Half Dead World: Book One from the Apocalypse Tales by Adrienne Hargrove (little readers txt) 📗

“I think you and Fin would be great together! He is quiet and mysterious, you’re happy and energetic. You would totally smooth out his rough edges.”

“We’ll see, but we can discuss the merits of Finley Malone tomorrow. Right now, you need to get out of my car so you can get ready for your date with Jackson.”

“Do you want to come in, and help me get ready?”

“Sorry I can’t. The church is meeting tonight to vote on where our next mission trip is going to be.”

“Okay have fun. I’ll call you as soon as I get back home tonight and tell you how it went.”

“You better, and I expect details so commit everything to memory.”

I smile, give an affirmative head nod, then turn to go into my house and start my mental checklist. Okay, I’ve got two and a half hours. First, I need call dad and let him know I need a ride. Then I need to shower, and change, do hair and make-up. Hmm maybe I should eat a snack, so I don’t eat like a pig, yeah probably.

Twenty minutes later, after a quick conversation with my dad, and a snack, I hop in the shower. He was really cool about bringing me to Jackson’s. He said that it would work out perfectly. He has been, wanting to take mom to the new Vietnamese restaurant in town, The Pho Bowl. So, they can drop me off, have their date night and come get me after. I concentrate while shaving my excessively hairy legs. Normally I would not let them get this bad, but I have been wearing jeans and rain boots every day for two weeks. So, I have been letting my inner Amazon woman rule. Once out of the shower, I dry and curl my shoulder length light brown hair. Even though I know it’s not likely to stand up to the rain or humidity. Whichever weather event happens tonight, it will be a disaster for my hair regardless. But If I look good when I leave the house, I will be more confident. Heavy makeup is not a good look for me. So, I put on some eyeliner and mascara to bring out my amber eyes. Followed by a little bronzer on my cheekbones and some sheer pink lip gloss. I can’t help but smile when I slip on the new dress, I got for my eighteenth birthday, a couple months ago. I haven’t been able to wear it because the weather has been so crappy. Well, tonight I am not letting nature defeat fashion! This dress is perfect for me. The white body con dress hits me a little above mid-thigh and combined with the heel on my roman sandals, makes me look a little taller and leaner. For someone who is five foot three, looking taller and leaner isn’t an everyday occurrence. After two hours of grooming and viewing myself from every angle I come downstairs at a quarter to six to find my parents ready and waiting in the den. My dad grumbles something I can’t hear, and my mom elbows him. She walks over to me smiling with my dad trailing behind her. “You look beautiful Haven.”

“A little too beautiful.” My dad says trying to hide his frown as he kisses my forehead.

I just laugh and ask. “Is there such a thing?”

“Yes.” He says emphatically.

My mom just smiles and shakes her head. “Well, we better get going while the rain has stopped.”

Dad grabs my mom’s hand and kisses it. “Your chariot awaits my queen.”

I stop the eww from coming out verbally but can’t quite hide the expression from my face.

Dad just chuckles and reaches out his other hand to usher me out the door. “You’ll understand one day, my princess.”

“Oh, I understand, it’s just disturbing for anyone to have to witness their parents being lovey-dovey.”

My mom puts her hand on my cheek and smiles. “Haven, I know that one day you’re going to find a boy who loves you as much as your dad loves me.”

My dad, who is clearly not comfortable with this scenario, chimes in. “With any luck, none of that will be happening tonight.”

I really try to suppress it, but a slight groan still escapes. I look up to see my mom trying to hide her grin. Thankfully, Jackson’s house is only a ten-minute drive down the highway and then another five minutes down a forestry road. He lives out in the middle of the woods like Fin; except Fin lives in a tiny old beat-up trailer and Jackson’s house looks like something out of a magazine. Like an English country estate in Hertfordshire or Staffordshire or I don’t know where, but definitely some kind of shire. It’s huge and beautiful, three stories with giant white pillars holding up the front portico. A pair of enormous live oaks stand sentinel on each side of the driveway at both the entrance and the exit. They seem like ancient warriors standing guard over the house. The car tires crunch along over the crushed oyster shell of the circular drive, and I can feel my palms get clammy as my nerves finally set in. I am excited, for sure, but this is dinner with Jackson and his whole family. I really want to make a good impression because from what I can tell he seems really close with his family. My mom breaks into my nervous thoughts.

“Ava has really done a lovely job on the grounds; the landscaping is stunning.”

“Wait! You know Jackson’s mom?”

“Of course, I do dear, and, if you came to bible study with us once in a while, you would know her also.”

“His parents belong to the same bible group as you and dad?”

“Actually, the whole family is part of the group: Ava, Thomas, Jackson, even their youngest boy Wilder attends. Let’s see, next Sunday’s