Free Infected: Die Like Supernovas (The Outlaw Book 2) by Alan Janney

matter of seconds but even across the distance I could hear her sigh.
     
    Chase Jackson’s phone was vibrating when I returned home. I had a text from Katie Lopez.
    >>CHASE!!! I miss you SO much!! I have so many things to tell you but I can’t!!! AUGH!!! Please come visit SOON!!
    Girls are so weird.
    But that. Was. The best thing. Ever!
    I was going back soon. A promise is a promise! Woooooooo!

Chapter Seven
Saturday, January 14. 2018
    A week. A week went by and I was stewing.
    No word from Carter. No clues about PuckDaddy. Silence from Tank. Natalie hadn’t texted. My girlfriend was affectionate but distant. Katie and I kept revolving around each other in a weird, tense, unspoken, hot relationship. She never mentioned the Outlaw visit. My Dad was feeling good. I went to bed early each night and I hadn’t suffered any more migraines.
    All the nothingness that kept happening was driving me crazy. I was boiling over. In the past I always preferred quiet Saturday nights. Tonight I was doing jumping jacks. I was wired. I’d already attended a boring party with Cory and came home. He persisted in going to bed at a hideously early hour. Now I had nothing to do. But I could probably dig up something reckless, if I wanted. Which I did.
    I was contemplating throwing pebbles at my girlfriend’s window or, even better, throwing bricks at Tank’s but thankfully the Outlaw’s phone beeped. It was Lee.
    >> Outlaw!! Your vest is ready!
    I’m on the way.
    Boom!
     
    The motorcycle tore silently across the suburbs on a high-pitched cushion of air. So much speed, so little sound. It’s touchpad display glowed cheerfully. I parked a few blocks away and ran to Lee’s backyard.
    He was waiting, trembling, delirious with excitement. It was just me under the mask. Calm down, Lee. You’re making me feel guilty.
    “Outlaw! You’re here, dude!” he quietly shouted at me.
    “What do you have for me?” I growled, even quieter.
    “Here.” He handed me a heavy gorgeous black vest.
    “It’s NorthFace?”
    “Nothing but the best for you, dude.”
    “NorthFace makes bulletproof vests?” I asked, examining the thick vest. It was a work of art that glistened with zippers and buckles.
    “Basically I bought the nicest ski vest I could find and then modified it. This is made out of bombproof ballistic nylon. I sewed in flexible kevlar plates, but kept all the pockets. I figured, Mr. Outlaw, that this could be like your Bat Belt.”
    I chuckled, staring at the vest in wonder. I loved it.
    “It’s an avalanche-proof vest, but I took out that airbag. I can put it back in if you want.”
    “No. That’s okay,” I replied.
    “I sewed in some elastic around the edges, so it’ll stretch a little bit, for when…you know, when you…get bigger?”
    “When I get bigger?”
    “Right, dude? I’ve seen the video analysis,” he said, unsure of himself, his voice quavering a bit.
    “What analysis?” I asked.
    “I mean…sorry. It’s just, that, on the videos it looks like you get bigger. Taller. …don’t you? Sorry, dude. I thought…”
    “It’s fine. Forget it.”
    “I feel dumb now, dude. Is it supposed to be a secret? Ahhh. My bad, you know?”
    “Lee,” I said quietly. “This vest is perfect. How much do I owe you?”
    To my surprise, he looked deeply offended. “Dude. I made this for you. Actually I made two vests. Now we both have one.”
    “You need a ballistic vest?” I smiled through the mask.
    “I figure,” he stammered a little awkwardly. “I figure that if I keep helping you, I might get shot at too. You know, dude…like we’re….like we’re partners?”
    “Partners,” I grinned.
    “You think Natalie North will like the vest?”
    “Maybe I should go ask her.”
    Back at the motorcycle, I stuffed my black shirt into the storage compartment and zipped on the vest. Perfect fit. Bet I looked super fly too.
    I wasn’t interested in Natalie North romantically. My life was outlandish enough. But her opinion