Page 58 of One Merciful Moment

"No one takes anything," Copper said, drawing her attention back. "Not a single can or box. We ration what we get because none of us know if there will be another delivery."

Copper's gaze lifted to the sky.

Ashley inhaled deeply.

Her time in Everstill was coming to an end. The veil was providing food again. Soon, the storm would come. She could feel it deep in her soul.

Chapter 34

Boone

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Ashley moved through the kitchen with quiet excitement, her fingers brushing over the package of meat Copper had rationed out, her smile small but genuine.

Boone hadn't seen her smile like that in weeks.

They cooked together, shoulder to shoulder, the way they'd fallen into the chore every night. Ashley chopped vegetables at the counter, her hair falling forward until Boone tucked it gently behind her ear. She looked up at him with a softness in her gaze that grabbed him by the balls.

The meat sizzled in the pan, filling the house with an aroma he hadn't enjoyed in a long time. Real food. Warm food. Something normal besides the produce they were forced to eat.

His body already felt stronger, knowing there was more in the store.

Ashley leaned closer to the stove and inhaled. "I forgot how much I liked meat."

"Not me." He took in the way her shoulders relaxed. "It might only be ground beef, but I can already taste it... and it's good."

They set the table together. Two plates, two glasses, the mismatched silverware Ashley had insisted had "character." That was what he loved about her. She always found something positive to say about the dumbest things. Whether it was getting them to eat vegetables every day, she always looked on the bright side, talking to him about healthier cholesterol. He had no fucking clue what that even was.

He took the skillet off the stove and divided the ground beef onto plates with fried potatoes and cooked carrots.

"I have butterflies." Ashley laughed. "Isn't that crazy?"

He grunted. The same was happening to him.

"Do you want your bread toasted?" she asked.

"No."

He carried the plates to the table. Ashley followed with the bread, set it down, then hurried back to the kitchen and brought two big glasses of milk.

"I think my body is going to cry when I eat." She inhaled deeply. "I will never take food for granted again."

They sat across from each other at the small table, their knees brushing. Ashley took her first bite slowly, closing her eyes as she chewed, a quiet hum escaping her. He stared at her. These were the moments that would stick with him for a lifetime.

She was angelic.

"It's perfect," she whispered.

Boone didn't look away. "You're perfect."

She opened her eyes, cheeks flushing. He wanted to keep her right here, in his house, and never let her go.

Ashley reached across the table and slid her hand over his. He turned his palm up, letting her fingers settle into his hand, her warmth covering him.

They ate slowly, savoring everything. Even the damn vegetables tasted better tonight.

Boone used his fork to try to nab one of her cooked carrots off her plate, but she parried with her knife, laughing. He couldn't remember the last time he'd heard her laugh like that.