Tori popped up beside me and inhaled deeply. “Oh my God, this smells so good. It’s been forever since I’ve had venison. We never hunted because we had rabbit and cow meat, which wasgreat, but deer meat is so good.” She glanced at me and Ava with a bright smile. “Thanks for cooking.”
“Thanks for prepping.” Ava waved her hand toward the metal table under the tree where they’d prepped the deer.
“More than happy to help!”
Everyone ended up gathered around the fire, plates full of deer meat and pickled vegetables as we talked amongst each other.
“Are you staying with the guys tonight?” Spencer asked after swallowing a bite.
“Yes.” Her cheeks were pink from the cold, but they seemed to turn an even darker shade.
“Of course you are,” Daisy muttered.
“Yeah. Of course I’m going to stay with my boyfriends.How terrible,”Tori remarked, shoving the last bite of food in her mouth with an eye roll.
I pressed my shoulder against hers, and she leaned into me with a sigh.
Dropping my lips to her ear, I whispered, “Are you okay?”
She turned her head and smiled at me, her face so close to mine it sent chills down my spine. “I’m fine.”
The rest of dinner was uneventful. Bane had been relatively silent for the most part, and we didn’t have any more stragglers come through.
Micah and Charles cleaned the dishes, and by the time they’d finished, the sun dipped below the trees, bringing a blanket of frigid air upon us.
The flames of the fire ceased, and smoke plumed from what was left of the wood.
“You should plan to leave at sunrise tomorrow morning,” Benjamin said, glancing around the clearing. “Who is going to the ranch?”
“Our family,” Tom stated. “Anyone else is welcome.”
“We’re going,” Micah pointed to him and Nathan.
“I’ll come,” I said, and the group snapped their gazes my way.
“Are you sure?” Tori tilted her head, brows raising in concern. “You don’t have to.”
“I go on scavenging missions sometimes.” I shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”
I wanted to see where she grew up, and it made me sick to think about her not making it back.
“Anyone else?” Benjamin let out visible breaths.
“I can come and help carry some things,” Charles offered, scratching the top of his head.
“No need.” Micah shook his head. “We need people to stay back too, and I’m sure you don’t want to leave your wife.”
He nodded, a grateful smile taking over his face. “Thanks.”
“You havetwohusbands?” Daisy gasped at Ava, and everyone shifted on their feet.
“Yes.” Ava smiled, glancing between her husbands with loving eyes. “We actually told you all that already.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “That’s different.”
“We were together before the apocalypse, and I would never change it. Even if it is considered different.”
“Who cares if it’s different? You’re happy, and that’s what matters,” Tori said, and Ava smiled her way.
