Page 47 of The Last Man on Earth
“Yeah. For now.”
Chapter 22
Ari
Back at home base,I dig through what’s left of our food while Villain tries to cook that fish. My fingers move through plastic and glass until I find what I’m looking for—the dried mangos. I grab a small bottle of cognac, too, then I notice something at the very bottom. A box of Amedei Porcelana chocolates, assorted. The box feels soft and warped, probably from the candies melting and hardening a few times, but I don’t care about that. This feels like I hit the jackpot.
I return to the fire, where Villain’s crouched, his brown skin glowing in the light of the flames.
“It was trial and error,” he says, “but I finally figured some shit out.” He pokes at the rocks with a stick. “I put them bitches in the fire to get ‘em hot, then I put both sides of the fish on them to blacken the skin. Then I wrapped it in one of them big ass leaves and put the whole thing on top.”
I blink at him, impressed. “How’d you even think to do that?”
He shrugs. It’s a casual movement, but proud. “Just tryin’ shit.”
My mind flashes back to earlier. Before we walked back, he cleaned the fish in the ocean, then used his pocket knife to slice it open and dig out the guts. I gagged like a child at the disgusting sight of it, but I have to admit, there was something about watching him do it that got me. It was undeniably masculine. And sexy.
I sit on the blanket and hold up the box of candy. “You like chocolate?”
His eyes find mine across the flames. “Ilovechocolate.”
Something about the way he says that, all low and pointed, makes my stomach flutter.
He brushes dirt off his hands. “I been thinking. I agree with you that we should move closer to the ocean. Without a fridge out here, I’ma have to fish every day.”
I nod. “When?”
He shakes his head, deep in thought. “Shit. If nobody comes for us tomorrow, then the day after that.”
We both watch the flames for a while, comforted by the glow, the smell, the sounds. It’s all becoming familiar to us now, which scares me a little.
“Fish should be done now,” he finally says.
I pull out the dried mangos and arranged them on our two plastic plates while he unwraps the fish. The smell hits me, and it’s like a waiter just brought something flambe out of the kitchen and caught everybody’s attention. My stomach growls in anticipation as I watch him cut the fish in half. He puts my portion on my plate, then takes the rest. We exchange a look, and then we dig in like animals.
It’s so good, I can’t help myself. I hum, lick my fingers, suck the juice off. I notice Villain’s jaw tightening, but I’m too happy to pay him any mind. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until this very moment.
“Can you stop?”
I look up at him, blinking rapidly. “Stop what?”
“All that damn licking and smacking,” he mutters. “It’s not…ladylike.”
I stare at him, a steaming hot piece of fish meat dangling from my fingers. “You serious?”
He just gives me a look, a hard one. I feel like I can see the irritation coming off of him like smoke.
“You trippin’,” I say. “This fish is delicious, and you over there mad.”
He grabs his plate and stalks off to the shelter, leaving me alone by the fire, bewildered and offended.
Whatever.
And the fish tastes even better with the mango.
When I’m done, I pour myself a little cognac and tear open the box of chocolates. I open a dark bar and smile. The first bite melts slow and sweet on my tongue. It’s so heavenly, I let out a small, involuntary sigh.
“Save me a piece,” he calls from the shelter.
