Page 76 of The Last Man on Earth
“I forgot I packed my vitamins,” he says, shaking two into his hand. “One for me and one for you. Couldn’t hurt, right?”
I hesitate, then take it out of his hand. He swallows his dry, then hands me my water bottle. I take a sip and swallow my vitamin, and this all feels so strangely domestic.
Later, just as the sun begins to dip, Vincent crouches near the raft while I take my bath for the evening. He pulls his line from the water, then comes to me with two full hands. Fish in one, crabs in the other, still snapping their claws.
“Princess Ariana,” he teases. “I present to you: tonight’s dinner, caught in your honor.”
“You’re so silly,” I say with a laugh. “Thank you.”
He dips his head to kiss my cheek. “Anything for you.”
He cooks them over the fire, cracking the crab shells open with a stick, sending steam curling into the sky. We eat until we’re full, and I’m grateful.
He leans back on the blanket, wiping his hands on the t-shirt we use as an all-purpose rag. “I don’t know if I told you, but I saw some fruit a while back, not too far from here. I’ma go grab some tomorrow.”
I frown at that. “How will we know if it’s edible?”
He shrugs. “Let me worry about that.”
I shake my head, watching the firelight dance over his handsome face. “Do we really need to risk it?”
“I think you need some fresh fruit,” he says firmly. “More nutrients and shit.”
“But I took a vitamin.”
He stares blankly. “Like I said, I’m goin’ out tomorrow.”
I don’t argue. I just sit there, staring at him from across the fire, wondering where his head is at and why he’s acting so different. I’m not sure I like it. I think the independent woman in me is clashing with this newly minted protector vibe. The man is ten years my junior. Who the hell is he to boss up on me?
But if he wants to risk life and limb to get me some fruit, so be it.
Unless…
“Is this your way of making an effort?”
His brows furrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Way back, however long ago, I said you needed to do more. But we’ve been having sex. A lot. So like…it’s fine. I’m good.”
He stares blankly. “What’s the problem, Ari?”
“I just don’t want you risking your life for fruit. It was one thing when we needed water toliterally live, but I don’t need fruit.”
“I think you need fruit.”
I stare at him so long, my eyes start to water. “Are youtryingto piss me off?”
He blows out a breath. “Ain’t shit you can say to stop me, so you might as well save the drama. Be my fuckin’ peace.”
“Oh, please. Kindly shut the fuck up.”
His eyes flash with anger. “Shut the fuck up? Is that what you said?”
“Did I stutter?”
“You ain’t finna disrespect me, Ari. Control that shit.”
I laugh bitterly. “This from the overgrown child who acted a whole disrespectfulfooltowards me on that plane.”
