Read The Last World for Free Online

came to a stop in front of Janice’s apartment house. The ride had proven to be good for Steve. “Behave yourself, bud. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
    Horace smiled . “Good thing for me that’s a short list.”
    Laughter burst from Steve . “You got that right. Call me later.”
    Horace closed the door and raised his hand in a farewell salute. He doubted Steve noticed , because he tore off down the street doing sixty. Good old Steve.
    During the ten minute drive from the hospital, Horace witnessed one of the things that made Stephen Drake such a good man and friend : his strength of character. Life wasn’t easy, but his friend bounced back from any impending hazard stronger than he was before. Where ever he got it, Horace knew Steve would need it for when he got home.
    “About time you showed up.”
    And now it was time to turn his attention to better, more enjoyable things. He turned to see Janice standing a few feet away trying to look upset.
    Janice ran from the second floor apartment when she saw them pull up in Steve’s F-150. Trying to even her breathing, she focused on being the “mean” girlfriend. “I can’t wait to hear this excuse.”
    Horace made a point to look at his watch… ten minutes early. “You’re right. The only excuse I have is my watch stopped.”
    “Asshole.” The curse came out with a mouthful of laughter as she hurried over and kissed him. When they separated, she couldn’t have stopped smiling to save her life. “I like it when you’re early.”
    “So do I.” He held her with his hands resting on her hips. Nothing could’ve felt more real to him than that moment they shared.
    They stood there for a minute or two looking in each other’s eyes before Janice led him toward her apartment and the waiting dinner. When he stepped through the door, he couldn‘t help but smile. Waiting for them was a microwave lasagna dinner and buttered bread he assumed she put garlic salt on. After growing up on good, home-cooked meals, he wondered if he was looking at his future.
    “What’s so funny?” She caught the amused look in his eyes.
    Horace shrugged, there wasn’t anything more he could do. “I didn’t expect it to be so elaborate.”
    Janice watched him for a few seconds before she caught on. “You don’t think I can cook. You expected take out.” She glared at him, daring Horace to say something.
    The look on her face was priceless and he forgot any lingering thoughts or concerns from earlier that day. “Or sandwiches. OW!” He rubbed his shoulder where she punched him. She didn’t have a bad punch for only being a buck twenty-five.
    “There anything else you want to say?”
    A bark saved Horace from the wiseass remark he planned on using. Off to the side and locked in the narrow hallway with his newspapers and toys, was Buster. “Hey, Buster! How you doing, boy?” Horace went over and knelt in front of the child gate and rubbed the puppy’s ears. Propped against the gate, Buster rested his chin on the gate’s top, eating up the attention.
    Horace noticed the gate for the first time. “When did you do this? I didn’t see it before.”
    Janice smiled as she stood leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. “Mr. Stevens installed it for me yesterday. I only use it like now, when I was leaving the food to see you. It’s not permanent.”
    I’d hope so , he thought. In another month, maybe two, Buster would be able to jump over the gate without a second’s thought. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that, but he thought she already knew. “So, we’re letting him out?”
    Janice shrugged. “That’s the plan.”
    Buster seemed to know what they were planning, so he tried to help Horace with the latch. His tongue and saliva only made the latch slippery and harder to undo, but Horace succeeded after a couple of tries.
     
    *****
     
    As he suspected, the buttered bread had been sprinkled with garlic salt. While not the most artistic in nature, the