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JENNA
I rouse from a deep sleep in Carter’s arms. His long limbs are snug around me, holding me close. I want to stay here forever, safe and warm and with Carter.
It’s still raining outside, the water pattering against the glass. Yet another reason to stay in bed with Carter. It can rain for days at a time in this part of the state. I can’t think of a better place to wait out the storm.
But someone keeps tapping on the door.
“Jenna!” Lila’s voice calls through the hollow wood. “Are you guys decent?”
I am most certainly not decent. When we returned home last night, Lila took one look at me and Carter and resigned herself to the living room with Kate.
“Give us a sec,” I call back.
Carter stirs, eyelids fluttering open. His face splits into a big grin when he sees me. I kiss him, drawing it out and savoring his warmth.
“It’s been more than a second,” Lila says. “Don’t make me come in there.”
Sighing, I flip off the covers and attempt to pick my clothes up off the floor. Carter grabs me around the waist and drags me back. I shriek as he playfully bites my shoulder.
I shove at him, struggling free. “They’re going to hear us.” I gesture in the vague direction of the living room as I sweep up my clothes. Realizing they’re still covered in the grime, blood, and sweat from yesterday, I release them with a grunt.
I spot a fresh haul of clothing Lila must have brought in yesterday: three paper bags filled with clean garments. I pluck off jeans and a shirt and shimmy into them, not caring that both are too big.
“You better get up unless you want Lila to see you naked,” I tell Carter.
He quirks an eyebrow. I see the joke forming on his lips.
I plant my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrow, daring. He melts into a chuckle. Closing the distance between us, he gives me one last kiss before climbing into his clothes. Which are filthy from yesterday’s trip into town. If Carter cares, he doesn’t let it show.
“Finally,” Lila announces as we emerge into the hall. “Everyone is waiting for you guys.”
As we enter the sitting room, we find she was not exaggerating. Kate, Johnny, Eric, and Reed are all there. The air in the room is somber. I pause, surveying everyone.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“I’ve called a Creekside meeting.” Kate rises from her seat on the arm of the sofa, planting herself in front of the flat screen. Whatever is going on, she means business.
“A meeting about what?” Carter asks.
“About the fact that all of us almost died last night.”
Oh. That. Do we really have to talk about it? Other than Carter and I making up, I’d like to bury all memories of last night.
Johnny raises his hand. “Should I take minutes?” His joking smile wilts under Kate’s flat stare.
“First,” Kate says, “I want to know who those guys were who locked you up.”
Carter and I turn to Reed. He wrinkles his nose and scratches at his head.
“They didn’t lock us up on purpose,” Reed says. “They put us in the closet to keep us safe, but the curio fell over and we got locked inside ...” His voice trails off under the weight of Kate’s scowl. He swallows and begins again. “They were, uh, guys I worked with back in Oakland. Granjero’s guys sort of have a serious turf war with Mr. Rosario’s group. Guys from both groups got stranded here at the start of the outbreak.”
“I was afraid of this,” Kate says. “There are two warring drug factions out there, and even though we’re in a zombie apocalypse, they still fight over territory?”
Jenna, Carter, and Reed all nod.
“Shit,” she growls. “Not good.” She paces up and down in front of the flat screen.
“At least the fire didn’t jump the freeway,” Reed says. “And the rain put out most of the fire.”
“Reed,” Kate says, “this is not a glass half full situation. Men from Granjero or Mr. Rosario could show up here. They already did once.”
He shrinks under her glare, subconsciously running his hands through his afro.
“We need to secure this building,” Kate says. “But we also need to be ready to evacuate if a bunch of them show up here with guns, or if something equally dangerous happens. Last night shows us just how much we need to be able to rely on our own two feet.”
I see where this conversation is going. Kate is walking us into her conclusion.
“We need to be in shape,” I say.
Kate nods. “Correct.”
Horrified eyes turn in her direction.
“I can’t run,” Lila declares.
“I almost died running last night,” Reed says.
“Running isn’t an option for normal people,” Eric says.
“That attitude is the reason we nearly didn’t make it out of Arcata,” Kate replies, voice level and eyes unyielding. “When was the last time any of you did anything resembling strenuous exercise?”
“Carter and Jenna were being pretty strenuous last night,” Johnny says.
I roll my eyes. Carter says, “You’re just jealous, dude.”
“Damn right I’m jealous. You’ve got one of the two pretty girls around here all to yourself.” His eyes dart to Kate. “No offense.”
Kate shakes her head, refusing to be drawn into the banter. “It’s a new world out there.” She thrusts her index finger in the direction of the small kitchen window. “Physical fitness counts. You all need to get into shape. I’m going to help you.”
Silence. Eyes bug.
Then everyone starts talking at once.
“You can’t make us into ultrarunners,” Lila says.
“Did you see this guy run?” Johnny waves his hand at Reed. “He almost tripped over his own pants.”
“And what about you?” Reed shoots back, tugging on his baggy jeans that barely cover his boxer shorts. “Like you weren’t huffing and puffing with the rest of us.”
“I’m a writer,” Johnny says. “I can write about running, but I can’t do it.”
“You’re all wrong.” To my surprise, Carter steps into the center of the room. “I’ve never run a race, but I spent a lot of time at ultras growing up. I saw all types of people on the trails. Fat people. Skinny people. Young people. Even grandparents. It’s all a matter of training. Anyone can run if they decide to.”
“Thank you, Carter.” Kate steps up to stand beside him. “You took the words out of my mouth.” She turns her eyes on the rest of us. “I’m going to train all of you. Feet are the safest form of transportation. All of you are going to learn how to use them.”
“I’m in.” I step forward to join Carter and Kate in front of the flat screen. Kate’s words make perfect sense, but that’s not the real reason I’m stepping up. Kate could propose that we all learn to be ninjas and I’d still step up.
I want Carter and Kate for my family. My family is gone from my life. Even if I hated them half the time, their loss hurts. I’m determined not to lose my new family. Kate and Carter might not know it, and they might not feel the same about me, but I’m determined to be part of their unit. If that means training and working out, that’s what I’ll do.
“What the hell.” Johnny tosses his notebook across the tabletop. “I’m in. On one condition.” He points a finger at Kate. “I want your story.”
Kate’s mouth tightens, resistance in every angle of her face.
“How about when you’re ready?” Carter intercedes. “You don’t have to give the interview tomorrow, or even six months from now.”
“One year,” Johnny agrees. “I want it sometime in the next year.
Kate hesitates, then nods. “Okay. If you apply yourself to training, I promise to share my story with you.”
“I’m in, Mama,” Reed announces. “But you have to adopt me. I need a mom not addicted to crack.”
No one laughs. We know he’s dead serious. About Kate and his own mother.
“Fine, Reed,” Kate says. “I’ll adopt you.”
“I mean it,” he says. “You have to love me like you love Carter.”
“Dude,” Carter says, frowning.
“Fine, whatever,” Reed says. “But I want to be adopted. I want a badass mom.”
“Consider yourself adopted,” Kate says. “Eric?”
“Okay,” he says. “I guess if the rest of you are doing it.”
“I’m not doing it,” Lila says. “How do you expect us to train, anyway? Where are we supposed to run with zombies everywhere out there?”
Kate smiles. “I’m glad you asked, Lila. Come with me.”