Page 78 of Thorns and Ashes
“Is that so, Captain King?” Tom responds, shifting his hands to push his flannel over, displaying his badge on his waist.
Vianna’s face drops in a way I’ve only ever seen in movies. Rory ducks her head into her chest and stifles a laugh.
“Tris,” Tom stands beside her and places his arm over her shoulders, causing her to stiffen slightly. “Would you like to press charges against this woman?”
Tris looks at him with slightly widened eyes that gradually fill with gratitude before she crosses her arms, juts her chin out, and zeroes in on Vianna. “I might have to.”
Vianna sneers.
“You will not do such a thing,” the man says, who, up until now, has been quiet. He says something to Vianna that I can’t understand, but sounds like it might be French, and she laughs and looks at Tris.
Whatever it was, it’s clear by the shade of red crossing Tris’s cheeks that she understood.
“Alright,” I grunt, stepping around and in front of everyone. “It’s time for the two of you to leave.”
The guy looks like he’s about to say something, but before he gets a chance, I glare down at him.
“It wasn’t a request,” I growl out.
They both huff as they gather their things and walk away, getting into an overly priced-looking car, and driving off. No one moves until they’re gone. Everyone erupts all at once. Everyone but me and Tris. Her eyes narrow on mine, and I stare back at her, matching her intensity.
“What in the hell happened out here?” Ainsley asks.
“I made sure that woman knows to never mess with Tris again. That’s what happened,” Rory says. “That was the ex-best friend and boyfriend stealer, right?”
Tris nods her head at her and places a hand on Tom’s arm, thanking him as I process what I just heard.
That was Tris’s ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend?
Those were the types of people she hung out with? They acted like enemies, not people whom she once considered to hold such important titles in her life. No wonder she’s so guarded when it comes to letting people in.
“Don’t mention it.” Tom tilts his head down and turns to Ainsley. “But if there’s any food left in the kitchen, a plate of just about anything would be nice.”
“Ope.” Rory jumps. “We’ll get right on that.”
Rory and Ainsley leave to grab us some food, and Tom sits back at our table, taking Ellie with him, leaving Tris and me alone.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, a sharp ache blooming behind my breastbone.
“Why? Because now you suddenly care?” she retorts, and I hate the way I notice how she purses her lips to hide the tremble underneath.
“Tris... I’m...” I pause for a second too long, searching for the right words to say, but they don’t come.
“I don’t need you to start pretendingnow,” she emphasizes the last word, her voice laced with hurt and anger.
She turns to walk away, but I catch her wrist and hold on tight, pulling her back.
“You’re one to talk,” I throw back at her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asks, yanking her wrist from my hand.
I squeeze my fists at my sides. This isn’t how I wanted this conversation to go, but here we are once again at each other’sthroats. I clench my jaw and look away. I don’t want to argue with her, but she makes it so easy to. I want to fix this, but I’m getting further and further from seeing how the hell I’m supposed to do that.
“Don’t shut up now. Say what you need to say. I think I’ve waited long enough to hear it, don’t you? Not that Icarewhat you have to say.” Her shoulders tense, despite her steady tone, and it’s the only tell I have that she’s more affected by this conversation than she’s letting on.
A short mocking laugh escapes me as I shake my head. “That’s right, Tris. You’ve got this whole town believing you’re nothing but thorns when the reality is you’re actively trying to keep everyone away.”
“What the hell do you know?” she snaps. Her eyes narrow on me, but as she stares back into mine, they begin shimmering like glass.
