Authors: Kristen Middleton
A loud knock on the door marked my date’s arrival.
I looked at myself again and sighed. “Why am I nervous?”
“Don’t worry, you look gorgeous. I’ll get the door,” said Allie.
I followed her and when she opened it, my jaw dropped. I may have looked good, but he looked
amazing
in his black double breasted tuxedo. He’d also shaved, although his typical five o-clock shadow was certainly sexy enough. Tonight, he looked like a totally hot movie star going to the Oscar’s.
“Let me guess,” said my sister, lowering her voice, “you’re Bond, James Bond?”
“No,” he replied with a cocky grin. “I’m Lee, Bryce Lee.”
My sister and I burst out laughing.
“You look absolutely stunning,” he said as I walked towards him. “I am… speechless.”
“That’s a first,” I said with a smile. His flattery was bringing out my sarcasm, I guess it made me slightly uncomfortable. “You look pretty handsome yourself.”
“Do me a favor,” he said, waving his finger around. “Could you please walk back and forth a couple of times around the suite? You look amazingly sexy in those heels.”
My sister cleared her throat.
“Oh, sorry Allie,” he smiled. “You’re still here…It’s Wild’s fault. She’s put some kind of spell on me, and all I see is her long legs.”
Allie laughed. “I’m going to get Kylie. You two have fun now.”
“Thanks, Allie,” I said, giving her a hug.
After she left he offered me his arm. “So beautiful, are you ready?”
I blushed again. “Um…I think so,” I said. “I’m a little intrigued about this date.”
“Good. I want it to be a surprise.”
“You’ve already surprised me with this outfit. I love it by the way.”
He grabbed both of my hands and stared into his eyes. “And I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you, too.”
“We’d better leave before I forget what it means to be a gentleman.”
I laughed as he pulled me towards the door.
“So, where are you taking me?”
“Patience,” he replied with a smile.
We took the stairs, because elevators still freaked me out, down to the restaurant. I laughed out loud when I noticed the handmade sign covering the old one.
“Henry’s Bistro and Five Star Restaurant?”
Bryce wiggled his eyebrows as he opened the door.
“Good evening, welcome to Henry’s Bistro and Five Star Restaurant,” said Belinda from the hostess stand inside. “How many this evening?”
Belinda was dressed prim and proper in a black skirt and white-buttoned blouse. Her blond hair was pulled into a tight bun and her makeup was subtle. It was so different than what I was used to, I would have never recognized her in a crowded room.
“Two, please.”
She led us to an elegantly set-up table in the corner of the candle lit restaurant. A vase of red roses sat on top of the white tablecloth. Bryce noticed me staring at them.
“They’re obviously not real,” he said. “But I wanted you to have some kind of flowers for your birthday.”
I smiled. “Well, thank you.”
After we were settled in our waitress brought us water and menus.
“How are you two doing this evening?” asked Paige, who was also dressed in a black skirt and white blouse.
“Wonderful,” replied Bryce. “And you?”
“Oh, I can’t complain,” she said. “So, would you like to start out with an appetizer?”
I looked at the handwritten menu and smiled. There was only one appetizer available.
“We’ll have the pickles, please,” said Bryce. “Is that okay, Wild?”
“Sounds great.”
“I’ll be back with your pickles in a minute,” she said. “Anything else?”
“Paige, that’s the only thing written on the appetizer menu.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I hear the pickles are imported,” said Bryce after Paige left us.
“They sound delicious.”
From somewhere in the darkness a piano began playing. I stared at Bryce in surprise.
“Just wait,” he said softly.
Someone in the back of the room began to sing, “You Are So Beautiful,” and when I recognized the voice, my jaw dropped.
“Tiny?” I whispered, totally shocked.
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Who knew?”
Tiny’s voice was amazing. It was smooth, beautiful and it took my breath away. I couldn’t get over it.
“Would you care to dance?” asked Bryce standing up.
I nodded.
He took my hand and led me to the dance floor.
“You are beautiful, but not just tonight,” whispered Bryce next to my ear as he held me close.
I shivered as he brushed my neck with light kisses.
“Cold?” he murmured.
“No.”
He chuckled and held me closer.
When the song was finished we both applauded Tiny and soon he began singing another ballad. Who knew the giant wrestler could sing and play the piano when he wasn’t pile-driving zombies.
Paige returned to our table and set down a bottle of wine and the pickles.
“Looks like our appetizer has arrived,” he said releasing me.
Bryce guided me back to the table where he then pulled out my chair.
“What a gentleman,” I said.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Surprised?”
“No, not at all.”
Belinda walked over and helped Paige open the bottle of wine and then poured each of us a glass. “I’m supposed to tell you, just one glass,” Belinda whispered before she left. “Kristie’s orders.”
I laughed. “Oh, okay.”
“So, waitress could you tell us what your special is this evening?” asked Bryce.
Paige cracked her gum and said, “Um…Maine lobster, garlic mashed potatoes, and baked beans.”
He grinned. “Wow, how in the world did he accomplish that?”
“Fortunately, the hotel still had a few live lobsters. As far as the garlic mashed, well they’re instant potatoes but just forget I mentioned that.”
“Forgotten,” I said.
“The baked beans are Henry’s idea,” she went on. “It’s a little eclectic but Henry’s the chef and these are all his favorites.”
“It sounds awesome,” I said.
“Enjoy,” she said and then left us alone.
“This is remarkable,” I told him. “You put all of this together?”
“Yeah, with the help of our friends, of course.”
“Thank you.”
He grabbed my hand. “You’re very welcome. I wish I could do more.”
I sighed. “This is more than enough. It’s… awesome. I just wish my parents could have seen this.”
He squeezed my hand. “They probably can, from wherever they are.”
I stared at the wine. “I’m sure if they are, my dad’s probably frowning at the wine.”
“Or maybe he thinks you deserve a glass, after everything you’ve been through.”
I smiled. “Maybe.”
“A toast, to us,” he said, lifting his glass.
“To us,” I answered.
I took a sip and it was warm going all the way down.
“You like it?”
I shrugged. “Wine is kind of bitter.”
“Coming from someone who adores pickles,” he said.
“They aren’t bitter.” I said as I grabbed one and started eating. “So, who told you about my pickle fetish?” I asked when I was done.
“Paige.”
“Of course.”
“Hey, nothing wrong with a girl who loves pickles,” he said. “It’s kind of enjoyable watching you indulge in one.” The look on his face was far from innocent and I had an urge to smack him. Instead I changed the subject.
“How’s Bobby doing?”
He smiled. “Very good. I mean he’s asked about your dad a few times and I’ve skidded around the truth, but I think he understands somehow. He’s amazingly bright.”
“He’s also very artistic,” I said. “I found him paint and brushes yesterday and the pictures he made were amazing.”
Bryce nodded. “Yeah, but did you see any of his zombie pictures? Kind of dark.”
I saw one of his zombie pictures and it
was
a little disturbing, but it was also a new reality for the six year old. The picture was of a zombie getting crushed under the tires of a big truck. He’d told me it was he and Dave destroying zombies, just like in their zombie game.
“I just hope the zombies are destroyed soon so they don’t’ inspire those types of paintings anymore.”
Bryce laughed.
“So, otherwise he’s doing okay?”
“Yeah. He’s always had such an innocent outlook on life, even when our mom was alive. You’d think living with an alcoholic and now flesh eating zombies would have really messed him up. But he’s doing well.”
“Having the love of a big brother makes a hell of a difference,” I said. “You’re his rock.”
He nodded. “I’m just relieved to have regained most of my memory back. I still don’t know how I ended up with amnesia.”
“It might be better to not know. The horror we’re dealing with is bad enough. You don’t need to add anymore memories.”
Just then we heard a loud crash in the kitchen and then Henry was cursing the lobsters. Seconds later Belinda hurried out of the kitchen, looking horrified.
“Um, so sorry folks but we’ve had a little glitch in tonight’s dinner menu. Is it okay if you split one of the lobsters?”
“Of course,” I said quickly. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Let me guess,” said Bryce. “Henry couldn’t lasso up one of the lobsters.”
She nodded. “It gave him a hard time and that’s all I’m going to say. He feels awful though, by the way.”
“Tell him not to worry about it,” I said. “I’m sure the dinner will be wonderful and I don’t eat much anyway.”
She nodded and then headed back into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry,” said Bryce.
“Are you kidding me? This has been
wonderful
so far. The best eighteenth birthday a girl could have in a zombie apocalypse. I mean seriously, you’ve all done very well.”
He sighed. “That’s what I love about you; you are totally selfless. You’re more concerned about the other people around you much more than yourself. These last few weeks, you’ve risked your life for your sister, your friends, heck even a psycho cowboy whose intentions weren’t even good. I feel overwhelmingly lucky that I met you. You are one amazing girl.”
Tears threatened my eyes. I struggled to keep them from popping out of my eyes. “Thanks Bryce,” I said blinking them away.
“That’s why I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Wild. There’s nobody else that makes me feel the way you do. I love you so much and….”
When he got down on his knees my chest tightened up and I couldn’t breathe.
“Wild, I mean Cassie,” he said reaching into his pocket. “Would you do me the honor of…” he pulled out a small black box. “of…being my life partner?”
I stared at him in confusion.
Life partner?
What the hell did that mean? Was he asking me to marry him? I thought Billie had told me Dane and Shane were life partners. Would that make me a lesbian?
Oh, I was so confused.
“Um…”
“Please say yes,” he said, his blue eyes twinkling.
The diamond ring was dazzling and he pushed it onto my finger.
“It is beautiful,” I said.
“I was lucky to find it. Tiny and I had quite the adventure getting out of the jewelry shop alive.”
I bit the side of my lip. “So, life partner, huh?”
He then burst out laughing and I was totally lost.
“Bryce, I don’t understand. What’s so funny?” I asked.
He kept laughing, wiping away real tears. Every time he’d slow down he’d look at my confused face and start all over. It was after seeing my frowning face that he finally stopped and lifted me off the ground.
“Cassie, will you marry me?” he asked in a husky voice. “I love you more than anything and I definitely want to
marry
you.”
“So, you were kidding before? About being a life partner?”
He smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to see your reaction. Obviously we’ll be partners for life but I definitely want to marry you, someday. I just couldn’t help teasing you.”
“Thanks,” I replied dryly.”
“So, seriously…Cassandra Wild, will you marry me?”
I smiled. “Yes Bryce De Luca, I will marry you.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
After hearing of our engagement, Paige and Belinda gushed over my ring and gave us both a hug. Henry, hearing all the excitement, stepped out of the kitchen.
“What in tarnation is going on out here? You’re going to wake the dead all over again.”
I stuck out my left hand. “Bryce and I are going to get married.”
The look on Henry’s face wasn’t exactly what I’d expected.
“How in the hell are you two going to get married in a zombie apocalypse? And, no offense to you Wild, but son, you do know that limits you to only her, young man? You can’t go puttin’ your bobber into any other streams after getting hitched, you know what I’m saying?”
My jaw dropped. “Henry!”
“For the love of God...” mumbled Paige.
“She’s all I need,” smiled Bryce. “She makes my bobber quite happy.”
Paige snickered.
Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out a fresh tin of chew. “Well, you’re pole is kind of young to retire, don’t you think Bryce? What are you, in your twenties?”
“Henry!” sputtered Belinda. “You’d better congratulate this young couple and stop while you’re ahead.”
Henry looked at me and his eyes twinkled. He squeezed my shoulder. “I’m just bullshitting. I was just testing Bryce to make sure he’s good enough for our little Wild.”
“Thanks Henry,” I said. “I guess.”
“I was married a long time ago,” said Henry, his eyes taking on a faraway look. “Barbara, Tonia, Camille, and Beverly. Sounds like a lot of wives, but I’m an old man and they were all at different times, of course. Anyway, if there’s one thing I learned about marriage, it’s that…”
“What Henry?” I asked.
He scratched his cheek. “The woman is always right and never go to sleep when she’s mad at you. You might not make it through the night.”
“Those
are
very wise words,” said Belinda.
“Especially being married to Ms. Wild, here. I saw what she did to those zombies and I guarantee she can kick your ass from here to Kingdom Come. Do yourself a favor and don’t ever do her wrong, Bryce,” he said.