Page 49 of Bitten By Zombie

Outlaw chuckled before stepping down to join her. “You didn’t even ask about Stan.” This apparently pleased him.

“I don’t give two shits about him. Now, can we please go see Shawn?”

“He told you his name?” Outlaw’s voice was impossibly high-pitched with disbelief.

“Yeah, so did everyone else, even you, remember?” The earlier confusion she felt was multiplied.

“Damn, you really are perfect.” He looped his arm through hers, and they proceeded down the stairs. “Listen, remember the fire story we spoke about.”

She nodded. Outlaw had briefed her on their plan of operation for dealing with Stan, her part anyway. A cooking fire, she was attempting to fry chicken. She managed to put it out, but she couldn’t clean the smoke smell or damage, so she called Eureka.

“Good, if asked, you called that into Eureka about four or five days ago. You can’t remember exactly. If asked, you can check and get back to them with exact dates, okay?”

Again, she nodded. Most of this they’d already discussed.

“You’ve been staying with us while we restored the damage because you and Zombie are going steady.” His voice added the last bit in a high schoolesque tone. “Yada, yada, and earlier today, Santa volunteered to grab some things for you since Eureka won’t let you in because chemicals. Then you came to the hospital to visit your dear friend, Sherry.”

A laugh escaped her mouth, and she covered it with her hand. “Do I have to say that part?”

“Nah, I’m just messing with you, sis. Improvise how you need, just stick to fire, staying with us, Santa clothes, and you were here when he arrived.”

He reached to open the door to exit the stairwell and paused.

“What did Sherry say earlier to upset you so much? You know her and Zombie aren’t a thing, never have been, never will be.”

His eyes held the kind of affection she now realized should’ve been in Stan’s eyes when he looked at her. She placed her palm on his cheek. “Nothing, really.”

She wasn’t about to whine about his president to him. She wanted to tell him, but that wouldn’t be right. He might tell Zombie before Sherry could and as much as she hated the woman, she wouldn’t do that. They deserved a chance without her interference.

“She just shared some information about her…condition. I don’t think Zombie and her are as finished as he thinks, but that’s not my business.”

Dropping her hand, she opened the door herself and stepped through. She heard Outlaw mumble something about none of her business his ass but ignored it. She was done talking about Sherry.

D. O. N. E. Done.

The first person in scrubs who walked past her, she accosted. “Excuse me. Shawn Cooper?” When the nurse eyed her, she elaborated. “I’m his sister.”

Before the lady could answer or deny her request, she heard Santa’s voice float through the curtain to her right.

“In here, sis.” Giving the nurse a tight smile, she turned and followed the sound of his voice. When she drew back the curtain, he was alone. She rushed to his side with Outlaw hot on her heels.

“Sister, huh?” Santa’s voice was playfully seductive. “I would’ve preferred lover, but oh well, I’m always a day late and a dollar short.”

Outlaw cleared his throat as the doctor made an appearance. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting outside, I need to speak with Mr. Cooper.”

“They can stay,” Santa protested.

“Fine, I’ll send someone in to stitch you up and the police would like to speak with you. It’s up to you what—”

“Send in the pigs, my lawyer’s right there, the stitches can wait.”

The doctor looked like he wanted to protest but thought better of it.

The officers entered, and Heidi recognized one. He was a closeted EC member. His eyes widened when he saw her, but he said nothing and let the other officer take the lead.

They asked her to leave, but Outlaw, in his best lawyer voice, denied their request. It felt like forever before they asked the question that got to how Santa got shot.

“Well, Heidi was staying with us since the fire, like I said, and she asked for some things from her apartment. But instead of going there, I went to talk to her brother instead.”

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