“We’ll start working on the tent.” Micah tossed his bag and tent gear down as Nathan walked over to him. “Calix and Tori start a fire, and Daisy and Jay go looking for more sticks to keep the fire going.”
“On it,” Jay muttered, turning and walking down the bank with Daisy trailing behind.
They weren’t completely terrible to deal with on the trip so far. I knew it was probably because of the guys. The first half of the day was tense, but the longer we were forced to deal with each other, the more bearable it became. That or it was just easier to ignore them.
The biggest downside of the two of them coming along was the fact that the tent would be shared by all of us. It was big enough for us not to be piled on top of each other. Walking a good distance through the day had tired us out, so I was hopeful there wouldn’t be any arguing.
Calix and I kneeled close together as we found the driest spot near where Micah and Nathan were building the tent. The ground was still damp and cold, though, and the moisture seeped through my leggings as we got to work on the fire. Calix placed five or so smaller sticks on top of three larger pieces of wood and some dry nesting he’d found in a tree on the way here and placed it in a circle. He’d thought ahead and brought a few dry pieces of wood that he was able to find on the way. I handed him the flint and steel I carried in my bag, and he took it.
I loved the comfortable silence Calix and I fell into. It made me feel safe and accepted in a way I hadn’t felt in silence with someone before, and I craved the feeling.
Tiny sparks flew from him working the flint and steel, and I leaned forward and blew gently, encouraging the wood to catch flame. After a few tries, the sticks crackled and burned, spreading over the kindling and heating the wood until it all started to catch fire.
“Fire’s started,” I called over to Micah, who gave me a grunt of acknowledgement. I turned back to Calix with a small smile. “Good job.”
“You too.” He got to his feet and held out his hand, and I took it as he helped me up.
“We have more sticks,” Jay said as they walked back to us, both carrying armfuls of sticks.
“Place them next to the fire,” Calix told him.
He did as he asked, and Calix and I went to help Micah and Nathan finish putting up the tent.
Once the tent was secured, we grabbed the canned food for tonight, and everyone’s bags were placed inside.
We found a few dry logs and set them down next to the fire to sit on. The guys and I sat on one side while Daisy and Jay sat on the other.
“Do you think we could fish in the river?” Daisy spooned around in her can, the metal clanging as the utensil hit the side.
“We could in theory, but it’s probably not a good idea,” Nathan answered after he swallowed his bite. “With as many zombies that were walking in it, we’d be risking infection.”
She frowned but nodded and glanced at me. “This reminds me of the time we camped out by the river on the farthest part of your ranch when we were teenagers.”
The memories smacked into me hard, ones I’d tried to forget. I gave her a stiff nod. “Minus the fox den we stumbled upon.”
She cracked a smile. “They trapped us in the tent all night, and your dad came looking for us the next morning.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to ask,” Nathan interrupted, setting his empty can down. “Why didyouhave an affair with Tori’s boyfriend? Seems like you were close.”
My heart thumped uncomfortably in my chest as I frowned. I’d wanted to ask the same thing but never had the courage to.
Daisy’s face twisted before she let out a groan. “Tori always got everything she wanted. I just wanted something too. She didn’t evenappreciateJay. I honestly didn’t think she’d care that much.”
My lips parted as my eyebrows rose. Sure, I hadn’t wanted to have sex with Jay after my surgery, but it was more to do with my lack of sex drive. I still showed him affection. The only time I complained to Daisy about him was when he would be distant with me, and looking back, she was the reason.
“Wow. Narcissistic answer,” Calix muttered.
“So what’s your reason?” Micah asked Jay with a scowl.
“She wasn’t interested in sex anymore.” Jay shrugged. “She went from doing it a lot to none, and it made me feel like she didn’t like me anymore.”
“I still showed you affection,” I muttered bitterly, shaking my head. “I was stilltryingto make it work.”
“But I also wanted kids, and you went ahead with the surgery even knowing that.”
Anger swept through me, and I gripped the can so tight I shook. “I was in constant fucking pain, and I kept dealing with the pain untilyoutold me if it would help maybe I should do it. And Daisy pushed me to do it too. I don’t know why you use that as an excuse. You both just wanted each other. You should’ve broken up with me and dated her if that’s what you wanted!”
“How long?” Nathan asked as the two of them slumped their shoulders and stared at the fire.
