Beth reluctantly led TJ back to the base, the entire time thinking what a bad idea it was. She felt that even more keenly when he laughed at it.
“This isn’t going to cut it.” He shook his head and gave her a look that made her want to claw his eyes out.
“It doesn’t have to cut it. Remember? I’m done,” Beth snapped, shooting him a glare that had made plenty of people speechless.
She’d just go back to her life, back to the Tasty Treat, though she’d probably take some time off. She was breaking their agreement, so she had no idea how much he’d actually pay her, but she couldn’t worry about it now. She’d made enough at least to cover her back rent and get the keys to the new lock on her apartment.
Beth didn’t relish the idea of going back to stealing cereal from Celeste, filling up the milk with water and hoping she wouldn’t notice. Mooching off of her for everything. It was what her mama would’ve done, and Beth desperately didn’t want to turn into her mama.
“What are these pillars for, anyway?” TJ asked with a head-jerk toward them.
Beth pointed at the grates above his head. “I can kill zombies below without being in reach.”
One of TJ’s eyebrows twitched up. “In the later stages of the game, they jump. This won’t stop them.”
Beth shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I keep telling you, but you don’t seem to be listening. I’m done.”
TJ climbed the ladder and stopped at Maverick’s prone form, slumped in the corner. Beth climbed behind him, irritated he wasn’t in a hurry to wake her up. This is a dream. Wake up! Wake up, she kept telling her body.
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TJ perched on the edge of the storage box Maverick had built her. “What’s it gonna take to get you to stay?”
She didn’t want to admit how dire her financial situation was. TJ, she was certain, already knew. That was why he was using money to try to get her to stay. Money was the key to Beth’s heart. Or, at least her willingness to do stupid things.
Beth swallowed, reminded that her mama would have done anything for money. “I don’t think you can.”
TJ stood then, and walked toward her. No‚ walked was the wrong word. He stalked her, like a predator stalks its prey. His chin down, his lip quirked, his hungry eyes narrowed.
Beth had seen that expression on a man’s face before. She knew what it preceded.
Once, as a teenager, one of her mama’s boyfriends, Jerry, had cozied up to her and said all the right things. Beth had been young, and flattered by his attention. He seemed interested in her life, asking her about boys she had a crush on, and school. It was a month in the making, and her mama had encouraged their relationship. Mama said that it warmed her heart that Beth was trying to get to know her boyfriend. Then one night, he looked at her just like TJ was looking at her now. Like a snack. Beth was ashamed that she hadn’t seen it coming. Hadn’t seen how he’d slowly tried to gain her trust.
It was exactly what TJ was trying to do. Different tactics, poking holes, searching for her weakness. Well, after that night, it wasn’t men.
It’s just a game, she justified, as TJ drew nearer. He stopped in her personal space, his breath hot on her cheek. “I’ll do anything.”
He sounded like he was trying to be sexy, his voice a little growly.
“Anything.” He drew out the word, giving it more syllables than it needed. The innuendo was clear. He was offering her whatever she wanted. Even himself.
When he lifted his hand and trailed it down her cheek, she swore she could feel it. When his fingers slid over her jaw and down her neck, she repressed a shudder. Her back was to the wall, she had nowhere to go.
As his touch brushed past her collarbone and toward her breasts, she grabbed his wrist.
“Stop.”
His other hand pushed the jacket from her shoulder. “C’mon, Beth.”
She drew her gun. It’s just a game. And she shot him under the chin, exactly like she’d shot the zombie.