In the near future, a deadly flu-like virus decimates the Earth's population. The few who remain struggle to survive without electricity, fresh food, or any other amenities they once took for granted. John “Court” Courtland and his best friend Ronnie Densch are two such survivors. Court has never known a time when Ronnie wasn't in his life. They grew up together. But it's only as they begin to move forward in the post-apocalyptic chaos of Virginia that Court realizes he's in love with Ronnie. Always has been, and always will be, even if he never lets himself admit it out loud. Ronnie is a private, inscrutable man who lets no one close to him except Court. With winter coming on, Ronnie wants to move farther south to warmer weather, and Court follows without question. Along the way, they're joined by other survivors, a ragtag bunch all looking for guidance. As they travel, they hear faint radio signals from Fort Sumter, South Carolina, where a rebuild effort is underway. The world Court once knew has changed, leaving behind a dangerous and lawless landscape. But come whatever storms, he knows he can weather them with Ronnie by his side. Will Sumter turn out to be everything Court hopes for and more? And will he find the courage to tell Ronnie how he really feels before it’s too late?

Come Whatever Storms

Though he drew the line at killing chickens. Bree was good at that—let Ronnie take herwhen they wanted more meat.


Sitting just inside their tent, Court watched Ronnie pull some things from the messenger bag he had never seen before. A pair of threadbare bath towels in a bright teal that looked so normal, it hurt his heart. A pair of jeans—”For me?” Court asked when Ronnie laid them across his lap. He checked the tags; they were his size, and would replace the pair that had been bloodied and torn when he was shot. He still wore those, for the moment, because they exposed the bandage for Adam to check frequently, but he couldn’t wait for the day he could ditch them and keep bothlegs warm at the same time.


Ronnie also pulled out a bottle of baby shampoo, and damn, one of those loofah things Court had mentioned. It was pink and girly and looked so out of place against Ronnie’s battered knuckles, Court had to laugh. “What the hell’s all this?”


Chapter 56