The walking dead

Rolling my shoulders, I shrug off the unease and focus on cleaning beer

nding at the end of the bar near an empty seat, refilling bo

e listens. His attention is laser-focused on his friend, that i

those icy eyes narrowing

bar top, glaring at the ketchup t

e slurs from behind me. “

three before spinning around

aring at my apron-covered chest like he can see my nipples.

club sometimes. People come from all around

my friends, and since I graduated last month, I’ve been pulling double shifts trying to save enough to take a few

ou won’t fire me for t

m meant

closer. “Don’t

of here?” Stumbling to the right, he laughs and leans ag

o give you u

my skin and I turn, not sure which

re is staring at me,

boyfriend.” The drunk guy pushes

rs off my body before I

sshole has

go,” I say to the drunk guy, t

ager.” He swings around to

t get a chance. The guy with dark hair slams his palm against the back of the drunk dude’s neck

shout over

he says, jogging

er him, probably to get

ghts in a row. Glancing at the clock, I groa

ing

ks, locking the cash drawer and tu

off my apron, tossing it in the dirty

de, but I need the five-b

a cab, he made the other guys leave. Th

o ruggedly handsome—the slight stubble covering his jawline, the veins popping out on his forearms and his dark blue flannel shirt would

ether, he frowns. “Text m

e back door. No, I’m not checking

since I can’t go for a run. My mind needs a total reset, and

natch a bottle of whiskey

. I promise

ing lot to make sure there’s no one lingering. Lu

nod in my direction, he

nds into my pockets. Dark clouds cover the moon, but there’s e

jerk attempts to take me by surprise. Or at tiny, I wish it would.

pace to make the most of the walk. I get past the main street which runs through the town, turning right on Frisken Road. The

howls. My heart skips, and I run toward the house. It’s half

oser and disti