Love and Decay, Episode 10 Read Free Page B

the hall. Hendrix and Vaughan were already engaged in conversation with him.
    “What?” I asked when she didn’t offer any more of an explanation.
    She glanced over at me and repeated herself, “He hated Logan. Hated him. They were rivals all through childhood and high school.”
    “Ok, so what does that have to do with you?” My words were careful and slow. Tyler’s dead boyfriend was a very, very sensitive subject for her and one that I would always treat with the utmost respect- except maybe with that one question.
    “Gage left, right after Logan died. He was one of the only people that actually had my father’s permission; although we still don’t know why my dad let him go. Gage is…. capable. He would have an asset to my father. He’s just good at whatever he does. Which is one of the reasons he and Logan never got along. They were alike in that way.”
“I’m still not understanding,” I pressed.
    Because we were almost caught up to the boys, Tyler said quickly, “He feels guilty. He hated Logan for his whole life, but not in that way- not in the way that wanted him dead. Logan’s death was so…. unexpected I don’t think even Gage knew what think about it. So he just left. He left us all behind and found success somewhere else. I think when he looks at me he feels guilty. He got what Logan wanted, he found freedom, found safety, got away and didn’t have to lose his life in order to do it. He’s living the life Logan should be living.”
    I had a hundred more questions to ask and things I wanted to say to Tyler and her messed up view of even this deranged world we lived in, but we were at Gage’s office door and all three boys were looking at us expectantly.
    “Done telling secrets?” Gage asked suspiciously.
    Oh geez, I really hope he didn’t overhear us. That would be awkward.
    “Yep,” I smiled sweetly.
    “Anything you want to share?” Vaughan pried.
    “Oh you know,” I cleared my throat when Tyler seemed to clam up and turn a deeper shade of red. “Just girl stuff.”
    “Uh, huh,” Hendrix grunted.
    “Should we get started?” I changed the subject.
    Gage swung his body to the side and we all marched into the small space. There was a filing cabinet shoved in one corner covered in candles and a waist high buffet that lined his back wall- also covered in candles. His desk was simple, metal and potentially an antique of the time-capsule-before-the-world-went-to-shit variety. There was no paperwork littering the top- although it seemed like the type that would be- except for one notebook he used to keep a record of everyone staying here. There were two, burnt orange chairs sitting in front of the desk that had been salvaged from the seventies and a fake Fica plant decorating another corner.
    The plastic greenery should have been tacky… but it wasn’t. It reminded me of life.
    And that small symbol that there were still living things in the wake of a Zombie-takeover was a strong reminder to remain one of those living things.
    “What did you decide?” Gage asked pointedly when Tyler and I sat down and Hendrix and Vaughan took their places behind us.
    “We’d like to accept your invitation to stay,” Vaughan answered cautiously. “We can’t promise we’ll make this our permanent home. But we’d like to get off the road for a little bit, figure out our next move.”
    “Do you know how long you’re thinking you’ll stay for now?” Gage’s eyes narrowed with disapproval and his words sounded a little mocking.
    I was instantly on edge.
    “No.” Vaughan apparently didn’t like his tone either by his matching irritation.
    “Well, I need at least some indication of how long you intend to stay. I’m not going to give you units if you’re just going to turn around and leave again. The activity room is for temporary guests, so if that’s what you intend-“
    “Gage,” Tyler cut in. “At least six months, if not a full year. We’re not going to leave tomorrow.