18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 114

Thinking it over, Jasper said, "I grew up with loving parents, got a good education and landed a steady job. Nothing extraordinary."

Yeah right, Jasper was playing coy. He obviously had a story to tell.

Nobody believed his brief summary, not even the dog, who barked as if in disbelief. But with his strong presence and Stella's silence, no one dared to probe further.

"Eat up," Stella urged. "The food's going to get cold."

Taking the hint, Cody quickly added, "Yeah, let's dig in."

They all tucked into the juicy, succulent pot roast, feeling like it had somehow elevated their spirits in these end times.

Lukas, lost in the delicious flavors, asked, "Stella, Christmas is coming up, how are we planning to celebrate?"

Stella didn't mind. They could celebrate however they wanted.

Angela suggested, "How about we all gather and light a fire? It'll be more festive."

Angela, unlike the others, had a home to miss. Even if she couldn't return, she longed to celebrate Christmas in her own way.

Lukas felt a pang of sadness. His wife had promised to take him to meet her parents during the holidays, but then disaster struck. Thinking of his wife's feelings, he quickly agreed, "We've had enough hardships. Let's celebrate together. Who knows, maybe things will be back to normal next year."

Stella preferred quiet, as any commotion could attract danger in these times. But she had spent so much time cooped up in the apartment. Even though she practiced with Jasper every day, he was a man of few words. Besides providing professional training guidance, he didn't say much.

Jasper, who was notoriously bad at cooking, had no objections either. Rosie clapped her hands in excitement, "Great! I finally get to spend Christmas with my brother."

Jasper ruffled her hair, "Yes, this year I won't be working, so I can spend Christmas with Rosie."

For some reason, when Stella heard this, she felt it wouldn't be just this year, but many more to come.

After finishing their roast and filling up on pasta and sweet potatoes, everyone sat back, satisfied.

"We really need Stella's cooking skills to enjoy such a feast."

"Don't get used to it," Stella warned, "I don't have much left."

"We have some frozen meat left, but without your cooking skills, it would be a waste."

Stella modestly replied, "Jasper cooked the pot roast; it had nothing to do with me."

Lukas, complaining that Stella didn't teach him, said, "One day you have to teach me how to cook for my wife."

Stella visibly cringed at the thought, "I'm sorry for your wife."

After a hearty meal and a refreshing shower, Stella settled down with a book and a box of chocolates Jasper had gifted her. They were expensive, imported chocolates, smooth and rich in taste.

She noticed that the box was heart-shaped. Probably just a marketing trick, she thought.

As Christmas approached, they decided to gather some firewood for the celebrations. But the nearby Griffith Mountain had been stripped clean of trees. The closest woodlands, Ivywood Estates, was a day's trip away.