Cora (Love in the Apocalypse #2)

9. Cora

Chapter nine

Cora

M y eyes blinked open, not that I saw any better in the pitch-black bunker. I lay in my bed, listening for any sound from above that would give me any indication if anyone was home or not.

I’ve had to be much more careful with my movements over the last few weeks. Taking the jerky and leaving them food raised their suspicion levels, especially in Derrick. They started taking turns keeping watch at night, limiting my ability to leave the walls.

I heard a slight creak and got up to investigate. It was Isaac’s turn to stand guard last night, and it sounded like he was moving around. After three years, I had grown accustomed to the house’s usual creaks and groans. The house was making some new sounds with my guys here, but I was beginning to learn the difference between each man’s footfall.

Tracking the sounds to the kitchen, I watched as Isaac boiled some water for tea. He had quite the collection of tea, but mine was more extensive. That was one thing Isaac and I had in common: a love for tea. I quickly ran downstairs to brew my cup, returning with the steaming liquid just as Isaac brought his cup to the living room and sat with a book.

I timed my sips with him so that he didn’t hear them. This was one of my favorite morning rituals that I shared with Isaac, though I enjoy all of my morning rituals.

With Isaac, we sat quietly, sipping our tea while he read a book. This week, he discovered the woodworking manual I had left on the bookshelf and was reading through it.

From watching them, I felt I had gotten to know each man fairly well. Isaac was the leader, even if Derrick wasn’t always happy about it. The pressure of leadership got to him, though he hid it from the others. In quiet moments like now, when he was alone, he let his guard down, and worry clouded his eyes.

Otherwise, he kept a calm, confident demeanor with everything he did, internalizing any doubt he might have in himself. Isaac loved his brother and fully supported his relationship with Remi, and even if they rubbed each other the wrong way at times, I knew he cared for and respected Derrick as well.

Derrick’s morning routine wasn’t anything like Isaac’s. To start his day, Derrick enjoyed a good workout, which meant I spent my mornings with him drooling. By the time he was done with his workout, we were both soaked. After his shower, he would start breakfast for everyone. Not that there was much variety to cook with, but he’d figure out some sort of meal for them to start their day with.

Derrick growled a lot, but he cared about his little family. He also enjoyed poking at them, especially Isaac. I could tell how much he respected Isaac, but part of him still liked to push back at the man, almost like he had moments of resentment about being told what to do.

When it was Trent’s turn to stand guard, I was usually up before him. He tended to fall asleep just as the morning hours started to sneak by, then would wake when he heard the others stir and quickly hurry into the kitchen to get the coffee started.

Trent loved his coffee, but I wasn’t much of a fan, so I stuck to tea. I’d run down and brew a cup once he got up and I couldn’t watch him sleep anymore. Usually, Remi was the first one up when Trent was on duty and vice versa. They would sit together in comfortable silence or quiet murmurs while sipping their coffees before the others woke up.

As the youngest of the men, Trent struggled with his place in the group. I think he also sometimes struggled with his relationship with Remi. Sometimes, he came off almost indifferent toward the other man, even though his eyes never left Remi when nobody was looking.

Remi was the sunshine of the group. He was never broody and always found humor in everything. Mornings with Remi were upbeat and cheerful. He’d spend the early morning hours whistling as he cleaned the house. Then he’d start brewing coffee and tea for everyone and throw together a nice meal— well, as nice as can be expected with their dwindling food.

I would say out of all of the men, Remi hid the most pain behind his smiles and jokes. I got the impression that he felt the most out of place, as if he wasn’t sure he was wanted or welcome. Or that he expected to be cast aside at any moment, so he did his best to be cheerful and agreeable and not make any waves. Remi didn’t understand his value to the group or how much he was needed.

I had become obsessed with watching these men live out their days. If they were awake and moving around the house, so was I. I hated when they all went outside together because I couldn’t watch them anymore. After getting spotted once, I wasn’t taking any chances of getting spotted again. Then they’d know I was here, and I had a lot to answer for that I wasn’t quite ready to deal with yet.

Today was one of those mornings where they all left as soon as breakfast was over, much to my disappointment. I returned to the bunker to bide my time until someone came back inside. All the things that once kept me entertained bored me now that I had a live-action play to keep me occupied.