Page 63 of Cruel Debts
I didn't doubt it. "Well, I'll be heading in, Min." The basket was getting heavy in my arms, and I really wanted to put it down so I could peel one of these oranges and watch some TV. The Thursday shows were my favorites. "Thanks again for the fruit."
"Oh, any time, honey," she rattled off, giving me a wave as she stepped back toward her door. "Remember, I'm only a door away, if you need anything at all, Johnny."
I didn't doubt she was telling the truth. But I wondered if there wasn't a double meaning in those words. If she didn't have plans for me already, and was just too shy to say it out loud.
Did Min have the hots for me?
I didn't plan to ever find out.
TWENTY-SEVEN
ASHER
"Okay, Pretty Bird, no more sulking."I banged on the door one more time, already tired of this back and forth with her. "I'm taking you to work tonight."
Against my better judgment, but that was beside the point.
Locking her up wasn't working. Letting her stew wasn't working. And waiting around for her to not be mad at us and trying to bribe her with things wasn't doing shit to put a dent in the canyon between us and her.
Something had to give.
And if that meant doing something we didn't want to do, well, then the others were just going to have to get on board.
I wasn't going to watch her look like a dejected fucking dog for the rest of her time with us. I missed her smile. Trinity McCoy was a lot of things, but a sad girl? Never. And I'd be damned if we were going to be the reason for her turning into one.
Fuck that noise.
The door in front of me stayed closed for about two more seconds longer than I liked, so I banged on it harder this time, wondering if she was just asleep. "Trinity? Did you hear me? I said?—"
Suddenly I was knocking on air as a smiling, excited bundle of leather and lace rushed right past me in a hurry, a duffel bag in her arms. "Yes, yes, I heard you, Asher, jeez, let's go already!"
The speed at which she was able to get ready was truly amazing.
"Do you need to get dressed or anything?" I trailed behind her, more confused and definitely on high alert now. "You have everything you need?"
"Yeah, yeah, all my stuff is in the duffel bag, including my outfit." She waved me off, and I stood there in horror as I recalled the outfit she'd been wearing when she painted my body that one night.
Oh, hell no.
Standing around, watching her strut her shit in what amounted to lingerie, was going to be torture. Especially since I was already fighting the urge to give in to her obvious interest.
If I survived tonight, someone should really nominate me for the sainthood.
"Are any of the others coming?" She asked as we walked down the stairs to the main floor of the Guild, her whole body practically vibrating from the excitement bubbling over. "Or is it just you and me, ?"
I liked it better when she called me Asher, but I wasn't going to tell her that. She needed no more leverage over any one of us. Especially not me.
"The others will meet us there, I'm sure." Especially when they got home and found us gone, and discovered the note I left them that described in detail where I'd gotten off to, and why.
They'd belivid.But oh, well.
I'd cross that bridge when I got to it.
The car ride was tense; neither of us spoke to the other, the tenuous peace only serving to make it more awkward. I kindof wished she'd dosomething.Yell at me. Joke with me. Get sarcastic.
I didn't like it when Trinity shut up and stopped talking. Experience told me that was dangerous. Like poking a hornet's nest and then watching it from two feet away like the hornets inside it wouldn't seek revenge.
I just hoped whatever tenuous truce we had held long enough for me to figure out how to fix what we'd fucked up.
