Page 59 of Thorns and Ashes
“No.”
“Why?” she asks, confusion etched into the lines of her face.
“Because you’re right.”
She blinks at me a few times, and her mouth opens and shuts.
“I should have asked you if you wanted to come today... Not this morning, but ahead of time. I’m sorry.”
Her brows squish together, and she tilts her head to the side while pursing her lips. My eyes track the way she licks her lips before she smiles softly.
“Yes. You should have.”
“I know.”
“Don’t let it happen again.” She crosses her arms, playful but deliberate, one brow arching as her soft smile sharpens into a knowing grin.
“Yes, ma’am.” I laugh, but I don’t look away, I can’t. I hold her gaze, feeling the mischief in it ebb until something quieter settles in its place.
She drops her eyes, just for a moment, before lifting them again through thick lashes, slow and intentional, like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.
Knowing Tris, she probably does.
Chapter Fourteen
Tris
After all the overthinking I’ve done today, not once did I imagine that I would be spending the last three hours sitting on the porch, talking and looking up at the stars with Levi. This man is infuriating. I spent the better half of my morning pretending that his not inviting me to go out on the boat today didn’t bother me, and the second half pissed off that I actually cared a lot more than I’m willing to admit. Now here we are, a little after midnight, laughing and still exchanging lingering glances.
Aside from passing conversations here and there, this is the first time we’ve really talked like this. It’s easy, natural, like we’re in our own little bubble in time, and a part of me is afraid that after tonight, it will go back to how it’s been instead of staying like this. When we aren’t at each other’s throats, it feels like I’ve known him forever, and it’s not a feeling I’m ready to let go of, but I can’t tell if he feels the same. Now and then, I think I catch his jade-green eyes filled with warmth, where usually they seem so cold and distant, looking my way.
“You know,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “When you’re not trying to verbally castrate me, you’re actually pretty good company.”
I attempt to fight the smile forcing its way onto my lips with little success. Looking down, then back to him, I smirk. “Yeah, well, when you’re not complaining about how I make your coffee, breaking into my duplex, or telling me I’ll be utterly aloneforever,” I pause, letting the words linger and stretch, waiting to see if he’ll catch on that I’m teasing. When his eyes narrow, the corner ofmy mouth twitches up. “No, I think even now, I still prefer Ellie’s company.”
He huffs out a surprised laugh, loud in the quiet of the night and so out of place, but also perfect. Now I can’t help the wide smile that fills my face. I stifle a laugh and pet behind Ellie’s ears, whose tail started to wag the moment she heard her name. Levi looks between the two of us with a grin and shakes his head.
“I think she prefers your company over mine, too.”
“Well, of course she does. We girls have to stick together.”
Ellie’s tail sways in a slow, lazy rhythm, hinting that she’s tired.
“I think it’s way past someone’s bedtime,” I say as Ellie lets out a big yawn.
“I’d go inside, but I don’t want to leave you out here alone.”
My stomach flutters at his words, and I internally roll my eyes. I’m suddenly a woman who can be affected by a simple, sweet gesture.
Since when?
I look up and see my answer smiling back at me.
“I have a confession,” I say, feeling a flush creep into my cheeks.
“Is it that you didn’t have work today?”
I open my mouth to argue, but close it quickly, covering my face with my hands. “No, it’s actually worse.”
