right man to make her feel safe, shed her armor, and be the woman she knew was hiding underneath.
Chapter 6
When Noah had dropped the Hail Mary of an invite, he wasn’t confident she’d show up.
But she was here, and that meant she was ready to be kissed.
Luke had convinced him to pack it up for the evening even though they hadn’t pulled all of the carpet from the dining room, promising they’d finish before he left in the morning. None of them were in any shape to be driving home. Especially now that, courtesy of Harper, they’d begun to play Would You Rather. She was always interested in people’s deep, dark secrets. No doubt she initiated the game to learn more about Violet.
“Are you telling me you’d rather die by getting eaten by a zombie than by drowning?” Luke stared at Charlotte in bewilderment.
She nodded in confirmation. His little sister had been afraid of the water for as long as Noah could remember. Post-traumatic stress from watching Jaws . Every summer they’d all go to the community pool but Charlotte always stayed on her beach towel soaking up the sun. He and Luke had tried a couple of times to get her in the water, but she’d refused. Even when their parents had tried to put her in swimming lessons, she’d freaked out and run. Every damn time.
“You do realize you’re alive when zombies eat you.” Luke’s neck was strained in frustration as he grilled Charlotte. “You feel it. All of it and it could take hours for you to die.”
“You shouldn’t diminish someone’s worst death fear,” Violet piped in. Everyone turned their attention to her and she went white with terror.
“Thank you, Violet.” Charlotte glared at Luke, hitting him in the arm. “I’m afraid of the water, you ass. Remember?”
Luke held up his hands. “You’re right. It’s just weird.”
“I’m afraid to die from falling off a tall building,” Violet blurted, then sucked back the rest of her martini.
Such a random fear, but it made sense given her attention to his lack of safety measures on the roof.
Despite her rule, the more she drank, the more tiny details she disclosed about her life. Like how she’d been a ballerina when she was a girl, or that when she’d graduated from high school she had been voted Senior Princess.
Neither had been a surprise. Her legs gave away her ballet story and there was no question he would have voted for her in high school.
With every detail she disclosed, the more he wanted to know.
It’s just because she’s withholding. Otherwise, you wouldn’t care.
“Besides, the zombie apocalypse is never going to happen, so that’s a moot point,” Charlotte said.
Luke looked over at Harper, his mouth practically on the floor. “She doesn’t believe in the zombie apocalypse.” He pointed at Charlotte with his finger.
“You’ll be the first to die when it happens.” Harper was on Luke’s side. “You won’t be prepared.”
“I will not die.” Charlotte slammed her martini on the plywood. “Noah will keep me alive.”
“Every man for themselves, Charlie.” He winked, but he was kidding. He would do everything in his power and capability to keep his friends and family alive. That was a guarantee. They were the most important things in his life.
Hypothetically speaking, if he was ever going to settle down, that someone would need to understand his dedication.
Charlotte snuggled closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He missed this. He missed living a ten-minute subway ride from his mom and Paige. Missed living down the street from Luke. He was isolated out here, but he knew it was only for a few more weeks.
He rested his head on top of hers and looked over at Violet. She stared at them with affection. He wondered if she had any siblings. What her family was like? Was she the type of person who would risk everything to save them during a zombie apocalypse?
After getting cornered by Harper about whether he’d rather be able to fly or
Chapter 6
When Noah had dropped the Hail Mary of an invite, he wasn’t confident she’d show up.
But she was here, and that meant she was ready to be kissed.
Luke had convinced him to pack it up for the evening even though they hadn’t pulled all of the carpet from the dining room, promising they’d finish before he left in the morning. None of them were in any shape to be driving home. Especially now that, courtesy of Harper, they’d begun to play Would You Rather. She was always interested in people’s deep, dark secrets. No doubt she initiated the game to learn more about Violet.
“Are you telling me you’d rather die by getting eaten by a zombie than by drowning?” Luke stared at Charlotte in bewilderment.
She nodded in confirmation. His little sister had been afraid of the water for as long as Noah could remember. Post-traumatic stress from watching Jaws . Every summer they’d all go to the community pool but Charlotte always stayed on her beach towel soaking up the sun. He and Luke had tried a couple of times to get her in the water, but she’d refused. Even when their parents had tried to put her in swimming lessons, she’d freaked out and run. Every damn time.
“You do realize you’re alive when zombies eat you.” Luke’s neck was strained in frustration as he grilled Charlotte. “You feel it. All of it and it could take hours for you to die.”
“You shouldn’t diminish someone’s worst death fear,” Violet piped in. Everyone turned their attention to her and she went white with terror.
“Thank you, Violet.” Charlotte glared at Luke, hitting him in the arm. “I’m afraid of the water, you ass. Remember?”
Luke held up his hands. “You’re right. It’s just weird.”
“I’m afraid to die from falling off a tall building,” Violet blurted, then sucked back the rest of her martini.
Such a random fear, but it made sense given her attention to his lack of safety measures on the roof.
Despite her rule, the more she drank, the more tiny details she disclosed about her life. Like how she’d been a ballerina when she was a girl, or that when she’d graduated from high school she had been voted Senior Princess.
Neither had been a surprise. Her legs gave away her ballet story and there was no question he would have voted for her in high school.
With every detail she disclosed, the more he wanted to know.
It’s just because she’s withholding. Otherwise, you wouldn’t care.
“Besides, the zombie apocalypse is never going to happen, so that’s a moot point,” Charlotte said.
Luke looked over at Harper, his mouth practically on the floor. “She doesn’t believe in the zombie apocalypse.” He pointed at Charlotte with his finger.
“You’ll be the first to die when it happens.” Harper was on Luke’s side. “You won’t be prepared.”
“I will not die.” Charlotte slammed her martini on the plywood. “Noah will keep me alive.”
“Every man for themselves, Charlie.” He winked, but he was kidding. He would do everything in his power and capability to keep his friends and family alive. That was a guarantee. They were the most important things in his life.
Hypothetically speaking, if he was ever going to settle down, that someone would need to understand his dedication.
Charlotte snuggled closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He missed this. He missed living a ten-minute subway ride from his mom and Paige. Missed living down the street from Luke. He was isolated out here, but he knew it was only for a few more weeks.
He rested his head on top of hers and looked over at Violet. She stared at them with affection. He wondered if she had any siblings. What her family was like? Was she the type of person who would risk everything to save them during a zombie apocalypse?
After getting cornered by Harper about whether he’d rather be able to fly or
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