It was a heady experience to feel what sex could be like with someone he cared about. Someone he loved. Simon ran his fingers down Nora’s hair.It is intoxicating. He didn’t know he was capable of craving sex like he was now. The only goal he had going forward was wanting to fill his memory bank only of Nora.Only of her.He felt her breathe against him, and the action calmed him. Already everything within him was reordering in priority.
He shifted her in his arms and smiled in the night.I’m already making a difference though.Even just the extra scavenge he could bring them was helping. And plans for the future could be made. There was not any need to rush.
Their vulnerability was now his vulnerability.And yet. . . He pushed some hair out of Nora’s face, then kissed her forehead.I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Chapter thirty-nine
Nora
Simon was already up by the time Nora woke the next morning, cooking and singing songs with Tilly. Her core clenched as they made eye contact. He smiled at her while tilting his head toward Tilly as she continued talking. Sitting there, watching them, Nora’s shoulders relaxed and she gave a small, lingering smile.
This feels good. Right.She shifted down further into her chair.Like I have something I didn’t know was missing before.Simon had held her the entire night and she was already looking forward to when he would hold her again.Last time I felt this way was back before I worked at the shop. When Ma and Dad were still alive.
Simon put a plate on the table of eggs, scrambled, and motioned for Nora to sit. “We need to go get more things to sell.”
“Alright, yes. In a day or so though. Still gotta see what happened from the sweep. How does it look outside today?” Nora picked up her fork to start to eat.
“It looks fine.” After Tilly skipped into the other room, he turned back to say to Nora, his tone brisk, “Yes. Going can wait a few days. We shouldn’t wear ourselves out during the day for a bit.” He emphasized the word “day” with raised eyebrows.
Nora laughed but covered it with a cough. “Right.”
A few minutes later, Tilly came back carrying her chalkboard. She put it down next to Nora’s half-eaten eggs. “Simon taught me a game. Will you play too? It’s called tic-tac-toe. And there’s also one with boxes. I like that one more.”
Simon came over. “Let Mama eat first, Tilly. We didn’t finish yet. Here, stir this for me too.” He gave her a bowl of some batter and a spoon that Tilly started to mix.
Nora watched them work and then looked out the window, the sky still decidedly less hazy today after the atmosphere sweep.I think it really helped.She said as much a second later. “Have you been outside this morning? I think it’s clearer still.”
“Yes. The air quality indicator says it’s better.” Simon indicated the small sensor Nora had on top of one of their air filters.
A huff left Nora. “Yeah, but I’m unsure about how accurate that is.”
She finished her eggs and thought hard on what he had said a few days ago, about there being a better life somewhere else.The only thing making me stay here is Anna. And well . . . kind of scared too.But really, if there was definitely better shouldn’t they go there? The images from the magazine flit across her mind.Maybe not that nice. But humans used to move around a lot before.
“Been thinking about what you said. Didn’t you say there was a better place to live up north?” She stood up and put her plate in a bucket of water to rinse off.
Simon handed Tilly a plate of fried bread, who sat down at the table while they continued talking at the counter. “Yes. Actually, I was going to speak with you about that again. Are you interested?”
Nora cleared her throat. “At least interested in talking about it.”
She caught a relieved look on Simon’s face before he spoke. “I got some records last night. But we will need to plan and stockpile supplies before we can do or think of anything. There are still forests in spots, and the air is a bit cleaner up north.”
Nora stared out the window, thinking.Forests, huh?Then she looked over at Tilly and her eyes widened. “Woah, slow down Tilly. That’s gonna hurt your stomach.”
Tilly had some of the fried bread that Simon made, from scratch, and was attempting to eat her third piece while Nora was distracted. Her nose scrunched. “No it won’t.”
“Tilly . . .”
Tilly shoved the rest in her mouth and washed it down with a drink. Nora sighed and went back to her own plate.
When Tilly left to go outside, Simon took Nora’s hands. “I never knew what love would feel like. The humans watched movies—”
“Huh?” Nora tilted her head.
Simon paused, then breathed out. “Stories like on the radio, only you watch them.”
“Ah. Like the bulletin board.”
Simon chuckled a deep sound “Sort of.” He put his hand on her cheek. “Nora, I’m trying to be romantic . . .”
