Page 37 of Thorns and Ashes
Without another word, I step into the house and let myself do something I haven’t dared to do in months.
I let it all in.
Then, with a choked sob, I break down.
Chapter Nine
Tris
“Ouch!” I yelp, swinging my hand back and forth, trying to cool the burn. I swear I will beat this cappuccino machine with a bat until it’s nothing but a bunch of scrap metal if it’s the last thing I do.
“That looked like it hurt,” someone says from behind me. I turn to see the pink-haired girl wearing a lopsided grin as she has the gall to shake her head at me. What was her name again?
“I thought Ainsley said you’ve been here for like six months or something?” she says, like she must not have the right information.
“I have,” I grit out as I try one more time to get this machine to do what I need it to, filling my lungs with air so I don’t explode.
“If you say so,” she mumbles. “Okay, okay, enough of that.” She grabs my wrists off the machine that I was seconds from ripping apart with surprising strength for someone who doesn’t even look more than five feet tall. “As hilarious as this is to watch you struggle, how about you tell me what you need and I’ll make it.”
She moves into my place, and within seconds, the machine is answering to her like she’s hacked some sort of code.
“You’re kidding me,” I drawl, hands balanced on my hips as I stare between her and the machine, mouth half open, eyes wide. “Yougot it to work?”
That sideways grin graces her face again as her eyes bounce between the machine and me. “I’m pretty sure a small child could get this thing to work,” she says slowly.
Thenerve!
“Ha, funny.”
She snickers as she puts the pieces into their places with ease.
“Well, I’m not sure asmall childisn’t the one getting it toworknow,” I throw back at her.
“Ha, bitch,” she says with a surprised exhale.
“Brat,” I retort instantly, but instead of looking angry or dismissive, her eyes narrow and she smiles.
“Oh, good. Y’all have met,” Ainsley says, as she reaches us, all smiles and flowers.
“Yup,” she says, popping her ‘p’ at the same time as I call out “No.”
Ainsley looks between the two of us, her brow raised in confusion, before running her hand over one of the braids in her hair. “Well, alrighty then. Rory, this is Tris. Tris, this is Rory. She’s starting today and will be shadowing you.” Ainsley looks behind me and catches the cappuccino machine brewing a fresh cup. “Yay! You finally figured it out. I knew you would, and just in time to teach Rory. I’ll leave ya’ll to it.”
Rory coughs to cover a laugh as Ainsley heads back to the register. My eyes shift back to Rory the second Ainsley is out of earshot.
“I’m not sure I like you,” I say flatly, eyes narrowing a fraction as I study her.
“That’s okay. I don’t swing that way.” She shrugs, walking away to open up every drawer she sees.
“Wait.” Shaken and still processing what she’s said, I follow after her. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh, really? I mean, you do you. To each her, his, their own. Whatever floats your boat. That’s totally fine by me.” She continues to explore, examining each tea bag, cup, and coaster she picks up.
“No, no, no,” I say, flustered. “You misunderstood.”
She walks through the swinging door to the back, continuing her exploration, leaving me behind her.
“Ugh,” I huff and follow through the door. “What I meant was that I’m not sure...” I stop short when I see the expression on her face. Her mouth is twisted as she tries not to laugh at me, and her blue eyes are bright, waiting for me to catch on. “Oh, my God. You really are a brat.”
