Page 89 of Thorns and Ashes
This time, both Tris and I shake our heads.
“So what did you girls pick out?” I ask, having been asked for my opinion on the matter multiple times and given several this-or-that cases. They both laughed when I asked what the difference is between a love triangle and why choose.
Who knew?
“We went with the firefighter romance,” Rory beams.
“Wait, that’s a thing? I’m a,” I pause, trying to remember what I learned today. “I’m a trope?”
Both girls snicker, and my eyebrows turn down.
“Forget it,” I grumble. I’m not used to this, to caring about anything outside of my own interests. At least not enough to ask about it. But here I am.
Something gentle moves through Tris’s gaze, and she adjusts her wildflower tote bag on her shoulder before grabbing my arm, pulling me into her. I make a show of ignoring her, lifting my head up to the sky with a brow raised in defiance, despite my arms coming around her waist, squeezing softly, keeping her held against me.
“You’re cute.” She smiles, pulling on my beard with a gentle tug. “And yes, that’s absolutely a thing. Women love to read about it while I get to experience the real thing.”
I look down, meeting her gaze through her long lashes as she cleverly strokes my ego. “Damn right you do.”
I thread my hand through her hair on the back of her head and lean down for a kiss, savoring the way she melts and opens her mouth just enough for me to get a taste of her.
“Should I give you guys a minute or?” Rory asks, clearing her throat, dramatically looking everywhere but at us.
Tris’s lips pull into a smile against mine before pulling away. “Brat,” she teases.
Rory gives her a wink before we head back to my truck and drop Rory off at her car.
“Don’t forget to let me know if you guys are coming to the hockey game this Monday for Emma’s birthday surprise.”
“Ugh,” Tris groans. “Is it too soon to say I’m running late?”
Rory bites back a laugh, turning it instead into a disappointed, downward twist of her lips and a slow head-shake.
“See you tomorrow! Enjoy the age gap!” Tris calls out the window, causing Rory’s face to turn redder than I’ve ever seen.
“That thing has seen better days,” I say after pulling away.
Tris gasps. “What an awful thing to say. Rory’s doing her best.”
“I didn’t mean Rory,” I say, quickly correcting myself. “I meant her car...”
I shift my gaze to her, making sure she gets it, as I turn up the driveway, only to scowl when I see she’s biting back a grin.
“Sorry,” she chuckles. “That was too easy.”
She jumps out of the truck and rushes to my door, letting Ellie out. I swear it’s her favorite part of coming home, and it fills me with a quiet contentment every time. I might be able to guess that Tris loves me despite her not coming right out and saying it, but I know she loves my dog. I watch them both with a lazy smile as I trail behind, making my way to the porch.
“That’s a good girl!” She kneels on the porch, rubbing under Ellie’s chin and all over her belly. “Look what momma brought you.”
Tris pulls out the biscuits as I come to an abrupt stop at the steps.
“What’s wrong?” Tris asks, wiping off the crumbs from her hands, scanning me for danger as she stands slowly.
“You called... You called yourself,” I stammer, unsure of how to explain what’s happening as an imaginary band tightens around my chest, cutting off my breath.
I try to inhale once more, but this time it stretches tighter, pulling until it feels as far as it can go. My hand comes up, grasping for the invisible noose as it compresses, pushing down, stealing with it what little room I have left to breathe. My vision blurs, and I reach for the railing but miss, stumbling to the side.
“Levi,” Tris cries out, coming to my side and helping me find a seat on the steps before I hurt myself.
