My heart slammed hard against my rib cage as I slapped my palm to my chest with a gasp. “Jesus, Mom, a little warning, please?”
Mom smiled, her gray bob moving back and forth as she shook her head. “Sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just checking in. I saw you wander out here.”
“I’m fine. Just wanted to get an early start.” I shrugged, leaving the coop as she latched it behind us.
“Tori, we’ve isolated from the start of the apocalypse. We haven’t had outside contact since the internet went out.” She pursed her lips, her light blue eyes that I inherited narrowing at me. “I know it’s lonely.”
I bit down on my bottom lip and nodded. “It is, but we’re safe. Besides, we technically had the radio for the first year and a half.”
She cocked her hip and rested her hand on it. “It went silent after six months, aside from the random warnings of hordes a year ago. All I’m saying is that you’re twenty-six. I know this must be difficult, and I want you to know I’m here for you if you need to talk.”
A pang of loneliness shot through my chest as I plastered on a reassuring smile. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll let you know.”
Letting out a sigh, she nodded. “I love you, Tori. I’m sorry it had to be this way. I couldn’t have imagined you or Spencer would have to go through this.”
Sadness weighed in my gut. I hated that she felt guilty for bringing us into a world that ended in our lifetime. She and Dad had both bounced around the subject, but it was obvious to both me and Spencer that they felt responsible for us having to live in a post-apocalyptic world.
I balanced the metal bin on my hip and gave her a side hug. “I know, but we love you and Dad. We’re so thankful for you guys.”
“Listen, about Daisy and Jay…”
“I’m coping, Mom.Really.The fact that they’re together doesn’t bother me anymore. I mean, it did when it happened, but I’ve come to terms with that. What upsets me more is that I probably won’t find anyone now. I mean, dating was hard before. In the apocalypse? It’s totally hopeless. I mean, there are more dead men walking around than live. I just don’t want to dwell on it.”
She hugged me back tightly before pulling back. “Your dad said he’d be in the barn if you wanted to help milk the cows this morning.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
We walked back to the farm house, and a sigh of relief escaped me at the sight of an empty kitchen.
Mom gave me an understanding glance before smiling at me. “I’ll go wash up and meet you in the barn.”
“Okay.” I placed the new eggs into the larger bin on the countertop near the fridge with a sigh.
Surviving had become routine. Nothing really exciting happened anymore. It made me wonder what other survivors were doing and where they were.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about the state of the world outside of our bubble, but I also knew we were safe here.
“Need help with anything?” Jay’s voice startled me as I whipped around to face him.
He leaned against the fridge with his arms crossed over his chest. Dirty brown locks fell into his eyes as he studied me cautiously.
My heart dropped to my gut.
The man hadn’t spoken to me one-on-one for three entire years. Neither he nor Daisy had apologized to me for their actions.
My brows furrowed together as I shook my head. “Just clean the coop and barn today like usual.“
“Got it.” He stared at me long enough for my skin to crawl under his gaze. “We just want to make sure we’re doing our part.”
“Sure are.”
“Seriously, Tor, you and your parents didn’t have to take us in. We reallydoappreciate it.“
I stiffened at the old nickname both he and Daisy used to call me. “Please don’t call me that. You are both doing your part by keeping the animals’ space clean and helping with harvesting food when needed. Why are you talking to me anyway?”
He let out a long sigh. “Daisy and I were talking last night, and to be honest, she misses you.”
“Shemisses me?”A sarcastic laugh bubbled in my throat, and the years of resentment scorched my veins. “She was my best friend, Jay. Surely you both knew well enough that if you were fucking each other behind my back there wasn’t any going back from that. For either of you.Especiallythe way I found out.”
