The Badass Protector

Iris

“HOLY CRAP!” Lois gushed. “Look what you have there.”

“I did the same as Dr. Hull’s by cutting empty bottled waters in half, poking tiny holes, and filling them with soil,” I said enthusiastically.

Not in a million years would I have thought of cultivating flowers or plants, yet here I was. I felt it was a huge fulfillment on my part to see the tomato and cucumber sprouts grow in my care.

“This is amazing, Iris.”

“You never know until you try, right? Dr. Hull called these cute sprouts Vivipary in Latin. It means live birth.”

“I wish I’m good at something like you. Teaching history isn’t anything useful anymore. What you do is fulfilling.” She sat beside me in front of around thirty sprouts.

“Yes, it is. Don’t worry. You will teach again, Lois.”

“I hope so. What are they?”

“The hairy ones are tomatoes, and those oval shapes are the cucumber. After a few days, I can transfer them to the ground like those ones.” I pointed at the fruiting tomatoes. “I need seeds, though, like carrots, lettuce, spinach, and maybe bush beans.”

“Let me check the map to see if we can find a shop near the camp. I’m pretty sure they’d already been there to scavenge. After what happened, I don’t suggest much of going with them unless they ask me to. I can’t keep them watching my back whenever I go with them. Instead of searching for supply, they have to look after me.”

“Can we sneak out? If ever we find a shop,” I suggested.

Her eyes widened at my suggestion. Clearly, Lois never broke the law. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. You know how important it is for Colt and Gael that we should stick to the rules. It’s for our own safety.”

“They won’t know unless you’ll tell.” I never thought of going out for the past few weeks, but it didn’t hurt to try for everyone’s benefit.

She hesitated, “We’ll see, but you know how dangerous it is out there.”

“Yeah. We can ask Darick to come with us. What do you think?” I insisted.

“I’ll think about it.”

“I know you’re not a rule-breaker, Lois. I can’t put your life at stake because of some seeds. That’s why we’ll ask Darick to come with us.”

“I don’t have a problem coming with you if they permit us. Anyway, have you seen Cora?”

My brows furrowed. “No. Why?”

“Cora could also be sneaking out at night. She didn’t join us anymore. She said she’d better spend time in her room than with us.”

“Typical Cora and she hates me.”

“She hates everyone has a vagina.” She rolled her eyes in disgust.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Seriously? Greedy much.”

“Clingy.”

“So, her and Colt, huh? So I heard.”

“What?” She blinked. “A quickie, maybe, but a relationship? I don’t think Colt has time for that, especially with her.”

Ouch.

I could feel my chest tighten, and it came from Lois. I might have expected too much that maybe Colt thought the same way as I was.

I wanted to berate myself for having a huge crush on him because Lois might be right that Colt was not interested in a relationship.

I’m such an idiot.

“How long have you known Colton? I mean Colt.”

“You keep calling him that.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Yeah, a bad habit.”

“He doesn’t seem to mind, though. We’re on the same flight back to LA. When we landed at the airport, it was under an emergency shutdown. That’s how I met them. We sneaked out together, and since then, I’ve been stuck with them where ever they went.”

“How about Colton?”

“So bad you didn’t get a chance to meet him. He was funny and clever, just like Colt. Colt is a serious type, though. His thing is to lead and protect, while Colton is more of a plan-type guy. He was our brain until we bumped into Gael’s group.”

“I could see it.”

She let out a sigh. “I’ve never seen anyone as close as them. They were so adorable. That’s why Colt almost lost his mind when Colton died. We were all worried about him. He never came out of his cabin for days, if not sitting on his brother’s grave. Then one day, he just came out of the blue and joined us for lunch. Everyone’s jaw dropped, and the silence was overwhelming as we just stared at him in shock. And I swear that day was the brightest day of our lives.” Lois laughed, eyes filled with warmth. “We love that dude so much.”

“Could imagine that,” I agreed.

“But damn, they look hot.”

I smiled, and Lois smiled wickedly.

“Girls!” Frost called out, making us freeze. He was walking toward us, wearing the biggest grin on his face. Colt appeared, and my world seemed to slow down. They were geared up and about to go somewhere.

“‘sup, Templeton?” I asked.

“Damn! You know what?” He smirked. “I kinda like my name on your tongue. It’s sexy and better than oysters.”

I knew he was just messing with me, so I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, Templeton? Is that your new pick-up line?”

“You’re full of shit. Get your head out of your ass.” Colt hit him in the head.

My heart thundered just by hearing his voice.

Damn it! He always looked good and even better every day, but maybe it never crossed his mind to shave his growing beard.

I thought of Tom Hardy, and he was also hot. It suited Colt, but it wouldn’t kill him to trim, at least.

You just want to see how he looks without facial hair, Iris. Damn right.

“Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same, Colt. I mean, even just a teeny tiny change of waves in your heartbeat when she calls you-”

“No.” Well, that was fast.

“Liar,” Frost muttered, still grinning. “Now, who’s full of shit? Shove that to your ass because you can’t fool me when it’s clearer than the sky, Officer Snow,” he snickered.

“Just shut up. You, yourself, didn’t come from a romance novel,” Colt snickered back.

“Damn right, but I never deny if it’s true,” Frost admitted.

“What’s up with the two of you?” Lois interjected.

“Hunting,” Colt answered shortly.

“Well, there’s nothing to hunt in my garden.” I rolled my eyes.

Frost barked out a laugh and was even holding his stomach. “I’m so into you right now, Iris.”

Lois snapped her fingers at him. “Hey, I hate to burst your bubble, but you’re out of her league, dude.”

“Ouch.” His face was still red, and he was wiping his tears. “Do you think I’m not aware of that? But may I remind you, Heloisa, I was the first to see her, remember? And she’s supposed to be mine. I was just thinking, you know.” He shrugged. “If it won’t work out for them, then I’m always right here waiting for her, right, Iris?”

My eyes widened. “Supposed to be mine, your ass, Templeton. And work out with who exactly?”

“Frost, time to go.” Colt slapped Frost’s back hard enough that knock the air out of his lungs.

Frost winced. “That hurts, man.”

“You two won’t sneak out of this camp, understand?” He pointed his finger at us as a warning.

“What made you think we will?” Lois asked him innocently.

“Maybe you two are planning something.” Without a doubt, we are.

“Can we join you instead?” I proposed.

“No. It’s too dangerous out there.”

I stood up and rolled my eyes. “We’re aware of that, and we can protect ourselves.”

“The answer is still no.” Fire lit in his eyes-no hesitation-no regret.

“I’ll talk to Gael because Lois and I are coming with you.”

“I like a feisty woman, Iris,” Frost interrupted us.

“Shut up, Frost,” we scolded him, making him laugh again.

“Just focus on your garden, Iris.”

“You’re damn impossible! You’re sexist.”God, he’s infuriating! I stomped out from them.

My stomach quivered, feeling useless as Colt always had planned for everything before I could even suggest it. And when he says no, it means no unless it’s an order from Gael.

“Iris, wait!”