Page 16 of Zomromcom
“They won’t give up.” He kept looking down at the water and then back at her, his grim expression carving deep lines on his misleadingly youthful face. “Not unless they spot alternative prey or get attacked by someone else. Neither of which may happen soon enough.”
Various scenarios played out in her imagination, flashes of chaos and death. “I don’t think you can work up enough speed to make it over the bridge’s barrier rail.”
Funny how the SUV crashing into the water, a prospect that had terrified her only minutes before, was now the best of all possible options, and even that wasn’t feasible. She’d laugh if she weren’t too busy trying not to hyperventilate.
“Agreed.” He suddenly straightened. “But what if I got us right next to it?”
She turned to him, following his train of thought without difficulty.
“We can open the windows on that side only and jump into the water from there.” Assuming she could squeeze through the opening.
It was going to be a tight fit despite the generous window size.
“Making it to the barrier rail won’t be easy.
Even if we somehow manage to get right up against it, zombies will be trying to reach us from the roof and every other side.
But…it’s still our best chance of survival. ”
“Agreed.”
The roof kept caving inward, millimeter by millimeter, and she couldn’t imagine the pressure that would require. “Can you even move the car with all their weight on it?”
“I suppose we’ll find out.” His eyes, now black with emotion, met hers as he spoke loudly enough to drown out the cacophony surrounding them.
“I’ll open the windows as soon as we’re up against the barrier rail.
Jump as far out from the bridge as possible.
The water’s going to be cold and dark, but the air in your lungs will float you toward the surface. Don’t panic.”
A loud cracking noise made her start, and she swung to look at the rear window.
His cool hands clasped her face, bringing her attention back to him. “Listen to me, Edie. Focus on your own survival. Don’t waste your breath looking for me. I’ll find you.”
She clicked her tongue. “Bossy, bossy.”
Before she could think twice, with a swarm of zombies watching and trying desperately to reach them and kill them both, she lurched forward the necessary distance to press a kiss to his cheek.
It was stubbly and chilly, and she wanted to lick it for some reason, but she settled back into her seat instead.
He stared at her, unblinking.
“For luck,” she explained. And because I’m probably not going to live through this. I want something warm and bright to remember as I sink into darkness .
“Right.” After a moment, he gently drew her head forward again and nuzzled against her temple, brushing his lips over the thin, sensitive skin there. “For luck, sweet Edie.”
Everything around her disappeared. Everything but him.
His gaze was intent on hers, and she mustered a shaky smile for him. His thumb lightly swept away the lone tear she hadn’t managed to blink back before he let her go with a silent sigh and turned to face forward again.
Without another word, she unbuckled her seat belt, hunched over, and moved into the seat directly behind his.
Kneeling on the leather, she swiftly considered her options.
Her sneakers would hinder her swimming and weigh her down.
If she and Max survived this desperate gambit, though, they’d probably need to run after they reached shore.
She wouldn’t get far on bare feet, so her shoes were staying put.
She did remove her cross-body purse, however, after tucking her smaller sheathed knife safely into the cup of her bra.
She also resigned herself to leaving her duffel and its delicious contents behind.
Between swimming for her life in freezing water while fully clothed and fighting off zombies, she’d have neither the energy nor a free hand to wrestle with a large, heavy bag.
Max, on the other hand, slid his arms through the straps of his enormous backpack and fastened several clips across his chest to hold it in place.
She shook her head. “Show-off.”
He snorted, craning his neck to see past the mass of moving bodies blocking his view of the bridge and its barrier rails. “Ready, dude?”
At the triumphant return of his Chad drawl, she had to laugh. “Ready.”
He sucked in a long, hard breath, and she followed suit.
“If you die, human, I will fucking throttle you,” he said to the windshield.
Then he slammed his fist on the car horn without warning.
A good number of the zombies instinctively jumped back from the sudden, inexplicable, ear-splitting noise, and as soon as they did, he stomped on the gas and barreled through several creatures to reach the side of the bridge.
When the SUV halted again, she was pretty sure more bodies lay crushed beneath its tires, but she couldn’t let herself think about it.
She and Max were as close to the water as they could get.
The windows rolled down, and grunts and shrieks of pain and rage and effort filled her ears as she lunged forward and began her escape.
“Get out!” he shouted, and Edie did.