Read Online Zombie Rules (Book 4): Destiny by David Achord - Free Book Online Page B

put up with said quirks you’d have a happy relationship.
    Kelly’s quirks were talking and sex. She loved to talk about anything under the sun and she loved sex. Sometimes she liked to have a conversation while we were having sex, but thank goodness it was only rarely. Any issue we encountered, any problem, any disagreement, invariably led to a long, mostly one-sided discussion, followed by lots of sex.
    They were quirks I could put up with.
    My thoughts were interrupted by an unfamiliar truck pulling a cattle trailer making its way up the drive. I grabbed my shotgun and was about to take cover behind my own truck when I recognized the occupants, Tonya, Ward and Gus, I relaxed a little and set my weapon down, although I wasn’t so sure I wanted them anywhere around my property.
    Floyd had been relegated to ride in the bed of their truck and although it was a sunny March day, it was still quite chilly. The thermometer was hovering at forty and I could see he was cold and miserable.
    “This is a surprise,” I said when they exited. I briefly wondered why they had a new truck, but decided I didn’t give a shit. Ward walked up and shook my hand, grinned foolishly and grabbed me in a hug.
    “We’ve missed our old friends and thought we’d visit,” he replied with a grin. Yeah, I thought, and y’all just happened to bring a truck hauling a cattle trailer. I gestured at Floyd.
    “You look pretty miserable,” I said.
    “I’m a might cold,” he replied through chattering teeth. Gus scoffed at Floyd’s perceived softness. Kelly stuck her head out of the door at about that time and I motioned at her.
    “Go on inside with Kelly and she’ll fix you a cup of good old fashioned stale coffee.”
    Floyd nodded thankfully. She smiled warmly as he walked up, hugged him and led him inside while chatting it up. For a second, I experienced a pang of something, and when I realized it was jealousy it surprised the hell out of me. Before I could decipher my thoughts, I was interrupted.
    “What are you doing over here?” Tonya asked as she looked over the electrical supplies laid out on the ground. I gave her a look, and then decided I wouldn’t be giving away any of my secrets.
    “I’m going to upgrade our solar power grid,” I replied. She looked around and spotted the solar panels mounted on the roof. I watched as her eyes followed the conduits to a concrete block enclosure on the side of the house.
    “Do you mind if I have a look?” she asked. I shrugged and led her to the enclosure.
    “The enclosure is weatherproof but vented,” I said, pointing at the eaves. “All of the wiring is protected with conduits and the batteries are on a raised platform.” She looked over the set up carefully. I was proud of it, but I saw her frowning.
    “Do you see something wrong?” I asked.
    “It’s not a bad set up, but you have the wrong type of charge controller for these batteries and you need a shunt at this junction,” she replied while pointing at the grid panel. She turned and looked at me questioningly. “How much experience do you have with solar power and electricity, if you don’t mind me asking?”
    I shrugged. “Not much. I’ve read a couple of books.” She nodded in seeming understanding. "It works well enough," I said defensively.
    “Zach, for a novice you’ve done some good work. But, let me tell you something. I have a bachelor’s degree in both electrical and nuclear engineering, along with a master’s and doctorate in nuclear engineering. I’ve written so many treatises on alternative energy it’d make your head spin. You may be incredibly smart, but on my worst day, when it comes to this field of expertise I can run circles around you.”
    “I believe you,” I said simply. I figured the next thing she was going to brag about was that her dick was bigger than mine, and if it were indeed true, Kelly was going to be devastated.
    “So, let’s talk business,” she said. I looked at her quizzically.