jamie said. “This concerns me mostly because they’ve been hanging around the road. The only thing separating us from them is a chain-link fence.”
“Simple solution,” Kirn said. “We shoot the bastards.”
“Shooting is only going to draw more of them,” Erik said. He glanced up from his food to look Kirn straight in the eye. “You know, a loud noise plus zombies equals a swarm.”
“I know that, dumbass. We should just build a gate to keep the fuckers out.”
“Then we’re isolating ourselves away from the road,” Jamie said. “It’s a good idea, but if we need to get out of here fast, we don’t want to have to mess with a gate.”
“Point taken.”
“That wasn’t the only thing I wanted to talk about,” Jamie said. “I wanted to talk about something else.”
The hairs on Dakota’s arms went up.
He isn’t…
“I’m sure all of you are aware that I’ve been sneaking around at night,” Jamie began, instantly silencing the table with the thought of accusation alone. “Now, before I continue, let me just say that I haven’t been up to anything that’s going to hurt the group, at least not physically.”
“You been sneaking around on us, captain?” Wills asked.
“In a way, yes, Wills, I have.” Jamie swallowed. “I wanted to come clean about something before I lost the balls to do it.”
He’s not going to say it.
“I’m gay, and I’m in love with someone who means very much to me.”
Almost instantly, all eyes turned on Dakota.
Great. Now I’m the lamb in the lion’s den.
“You’re a fag?” Kirn asked, turning his eyes on Jamie after he gave Dakota the worst glare he could possibly summon.
“Yeah, but I’d prefer you not use that word around me.”
“I’m not listening to some fag.”
“What the fuck does it matter?” Erik asked.
“He’s a fuckin’ fag, Erik.”
“I know, you fucking dumbass. I’ve been his best friend for years.”
“And you don’t have a problem with him taking it up the ass, huh?”
“Do you have a problem with it?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Seems like the only person that would have a problem with it is someone who doesn’t want anyone to know he might like it,” Michael muttered.
Several people around the table chuckled, including Alexis. Her heightened pitch instantly singled her out to Kirn and Wills’ stares. “Hey, bitch,” Wills said. “What’s so funny?”
“You are,” Alexis shot back. “You sure are making a big deal out of something so stupid, aren’t you, guys? Something tells me you might have something to hide.”
“Fuck you whore,” Kirn growled. “At least I’m not going around sleeping with—”
“That’s enough,” Jamie said.
“Fuck you, faggot. Go let your boyfriend give it to you up the ass.”
“Would you like to leave, Kirn?”
“What?”
“I said, would you like to leave? Because if you don’t shut your fucking mouth, both of you are free to go.”
“I’m not listening to some fag.”
“Then you can leave. The front door’s right there, complete with a four-or-five-dozen zombies.”
Neither man said a word in response. Dakota grimaced as a fire started coursing through his chest, quickening his heartbeat and shortening his breaths. Steve set a hand across his back and squeezed his shoulder. It’s all right, his friend mouthed.
Dakota reached down to grip Steve’s other hand in response.
“Fine,” Kirn finally said. “Come on, Wills. We’ll leave then.”
“I don’t want any more of this bullshit,” Jamie said, raising his voice as the two men took their trays and began to walk back toward their room. “I mean it, Kirn, Wills. Keep causing trouble and you’ll be out of here before you can say the word bullshit!”
The door to their room slammed shut.
The air now free of animosity, Jamie turned his attention on Dakota. His features softened the moment he lay eyes on him. “I love you, babe.”
“Why did you do this, Jamie?”
“Because I couldn’t hide the way I feel anymore.”
Erik raised both hands and clapped. Dustin and Michael followed suit, quickly followed by the rest of the table. Jamie’s lips parted in a smile as the sound began to die down.
“You didn’t have to do this for me, Jamie.”
“I know,” Jamie said. “I did it for myself.”
Dakota smiled. “Thank you,” he said, blinking out a single tear.
“You don’t have to thank me for the way I feel.”
Standing, Steve pulled his chair aside and gestured Jamie to come sit in it. “You probably want to sit here,” he said.
Jamie stepped out and made his way around the table. “I do,” he said.
When Jamie settled down in the chair next to him, Dakota smiled.
Maybe this was it.
Maybe things really would be fine after all.
CHAPTER 6
Screams and gunfire shattered his world and tore his heart to pieces.
Forced from a dream of the absolute greatest things in the world, Dakota threw himself forward, breathless and not sure what exactly was happening. “What’s going on?” he asked, looking at Jamie, who seemed just as startled.