A Mad Zombie Party, стр. 23

I read the text to her. “Cole says knock, knock.”

“That’s it?”

I nod and set the phone aside.

“Well. Aren’t you going to respond to him?”

“Later.” My phone beeps again. “Knock, knock,” I read.

“Frosty,” Kat says on another sigh.

Fine. I type, Who’s there?

Cole: Me. I’m @ UR door. Open up.

Knock, knock.

The noise actually comes from my front door. My gaze lands on Camilla, and she stands, her body tense.

“I know you’re in there,” Cole calls through the wood. “I’m not leaving.”

Kat smiles at me with a mix of affection and sadness. “He’s got a proposition for you. You’ll want to say no, but I expect you to suck it up and say yes.” A second later, she’s gone.

Thank God for distractions. I wasn’t sure how much more Slayer and Ghost: A Love Story I could take. And okay. All right. Part of my irritation stems from my fascination. Frosty used to transform from caterpillar to butterfly every time Kat visited. His features would freaking glow. He would laugh and joke. Today, however, not even Kat is able to cheer him up. He’s as sullen and snappy with her as he is with me. Why?

Has he finally given up on her?

Do I want him to?

Well, I’m not gonna think about it right now. We have a visitor. Hopefully he’ll stay awhile, and I won’t have to spend the evening worrying about the coming nightmare. And it will come. I have one every night now, no exceptions.

I palm a dagger? just in case Cole’s here under duress, and move in front of Frosty to open the door.

Nope. No one has a gun to Cole’s head. My weapon goes back into its sheath.

The beautiful Cole is not alone, however. Ali and Gavin flank him, both giants compared to me.

Cole and Ali nod at me. Gavin wiggles his brows.

“I can answer my own door, thanks.” Frosty comes up beside me.

“You can, but you won’t.”

He glares at me before focusing on his friends. “What’s up?”

“My blood pressure if you don’t let me in.” Ali pushes her way past us.

Cole follows suit. “Love, Justin, Jaclyn and River are on patrol with some of our new recruits.”

Love. Mackenzie Love, Cole’s ex. And Justin Silverstone. About a year ago, Justin betrayed Cole’s team and aided Anima, believing their “we make the world a better place” propaganda. When the company abducted and tortured his sister, Jaclyn, all in an effort to force him to do more, to do worse to the friends he once fought alongside, he flipped sides once again. And yes, he had to go to great lengths to earn back their trust, but in the end, he succeeded.

I can’t hope for the same. Once bonded, always bonded with this group, and I’ve never had the luxury.

“So...River’s in town,” I say. He’s out there. He’s hunting zombies, teaching newbies, living his life without me. “He’s okay?”

Ali’s features soften. “Yeah. He’s fine.”

Recruiting is something my group has always done, but this is a first for Cole. Trust issues, I guess. But now that Anima has been defeated, he must be willing to try new things, to help kids who have no idea they’re slayers; they just know they’re different.

“No zombies have emerged in weeks and no one has seen a rabbit cloud in the sky,” Cole says.

I’d heard Ali’s sister, Emma, somehow shapes a cloud to look like a rabbit whenever she sees zombies stirring in their nests. A warning. Kinda like riding into town on a pony, shouting, “The undead are coming! The undead are coming!” But I don’t rely on that cloud like these guys. Emma can see a lot, I’m sure, but she can’t see everything. I think Frosty agrees with me, otherwise he’d have stayed home the past few rabbit-cloudless weeks.

“We’re on call, just in case,” Cole adds, “so there won’t be any drinking. But. Yeah. I said but. We’re going to Hearts and hanging out like we used to. You’re coming.”

“A night off? No.” Frosty shakes his head.

“Why? You got a hot date with a zombie?” Ali scans him from head to toe. “Seriously. I’m not just using the best pickup line ever when I say you look good enough to eat.”

Cole cracks his knuckles. “I hope you’re happy, Ali-gator. Now I have to kill my best friend.”

“Don’t be hatin’.” Frosty brushes an invisible piece of lint from his shoulder. “She can’t help her crush on me. No one can.”

If only a snort would be appropriate. Problem is, he does look good enough to eat in a black T-shirt and roughed-up denims and girls can’t help their crush on him.

“My answer is still no,” Frosty adds.

“Don’t listen to him. We’d love to join you for a night out.” I need to escape this apartment, like, yesterday. And whether Frosty knows it or not, he could use some time away, too. Hanging out with a dead ex-girlfriend can’t be all that great for his mental heath.

He latches on to my wrist. This is the first time he’s ever purposely, willingly touched me, and the contact is electric, startling me. Suddenly, my skin burns and tingles. I don’t understand such a physical reaction, but maybe he feels it, too; he lets me go as if I’m leaking toxic waste.

“We’re hunting, as usual,” he says.

“Wrong. You heard your friends. We’ll be told if any zombies are found.” I push him into the hall, and the others follow him out. I shut and lock the door. “I can’t take any more of your man-pouting. Kat’s dead, but guess what? You’re not. Why don’t you at least pretend to be alive.”

Ali actually gasps. As if she isn’t always that blunt. Gavin gives me the stink eye, like I’ve just skinned his favorite cat. They can suck it. I’ve spent the last three weeks with Frosty, living in his lair, watching his every move. Subtlety always flies right over his head.

“I don’t need to pretend,” he grits. “I know I’m alive.”

“Great. Now prove it.”

“Oh, I’ll prove it all right.” He stomps down the hall.

Like him, I’m already dressed for the occasion in an ice-blue cami, skinny jeans and knee-high boots to better hide my knives. Part of my “always be prepared for anything” plan.

The group crams into Cole’s Jeep. Gavin takes the backseat with Ali and me, putting Frosty in front with Cole. That doesn’t stop my charge from glaring at me over his shoulder numerous times, blaming me for his current whereabouts.

“Bad moods are contagious. Lighten up.” Ali leans forward to pat the top of his head.

“Make me,” he mumbles like a child. He stares out the window, at the pine trees, giant boulders and hills illuminated by streetlamps. “FYI, if a stranger says the wrong thing to me, I’ll be arrested for assault. Anyone have bail money?”

“Sorry, bro, but I only have enough for myself.” Gavin pats the wallet in his pocket. “Have a feeling I’m gonna need it.”

While he’s talking, I stealthily palm the wallet—without his knowledge—remove the cash and return the empty container to its place.

“I’ll bail you out,” I tell Frosty.

The car goes silent. Crickets might as well chirp. What’d I say this time?

“Thanks,” he finally mutters.

“Well, I’ll leave you both behind bars to rot—and learn a valuable lesson,” Ali says.

Cole squeezes her thigh. “I’m sure I’ll be sitting right beside them.”

“Hopefully learning the same valuable lesson.” Ali nudges my shoulder. “Have you been sticking to Frosty’s side?”

“Yes, Mom. I have.”

“What about those bathroom breaks you wanted?”

Frosty twists in the seat, his gaze sparkling. “Did she tell you to follow me into the men’s crapper, as if someone will dare attack me while I’m doing my business?”

He’s looking at me with humor. Not hatred. Not disgust. And he’s never looked more gorgeous. What kind of miracle is this? “Yeah. But don’t worry. I’ve settled for listening at the door.”