A Mistake

The three had dinner together in the campus cafeteria. Zed walked with them back to their dorms. They said bye to Eric at the third floor stop on the elevator where Zed and Addison got off.

Zed walked with Addison to her dorm in silence.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?" Addison asked.

"A little after lunch. I should probably be there early though. I don't think California security is going to be as accepting of zombies," he said.

"Yeah… probably not." She opened her door and saw a note from Sienna.

"Oh, Sienna is out for the night. She is staying at her sister's place," Addie said as she read the note.

"Will you be okay here by yourself?" Zed asked.

Addie shook her head in amusement.

"I'll be fine. Plus Eric is right upstairs. I'll see you in the morning?" she asked.

"Yeah…" Zed replied. He turned to leave but hesitated at the door.

"Zed?" Addie questioned.

"I'm sorry, I have to do this," he said as he turned around sharply. He took long strides to quickly get to her, cupped her face with one hand, and firmly pressed his lips to hers. All this happened in a matter of seconds. Addie jumped in surprise but eventually melted into the kiss. The whole time she was telling herself she shouldn't. The whole time she was telling herself this was cheating on Eric, but her body didn't seem to care. She had forgotten what an amazing kisser he was. Her hands moved up his body, one remaining on his chest and the other pulling his neck to bring him closer.

His hands moved to her waist and then slowly lower to her butt.

That's when Addie pulled away. She held her hand to her mouth and looked down at the ground.

Zed was kicking himself inside. "Addie… I am so sorry. I know you are with Eric. I shouldn't have done that," he apologized.

"Yeah… I am with Eric, Zed…" she echoed.

"I'm sorry. I'll go ahead and leave. Um… if you don't want to pick me up tomorrow to get me to the airport, that's fine… I'll just get an Uber or something," Zed told her as he turned towards the door.

"Zed?"

Zed looked back at Addison and noticed tears in her eyes. "Yes?" he asked.

"I love Eric," she said.

"I know," the zombie replied.

"But, Zed, I love you too," she continued.

"What do you mean?" Zed asked, confusion in his voice.

"I don't know. I just felt like I needed to say that…"

"Okay, well, Addie, I don't think it is a good idea for me to be around you alone too often. I am still going to be here for our son, but being with you… it's too painful still. And I don't want to make it worse by kissing you like that again… Not at all saying that was your fault, I just know that when I am around you I have a harder time controlling myself. I think I'll go ahead and just get an Uber tomorrow," Zed said sadly. He turned and started to leave again.

"Bye, Zed," Addie said behind him.

Zed paused with his hand on the doorknob. He sighed, "Bye, Addie."

And then he left.

Addie slowly sank to her bed. She debated going after him and telling him she was sorry, asking him to stay… But her legs were frozen in place. She looked out her window and saw him walking down the sidewalk towards the road his hotel was on. A few tears fell from her eyes as she watched him leave. Never in her life would she have thought that it would be so hard to see him in person again.

Why had she broken up with him? Because she knew being so far apart for so long would have been unbearable.

But with the new pain she felt as she watched him leave… she started to wonder if she had made the right decision.

She glanced at her phone. "Screw it," she said as she picked it up and tapped the familiar contact.

She chewed on her lip as she waited for the person on the other end to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey… I need you," she said softly.

There was a pause. Then, "On my way."

Addison paced back and forth nervously. It was getting later, the sun had gone down.

There was a soft knock on the door and she nearly jumped to get it. She opened the door and looked into his eyes.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hi. What took so long?" she teased with a smile.

She stepped forward and pulled him into a deep kiss.

"I had to get a few things. You sure you want this?" he asked.

Addison looked into his blue eyes.

"I want you, Eric," she said sincerely.

Eric leaned in and started kissing her passionately. He put his hands on her waist and started guiding her to her bed, gently laying her back and moving over her. His hand slid up under her shirt, roughly handling her breasts. Addie winced a few times but it eventually became pleasurable.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she replied.

His hand slid down her waist and to the button of her pants. Addison bit her lip and watched as his fingers expertly unbuttoned her jeans.