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She could hear Nik chuckling behind her as she struggled to get the pumpkin to the table. Okay, maybe she should’ve accepted his help. She was only a foot away from the table when she felt the pumpkin slip.
Nik reached out to grab it and easily lifted it up on the table before turning toward her. “You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t say thank you.”
He bit his cheek and smirked.
Why is his arrogance so attractive? She couldn’t handle the way he was undressing her with his eyes, so she diverted his attention. “What is Survivors’ Day?”
He tilted his head. “Did you not have Survivors’ Day?”
“Clearly not.” She crossed her arms, but when his attention went to her chest, she dropped them again.
He gave a subtle nod, contemplating all the ways their lives were different. “It is what it sounds like. It’s a day to celebrate those of us who survived the end of the world. Those of us who continue to survive this god forsaken planet. According to the stories, this used to be called ‘Thanksgiving,’ a day for people to express gratitude. But when society collapsed, everyone was just thankful to be alive. It became a new tradition. A reminder that we’re all lucky to be here.”
“You’re lucky to be here,” she corrected him. “Some of us won’t be celebrating.”
He placed his hand on her chin and brought it up to him. She tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter. “You’re a survivor too, Ali.”
He looked like he wanted to kiss her, but he obviously knew better than to do that in the middle of all these people. It felt like her chest was caving in. It hurt to want him.
He released her face and walked away, passing Carly as he went. She approached Ali with more candles and ribbons in her hands. “Are you okay? Was he bothering you? That man looks terrifying.”
Ali stifled a laugh. She had no idea.
Once they had finished with the decorations, they moved on to cutlery, setting the tables for the dozens of people who would celebrate that night. Even the napkins and tablecloths were ornate with subtle browns, reds, and creams. At the end of the day, the scene was beautiful. The candles flickered and lent a warm glow to the town square.
Ali wished she’d had an invitation of her own.
As she lay in bed that night, she could hear the sounds from the middle of town echoing through the halls of the prison. It sounded like a massive celebration. She tried to peer out her window by standing on the bed, but she couldn’t see what was going on outside.
She lay back down and brought the blanket up around her shoulders. She’d just have to use her imagination and picture what the celebration must look like.
The food had been brought out and arranged on the tables before they’d left. Roasted chicken, potatoes, corn, and so much more. They’d worked until the very last minute, carefully perfecting the smallest of details. They had only been shuffled back to the prison when the first party guests arrived.
Ali closed her eyes and listened to the faint music that occasionally broke through the loud conversation. It made her miss their celebrations at home. They may have been on a smaller scale, but they still held so much importance to her.
Just as she drifted to sleep, she heard feet shuffling outside her cell. She raised her head and squinted toward the sound.
“I thought you might be asleep,” Nik said.
“I’m awake.” She climbed out of bed and approached the cell door. Nik was scrambling with a key to unlock her cell. “What are you doing?”
The door creaked open, and he grabbed her by the waist. “Come with me.”
He led her back toward the entrance of the cells but opened a door that revealed a set of stairs. They climbed upward and an icy breeze blew around her. They were on the roof with a full panoramic view of Rysburg. Off to the side of the building, she could see the town center illuminated by fire. She smiled as she spotted the stage where musicians were playing.
“Pretty good view, hmm?”
It would be no use to deny him. The second she’d set her eyes on the scene below them, her mouth had formed into a wide grin.
“It is,” she admitted.
More stunning than the party were the stars above them. This was the first night in a long time that she’d seen them. She didn’t feel so confined up here, alone with the sky. A shooting star blazed across the sky, and she gasped.
“I brought you something.”
She turned to look at where he was standing behind her. A small blanket had been laid out and on top of it were two plates with a slice of some dessert she hadn’t seen before.
