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)
“This is the best burger I’ve ever eaten in my life,” Hope mumbles through a mouthful of food.
The next few minutes are quiet as everyone digs in. As Hope proclaimed, it’s indeed the best damn burger ever. Nothing like the apocalypse to make you appreciate the little things. Days ago, I was miffed about eating a cold sandwich. Now I’m practically orgasming over a generic frozen burger.
I don’t make it very far through my meal before I’m hurting. Having not eaten much in several days, my stomach’s not enjoying this new diet. Judging from the pained expressions around me, I’d say they all feel the same. I have a sudden panicked thought that maybe the meat wasn’t good, but Tyler winks at me, silently assuring my worries away.
“Eat what you can and we’ll have the rest tomorrow,” Wayne announces as he ambles over to the bar from the kitchen. “I cooked everything and put it back in the freezer. It’ll be easy to reheat in the morning and should be fine despite us having opened up the freezer and let the cold air out.”
We all agree it’s time to hit the hay. Once we’ve gathered our gear, we follow Dan and Aaron outside. They describe the cabins they found. Just like last night, we split up the same way, except this time, we get the cabin with a king-sized bed.
Tyler eagerly heads for the shower but then grunts in frustration several minutes later. “Water’s been shut off.”
“We’ll grab a shower at Stovepipe Wells,” I assure him. “We need rest anyway.”
I barely manage to yank my boots and jacket off before crawling into bed. It’s cold like last night, but soon, with Tyler wrapped in my arms beneath the blanket, we warm up. Unlike last night, we’re not handsy. I think we’re both too exhausted. Luckily, just holding him is nearly as satisfying.
“We’re almost there,” Tyler says sleepily. “I can’t wait.”
As he dozes off, my mind decides to start racing. If Stovepipe Wells is another dead end, what do we do then? Should I try to head toward Texas to look for Knox? What happens to everyone else?
I do know we’re safer as a group. We’ve had to rely on each other to get ourselves out of a few precarious situations. I’m not sure I could have made it all on my own. The thought of not having Tyler by my side makes me queasy.
Or it could be the burgers…
My stomach grumbles, this time in pain. I haven’t taken a proper shit, unlike Gerry, in days. I sure hope my stomach doesn’t decide to unleash its demons while I’m cooped up in a hotel room with the guy I like and no running water.
Another twist of pain has me breaking out in a sweat.
For fuck’s sake.
We’ve been walking all damn day and my legs are shaking. Last night, I indeed got sick to my stomach much to my horror. Tyler, bless him, didn’t mention the rotten stench coming from the bathroom, but he seemed pretty damn eager to get on the road today. Apparently, a few of us got sick last night, including Hailey, Jesse, and Dan. Everyone abstained from the meat this morning and ate the rest of the buns, chips, and green beans.
“You need to drink more water,” Tyler says, handing me another bottle of water. “You’re dehydrated.”
I groan inwardly. “Yeah, thanks.”
Dan thinks some of the burgers had already thawed some past the safe temperatures and we were the lucky ones to have gotten them. I’d give anything right about now for some Immodium.
A shower sounds almost as enticing.
“We’re close,” Aaron says when we come to a stop to rest. “Another mile or two maybe?”
He and Hope look over the map in her hands, both of them nodding in agreement. I’m grateful that our journey is coming to an end. I don’t know that I can take much more walking.
“I think I see a car,” Gerry says, pointing up the road into the muted dark. “Right there.”
I squint, unable to see much with all the cloud cover. The wind has been whipping at us from behind, chilly and unrelenting. I’m damn tired of this cold. It’s summer, for fuck’s sake.
Gerry, clearly convinced he sees a car, sets off walking at a brisk pace. Despite feeling like death warmed over, I trot after him.
“Wait up,” I grunt. “Don’t go alone.”
Gerry gives me a nod of thanks and together, we make our way toward the car. As we get closer, I recognize it.
“It’s those girls’ car,” Gerry grits out. “When I see Kyle, I’m going to kick him in the balls.”
Gerry, a usually jovial man, is about as happy with Kyle as I am. Not that it would’ve mattered. Elise was too far gone anyway. It’s the fact of the matter, though. He abandoned the group the first chance he got. I knew he was a dick, but come on.