Zombie Games by Kristen Middleton

actually was. He had a strong jawline with a five o’clock shadow and thick dark eyebrows that emphasized the blueness of his eyes. He was definitely good looking, but not the type of perfection that you read about in sappy romance novels. Bryce’s nose was slightly crooked and there was a white scar near his chin cleft. “So, how old are you?”
    He smiled. “Twenty,”
    That wasn’t so bad, although I knew my parents wouldn’t be excited about me dating someone almost old enough to enter a bar.
    His cell chirped and he frowned. “Well, I better let you get home. I’ve got to take this call; it’s probably my mother, again.”
    “Ok. See you around,” I said getting into my truck.
    He turned around and began walking towards his motorcycle.
    I admired his derriere again as I stuck my key into the truck’s ignition. There was a loud click when I turned the key, but unfortunately nothing else. After a couple more attempts to start the engine, Bryce noticed and jogged back over. I rolled my window down.
    “Pop the hood,” he said.
    I obeyed and he began fiddling around with things in the engine.
    “Try it again!” he called from under the hood.
    Again, nothing happened.
    He rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead and looked down again.
    “Okay, now try it!” he yelled again.
    This time it fired right up.
    He smiled and gave me the thumbs up. Closing the hood he walked over to my open window. “I think you might need a new carburetor,” he said, wiping his fingers on his jeans. He had a smudge of grease on his forehead and I smiled, but didn’t tell him.
    “Is it safe to drive?”
    “You should be fine. But let me give you my cell phone number, just in case you have any problems. I’d follow you, but I really need to get home,” he replied just as his cell phone began to ring again. He checked his phone but didn’t answer.
    “Thanks,” I said as he gave me his number.
    “Good thing I was still here. This place is like a ghost town.”
    I glanced around the dark shops and streets. It was totally deserted. “It’s the flu, I bet. Nobody is going anywhere.”
    He nodded. “I know what that’s like. My mom has it too. That’s why she keeps calling me, hounding me to get home.”
    I smiled at him. “Well, then you better go. Thanks again Bryce.”
    He slowly leaned forward and brushed a strand of my hair away from my lips. The smell of leather and his aftershave was intoxicating. I held my breath as he stared into my eyes. “Call me when you get home. So I know you made it, okay?” he asked, his voice husky.
              I knew right then and there, that I’d never met anyone who’d taken my breath away as much as Bryce. “Sure,” I replied softly.
    “Okay, well goodbye again, “Wild One,” he said, turning away.
    I watched as Bryce jogged back over to his motorcycle. He put on his leather jacket and helmet then straddled the bike. He waited until I started moving then followed me for a couple of blocks. When his bike turned away and he was no longer in my rearview mirror, I was already missing him.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    My phone began vibrating as I headed to Kylie and Paige’s to pick-up Allie, which I’d almost forgotten about. I grabbed it out of my pocket and read a text from my mom telling me that school was cancelled for the rest of the week and I didn’t have to pick up my sister since she was staying overnight.
    Nice , I thought. That was one less thing I had to worry about
    I changed directions and started heading home. I noticed most of the roads were completely deserted, which wasn’t as surprising as the fact that many of the fast food restaurants and gas stations I also passed were dark and closed. The flu was destroying profits for many businesses.
    My mom was reading a book in the Man Cave when I got home. “Hi honey,” she said, setting it down on the end table.
    “Hey,” I replied.
    She smiled.