“
Promise I won’t. What language is it?”
“
Latin, all my tats are in Latin.” He looked over at the tattoo on his left forearm.
“
Latin, okay what does it say?” This time I had the nerve to touch his chest tattoo with the tips of my fingers. “I know what it says.”
“
Really? Tell me.” He said convinced I couldn’t read Latin.
“
Yeah,
non ducor duco
.” I pronounced as best I could. “Means no ducks allowed in the duck pond.”
Nick snickered. “Close, it means I am not led; I lead.”
“
Seriously? I should laugh.”
“
Yes, I am guilty. My tattoo says I’m a leader. I am a leader but not necessarily this group’s leader.” Nick half smiled and there was a glimmer in his eyes that briefly distracted me.
“
What about this one?” I traced the tattoo on his left forearm with my index finger. There was a Latin phrase accompanied by a hooded skeleton with a big weapon in his hand that almost resembled an ax.”
“
This one is
non timetis messor
. It means, don’t fear the reaper.”
“
So this hooded skeleton is the Grimm reaper. What is this ax thing called?”
“
A scythe,” Nick admired his tattoo the way most men do.
I removed my fingers from his arm. Touching Nick’s bare skin was turning me on and I could feel blood rushing south of the border. I was in a complete haze. I started getting vivid flashes of Nick’s naked body in my mind. I had never seen him in his birthday suit and he had never seen me in mine either. How that was possible when we shared a room was a mystery. I tried to deflect the nude images but as soon as one was gone others came flooding in.
“
Hey, where did you go?” Nick spoke and I snapped out of my brain pornothon.
I focused on his lips. “I’m here. What’s this one mean?” I pointed at his right forearm, no more touching for me.
“
Non timebo mala
, I fear no evil.”
“
You got any more?”
“
There’s one on my ankle above the tribal ban that says
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
. Either I will find a way or I will make one… You don’t have any tats, why?”
“
How do you know? I may have one in a hidden place.”
“
I have seen all your hidden places.” Nick winked. I sat there, embarrassed by the towel incident. “I’m going to rest my eyes.” That was Nick code for take a nap. He closed his eyes, leaned back and laid his head in his hands. “Baby girl, don’t let me sleep too long.”
“
Okay.” I just stared at his muscular shirtless form. I had dated a man twenty years older than me but maybe I was too young for Nick. He treated me like a little sister. Maybe Ray was wrong when he said Nick had a thing for me. I felt guilty thinking about whether a guy was into me or not during these dark days of the zombie apocalypse but what else was I supposed to do. I didn’t have a job, a house, a car, bills, family. All I had was right here in this house. In two weeks Nick, Ray, Naveen and Kait had become my family. The jury was still out on Doctor Mark, Joe and Malik. The jury would never be in on Michelle.
I savored the sight of Nick’s body for a few more seconds then I left the attic. I went downstairs to get a bottle of water from the kitchen. I escaped from the kitchen and was headed upstairs when an arm caught held of me and stopped me in the living room.
“
Jesse, you got a minute?” Doctor Mark asked as he held my arm.
“
Sure.” I said as he let go of my arm.
“
I wanted to study your face.”
“
Excuse me.”
“
Your face, I’m a plastic surgeon remember?”
“
Oh yeah.”
The doctor took both his hands and held my face between them. He literally studies my face. It made me feel a little uncomfortable but I was used to being stared at. He gently fondled and caressed my nose, eyes, chin and cheekbones with the tips of his fingers.
“
You have a beautiful face. So many women would love to have your nose and your lips. How old are you?” He asked as he ran his thumb over my lips.
“
Twenty-three.”
“
You don’t need any work. Your breasts are real, a full B.” He looked down at my boobs. “You must have really good genes.”
Since that wasn’t really a question. I didn’t feel a need to respond. I looked over Doctor Mark’s shoulder and I could see Michelle standing on the steps watching us. She was pissed. I could see it in her eyes. Mark’s back was to her so he missed the venom. Michelle crept back up the stairs with Doctor Mark being none the wiser.
“
Doctor, I would love to stand here and look at you but I promised Kait I would braid her hair. Have you seen her?”
Mark let go of my face. His daughters name killed the mood and that was exactly my plan. “She’s around here somewhere. Check her bedroom.”
I went upstairs and I looked in the master bedroom for Kait. The evil Michelle was there instead. Maybe Kait was in the bathroom.
“
Come here.” Michelle ordered while she sat on the bed brushing her hair.
“
Me.” I stood surprised at the door. She said two words to me.
“
Do you see anyone else?” She said through gritted teeth. “What are you snooping around for?”
“
I was looking for Kait?”
“
Do you see Kait?” She barked.
I stepped into the room. “What’s your problem with me?”
“
I don’t like you.” She mauled me with her words, stood and flung her hairbrush on the bed. Was this lady serious?
I took a few steps into the room. I was feeling a little frisky thanks to a shirtless Nick. “Surprise, surprise, do you think I give a shit?”
“
You waltzed your little skinny ass in here like you own the place.”
Now I was face to face with the redhead. “First I don’t waltz. I prance. Don’t let the little skinny ass fool you. I will kick your ass.”
“
Right Twiggy.”
All this hostility because the Italian Stallion touched my face, the jealousy monster reared its red head. My temper was flaring. My fists were balled. I remembered how girls used to try to bully me in grade school until they found out I had a bad ass black cousin at the school named LaKeisha Jackson. No one believed Keisha and I were related. I was very white and she was very black. We shared the same Creole grandfather. I was less than one eighth black and that really didn’t amount to much. I wanted to slap the taste out of Michelle’s mouth. That was something Keisha would always say. I thought about Keisha being eaten by deadies and I became furious.
“
I’m not afraid of a fifty pound Barbie doll.” Michelle boasted.
The person that makes the first move is usually the victor, a fight lesson from my cousin. I don’t have any more verbal jabs. Surely it is wrong to hit people for having diarrhea of the mouth but I just can’t resist. I loosened my balled fist. I raised my hand and slapped Michelle hard across her cheek. She fell to the bed and looked up at me in shock. I hovered over her. “Don’t get up.” I stood my ground. Ray ran into the room. He grabbed both my arms and yanked me out into the hallway.
“
Jesse calm down.” Ray said.
“
I’m calm.” I lied. I was still fired up.
“
Be cool.” He let go of my arms.
“
I’m cool.” I was slowly calming. The master bedroom door slammed shut.
“
Did you just slap big red into the middle of next week?”
“
I slapped her into the middle of next year.”
Ray snickered as he led me downstairs. We both had a big laugh about what happened to big red.
A few hours later Nick gathered the troops for our group meeting. I was informed of the topic in advance, one of the perks of bunking with the leader of the pack. We all were in attendance but we had to wait for Malik. He was always doing his own thing, although I had absolutely no idea what that was. Nick stood in the center in the common area which was actually Doctor Mark’s bedroom, the living room and as if today the face examination room.
“
That has been some issues raised about security at this location. I know some of you, maybe all of you want to leave this house and hideout someplace more secure. I agree and I want to scout out a few places. Anyone with any suggestions can speak… Honestly I don’t know where to go. If you got a secure location in mind, share.”
Michelle was first to speak up. This was not at all a surprise. “I think that maybe we should find a bank. They are supposed to be really secure.” She had a good point.
“
Banks have too much glass.” Joe countered. “You’ve seen them break glass before.”
“
Joe’s right. Too much glass is not a good option.” Nick agreed with Joe.
Doctor Mark stood. “You guys have been talking about leaving for weeks and we’re still here. I need to get my daughter somewhere safe.”
“
I understand.” Nick said.
“
Do you really? You don’t have any kids. You only have to look out for yourself.” The doctor pressed.
Ray stood. “Hold up Doc. That’s going too far. Nick has been here risking his ass to make sure we have food, water and supplies. You are foul to come at him like that.”
“
I’m foul.” Doctor Mark mimicked Ray’s slang. “I’m tired of talking about moving. Let’s do it.”
“
Fine, I’ll go out tomorrow.” Nick volunteered.
“
I’m going with you.” Marine Joe said.
Michelle smacked her lips. “Have we decided that only one of you cowboys would be away at a time?”
“
If you want to leave, this is the way we do it. This is not a democracy.” Nick barked.
“
When has it ever been?” Michelle put her hands on her hips. “So who is going to protect us?”
“
Naveen can handle a gun. He has one and he knows how to use it.” Nick said to the group while Naveen sat peacefully.
Doctor Mark slowly paced. “How did he get a gun?”
“
I gave it to him.” Nick admitted. I realized that maybe I should not let any of the group know that Nick also gave me a gun.
“
Why does he get one?” The doctor challenged. Nick and Joe ignored his question.
“
I’m going too.” Ray said and I wasn’t happy with that. My two favorite people were leaving the house.
“
Okay, three is better than two.” Nick walked over and patted Ray on the back. “We leave in the morning.”
Doctor Mark stormed from the room and walked toward the kitchen. Kait went to follow him but stopped in her tracks and just stood idle. Michelle walked toward the kitchen. She was following the doctor I’m sure. So I guess that means the meeting is over. I hope Nick, Joe and Ray find what they’re looking for tomorrow.
CHAPTER 6
Nightfall had approached and I couldn’t sleep. I thought about the close call at the superstore. A panic set in when I thought about the guys leaving us in the morning. I tried to hide my fear but Nick saw through me. We were both supposed to be sleep but we were wide awake side by side on the air mattress.
“
Something is wrong?” Nick turned from lying on his back to his side. Now he could see me clearly.
“
I’m good.” I lied. Why worry him with my reservations.
“
I know better, tell me.” Nick urged.
“
I don’t want anyone to get hurt tomorrow. I’m worried.” I confided.
“
Don’t worry. We all know how to handle ourselves.”
“
I know, it’s just--”
“
Don’t worry. Close your eyes and go to sleep.” He disregarded my fears.
I didn’t close my eyes. I was being defiant. I stared into Nick’s eyes for a few minutes. He stared back into mine. We were in an eye wrestling brawl. It was similar to one of those beautiful moments in a romance movie. But this was not a movie. It was real and there was absolutely nothing romantic about getting chewed on by deadies. After our intense stare-down I finally fell into an uncomfortable sleep.
The morning had broken. I woke up alone and with a painful crick in my neck. Where was Nick? I took a shower and I went downstairs. Kait was sitting on the couch cuddled up in in her Hello Kitty blanket.
“
Good morning.” I said as my hair dripped down the back of my neck.
“
Morning,” Kait smiled.
“
Where is Nick?” I asked as I looked around the room knowing I wouldn’t find him under the coffee table.
“
They left already.”
“
He didn’t even wake me up.” I told her through my disbelief.
“
Typical guy, so inconsiderate,” she sighed.
Malik walked into the room, no actually he strutted. He was up in the daylight hours, odd. He was in boxer shorts and not a bit more.
“
Hey you need a haircut.” Kait said to Malik with a frown.
“
I ain’t got nobody to impress.” Malik scratched his stomach and ran his fingers through the beginnings of an Afro. I kind of like his hair wild and unruly.
“
I can cut it for you.” She offered with a teenage smile.