Page 115 of Last Light

After a brief discussion, Anna gets into the bed with Maisey and Jenna. There’s just enough room on it for all three of them.

I spread out our sleeping bag on the floor and lie down on it, the dog settling nearby. Travis stretches out beside me. He turns on his side so he’s facing me.

He doesn’t say anything.

Just looks at me.

There’s an ache in his eyes that matches mine.

All this time, what we wanted was to reach Fort Knox.

Now even that hope is gone.

After a minute I scoot closer until I’m pressed up against his front. He wraps his arms around me.

I hold on to him as tight as I can.

This is it.

Everything will change tomorrow.

We’re not alone anymore. And soon we’ll be around people from our town.

His ex-wife.

I know what’s going to happen.

Maybe they were fighting before impact. Maybe their marriage fell apart. Maybe he claimed he doesn’t want her anymore. But they have a history that Travis and I don’t. And in a crisis like this, you turn to the people you’ve known longest, that you’ve trusted most deeply.

I’ve only been with him a few weeks. He’s never said a word to me about feelings.

He’s never even kissed me.

It’s significant. It means something.

As soon as we find the others, he’ll have Cheryl again. I won’t be his responsibility anymore.

I’m about to lose him.

Tonight will be our last night together. I know it for sure.

The knowledge is a tight coil in my gut.

I can’t make him feel guilty or put any pressure on him. He’s done right by me since the moment I held him at gunpoint over that motorcycle, and I’m going to do right by him too.

It matters—even at the end of the world. Doing right by the people you love.

I’ll hold on to him tonight.

And I’ll let him go tomorrow.

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