Page 61 of Thorns and Ashes
“Ladies,” Levi says, greeting them with less hostility than I can manage. They redirect their attention from me and smile at him, saying hello.
I lean back, creating space between Levi and me, as an awkward silence descends.
“So I—”
“You still—”
We both start and stop at the same time. I bite my lip, and he scratches at his beard. I swear I hear one of the girls snicker from the couch, but I close my eyes and ignore them, silently wondering if I keep them closed long enough, maybe I can disappear from this moment, too.
“You still alright to watch her this weekend?” I peek an eye open and see Levi petting Ellie’s head.
The tension dissipates as I take them in. Ellie has started to feel as much mine as his over the past few months, but he continues to ask every time if it’s okay, like he’s expecting me to change my mind.
“Of course,” I assure him. “She knows my home is hers.”
He smiles, and since our night on the porch, it’s all warmth and affection, so different than the look of disdain I’d grown used to, as he takes in Ellie and scans the room, finding the dog bed, toys, and bowls I have designated for her throughout my place. “I see that,” he says, pausing for a beat. “I guess I’ll get going.” Levi looks past the couch and to the TV, where Charlie’s abs are still frozen on full display. His eyebrows shoot up, and when we follow his gaze,we notice what he’s looking at. I cringe while the girls break into laughter.
“Goodbye,” I say, using both hands to literally push him out my sad excuse of a door.
I swear I can still hear his laughter as he walks to his truck.
My butt barely hits the couch before Rory is hopping into my lap.
“When did that start happening, and how dare you not tell us?!” she squawks, arms flailing. “Did you know about this?” She turns, asking Ainsley, who shakes her head, then serves me a raised brow with crossed arms that suggests,‘get to talkin’.
I push Rory off me, rolling my eyes and shaking my head. She lands on the carpet with anoomf,but quickly plops back on the couch beside me, still waiting for answers.
“I don’t know what you two are going on about. Let’s get back to Charlie.” I press play on the remote, but before I’ve barely placed it down, Rory’s arm flies out, snatching it back up and pressing pause again.
“Um, no. You’re going to tell us when you both finally stopped wanting to kill each other and started wanting todoeach other instead.”
My mouth drops open with a choked gasp, and my brows turn down. “Rory!”
“What? I’m not wrong,” she laughs maniacally.
I wave her off and lean back. “That is not what’s happening here. We’re barely friends. We tolerate each other at best.”
“Oh, honey,” Ainsley drawls, looking at me like I’m the most delusional little bee she’s ever seen. And yes, I now speakAinsleyfluently.
“Not you too,” I grumble, tilting my head as I cross my arms.
“You two are like fire and ice. Two extremes on the opposite sides of the pole, but when brought together, y’all sure make a whole lot of steam.”
Rory giggles beside me, and I hit her with a throw pillow.
“You’re both crazy.”
“The only one crazy is him, about you.” Ainsley shrugs.
A lump forms in my throat. Is that what I want?
“And it looks like you like him, too.” Rory smirks. “Who wouldn’t want a man in uniform?”
“Do you want to get hit with another pillow?”
“Ooooo, threats of violence? I must be right.” She wiggles her brows at Ainsley, who smiles and nods.
“You are both way off. We’re just neighbors. I help him with Ellie. That’s it,” I say, denying the tug that I feel deep in my chest with every word.
