Page 88 of Thorns and Ashes
“As much as I enjoy walking around in nothing but your shirt, I’m going to go and throw on a pair of pants.”
I frown, and she rolls her eyes.
“I have a nice bottle of wine,” she says, tilting her head. “We can sit outside and open it while tossing the ball around for Ellie. Besides... a little fresh air will do us all good.”
I rock my head from side to side, not fully convinced that taking her back to bed wouldn’t be a better use of our time. Now that I’ve had her, I can’t get enough.
“Come on,” she snorts, probably reading my mind. “I’m sure little Miss Ellie agrees.”
Ellie scampers over to her, wagging her tail, and Tris lifts her shoulder, visibly fighting back anI told you so.
“Great, you two are already ganging up on me.” I run a hand through my hair and grimace. “What have I done?” I mutter, half-joking.
Tris chuckles and heads out the door with Ellie.
I catch her voice over my shoulder. “Your dad finally took his head out of his ass.”
“This woman,” I mumble after the door closes behind them, leaving me alone.
I lean back in my seat, finally allowing myself a minute of happiness. In the back of my mind, there’s still that nagging panic that everything can come crashing down at any second. The anxiety circles me like I’m prey trapped in a cage, but I push it down until it’s all but snuffed out. For the first time in months, I have something to smile about, something that’s mine, and I’m not going to let anything take that away from me.
Not again.
“Hey, Levi,” Ainsley says, smiling up at me as she closes up the register for the day. “Tris is in the back grabbin’ them biscuits for Ellie. I’m sure she’ll be right out.”
“Thanks.” I nod, taking in all of the new plants and flowers Ainsley’s spread across the cafe.
It’s only the second week of October, and already she has this place fully embracing fall with sunflowers, mums, and some other flowers I don’t know the names of. The whole cafe is bathed in warm hues of orange, yellow, and brown. I can’t even act like I don’t appreciate it because, since the transition from summer to fall, Tris has been bringing pumpkin-spiced lattes to the station.
The crew all gave me shit for how much I like them. Billy said I’m what the kids call ‘basic.’ Whatever that’s supposed to mean. But after hearing that, Tris shut everyone up real quick by bringing one for each of them the next time. They went from making fun of me to singing her praises. Billy and Mark still fear her, but at least now they like her. I think Tris secretly gets a kick out of it.
“Levi.” Rory smiles, turning the corner. “Can I steal Tris for a little bit after work today? I want to check out the new Cozy Pines Publishing that opened down the road, but I don’t want to go by myself because new places freak me out, and I like having a plan, but that’s hard to do when you don’t know what to expect. I was telling her about the book club that I’m in with my cousin Lucas and his buddies from the Tampa Bay Hawks. I join them on video calls every Wednesday when they host it, and they’re letting me pick the book for next month. Tris was thinking about joining as well, and I figured maybe if she helps pick the book, she’ll actually do it.”
I blink hard, tilting my head down while shaking my head. “Good Lord. Where did you learn to talk without breathing?”
She flashes a sheepish, lopsided grin. “Sorry, I do that sometimes when I have a lot of thoughts that want to come out all at once.” She makes a show of taking a deep, calming breath before she starts again. “Would you and Tris join me at Cozy PinesPublishing to check out their Indie Authors selection for the book club next month?”
“That question was in there somewhere?” I ask slowly, squinting at her, head tipped slightly, like I’m trying to piece together the puzzle.
“Levi,” she huffs, dropping her head to the side.
I grin so she knows I’m teasing. “Sure, Rory. If that’s what Tris wants to do, that’s what we’ll do.”
“Aw,” she says with a mischievous grin. “So cute. Look who’s already so well trained.”
She giggles as I glare at her. “Smart ass,” I grumble.
“What’s going on?” Tris asks, looking between us as she turns the corner of the counter to kiss me hello.
“We’re all going to the new bookstore,” Rory sing-songs, skipping as she loops arms with Tris and pulls her out the door.
Tris glances over her shoulder and gives me that smile, the one that she reserves just for me, and I chuckle. Rory might have a point. It’s only been a month, but there isn’t much I wouldn’t do just to see that smile.
“Good luck,” Ainsley says with a laugh as I head out after them.
After spending longer than I ever thought it possible to spend in a bookstore, the girls have finally chosen a book for the book club.
“It’s a bookstore. I mean, come on. Why did you think I asked permission? A couple of hours is nothing! I could spend all day there. I mean, did you see the selection of Indie Romance Authors?” Rory says, pretending to swoon.
