Page 10 of Thorns and Ashes
“If you’re not going to tell me something I don’t already know and you don’t place an order soon, I’m going to have Sergeant Hadley over there escort you out.” She plasters on a smug and syrupy sweet smile, one that’s so obviously fake that it antagonizes something inside me to wake up and play along.
“Oh, no. Not the Sergeant,” I say, feigning fear before a terribly fantastic idea comes to mind. “I’ll tell you what, if I can get, what did you call him?” I run a hand down my beard, pretending to recall Tom’s name. “Sergeant Hadley?”
She nods, arms crossed as she listens.
“If I can get him to cover my tabtoday,then you have to return the favor. You have to pay for my coffee next time.”
Her brows go up, kneading together at the same time as she glances between us and across the cafe where Tom, Callie, and Sunny sit. I’m hoping they don’t look over and ruin my plan before I get the chance to set my trap. I pet Ellie’s head beside me as I wait.
“Yeah, right,” she scoffs, slapping her hands onto the black walnut counter. “If he pays for you, I’ll buy you coffee for the nextmonth.” She rolls her eyes, so confident in herself and in thinking that there’s no way Tom would be friends with me.
I fight back the smug satisfaction I’m already feeling, and hold out my hand to shake hers. Her lip curls up in disgust as she looks at my outstretched hand. Oh yeah, I’m going to enjoy this win.
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” I say, dropping my hand and turning my attention from her toTom. “Hey, golden boy.”
Tom looks up at me from his seat.
“You got this? My wallet’s in your truck.”
From behind the counter, proclivities are being mumbled under her breath. When I turn my attention back on her, I don’t bother hiding the smug expression now proudly displayed on my face.
“You’re an ass,” she grinds out, barely containing her anger. Her face is scrunched in frustration, and it only makes me want to see how close I can push her until she blows her lid.
“Nah, I’m Levi, and it’s a pleasure for you to meet me. Now, about my order...”
Her cheeks flood with a shade of red as I place my order with possibly the most unpleasant woman I’ve ever met before heading over to join Tom. Ellie settles beside me as I take a seat, the big fur ball resting her head on my feet.
“Uh-oh. You’re smiling.” Tom chuckles. “Who’d you piss off?”
I can feel my face drop even as I attempt to deny it. “I’m not smiling.”
“You were,” Callie chimes, shrugging her shoulders when I throw her a glare.
“I didn’t think you remembered how. I’m just saying, if you start laughing, I’m calling a priest.”
His words stir the ache in my chest. If I’m being honest with myself, I can’t remember the last time I smiled this much, either. There hasn’t been anything worth smiling about, and I sure as hell haven’t felt like I’m someone who has any right to anyway.
“Real funny,” I deadpan.
“Better be careful with that smile around here, Levi. People are going to think you’re approachable,” Callie says, hiding a grin behind her teacup.
“I highly doubt that’s possible,” the infuriating blonde snorts out as she sets, or more like drops, my sandwich and coffee in front of me.
That’s nice. Next time, at this rate, she’ll probably throw it at me. I almost hope she does. It’ll mean I earned it.
“Guess now we know who he pissed off,” Tom whispers to Callie. The two of them try to stifle their laughter but fail miserably, shaking like they’re two kids with a secret.
“Does anyone need anything else?” she asks, all bitten-off syllables and impatience.
She barely gets the words out before Ellie shifts beside me. Her head pops up, ears alert. I know that look, but I haven’t seen it in months. Not since she chewed up my favorite pair of boots. She’s about to do something. Before I can grab her vest, Ellie springs up, her big front paws landing square on the blonde’s shoulders.
“Oh shit. Ellie!” I snatch for Ellie’s harness and miss completely as the woman goes down with a loud, undignifiedthump.
I brace myself for impact, expecting that same rip-your-head-off attitude she’s been serving me since I walked in. This time, I wouldn’t blame her, but instead, something unexpected happens.
Ellie’s black and brown tail wags. Not a twitch. Not a half-hearted flick. A full-on, happy-dog helicopter wag.
Her first one in months.
