Page 66 of Bones
He threw a brawny arm covered in tattoos around my shoulders. A leather tie pulled his dark hair back from his face. He had deep-set eyes under bushy eyebrows and a thick beard. The weight of his arm felt suffocating, but I forced myself to bear it.
“Glad to hear it.” The smugness in his voice made me bristle.
“Bones?”
All of us looked up to see Trey standing at the end of the table. His eyes narrowed on Zip’s arm around me, his jaw tight. A few paces behind him, Mac and Griz stood with narrowed eyes.
“Everything alright?” he asked.
I forced my expression to stay neutral. “Yeah, fine.”
Zip’s arm tightened around me, and he grinned toothily at Trey. “You heard the doc.”
Trey’s face darkened. He gave me a closer look, obviously trying to find some sort of distress in my expression. I hoped none of the turbulent emotions in my chest were showing on my face. I raised an eyebrow.
“You need something, Trey?” I asked.
A muscle jumped in Trey's jaw, but he just shook his head and strode away. I watched out of the corner of my eye as they all went and sat at another table. I could feel their eyes on me, but I ignored them. I desperately wanted to shove Zip's arm off me, but instead, I unwrapped my tin foil package and took a small bite of the eggs and potatoes.
“So, you wanna grab a drink tonight?” Zip asked.
I took another small bite, making him wait. “Sure.”
Zip’s grin widened. “I’ll pick you up after the dinner bell, Doc.”
I made an affirming sound, and when I didn’t say anything else, the men’s conversation resumed.
They were all loggers, I discovered as I listened, which explained the muscles. They went outside the wall armed with their axes and brought back wood for building and burning. I tried to keep from looking too interested about groups going outside the wall.
I managed to eat over half of my breakfast.Sam is gonna be so proud.
Irritation flooded me at the thought that just popped into my head. Why the fuck would it matter what Sam thought?
Once they were close to finishing up their food, I slid out from under Zip’s arm.
“See you later, then.”
As I strode away, I pretended not to hear the hoots and hollers coming from his buddies. I made it maybe five paces outside before Trey appeared at my side, and I steeled myself.
“The hell was that about?” he asked.
I gave him a sharp look. “What?”
He glared at me, that muscle jumping in his jaw again. “You know what I’m talking about.”
I kept striding through the hold. “I don’t think it’s any of your damn business, Trey.”
He grabbed my arm, forcing me to come to an abrupt stop. His eyes were dark. “Bones, last night?—”
I jerked away, glaring right back. “Meant nothing.”
The hurt that rippled across his face hit me straight in the heart. “Nothing?” he echoed. “You’re really gonna tell me that meant nothing?”
"You took advantage, and I don't want it to ever happen again." I put as much spite and malice into the lie as possible, and he took a step backward like I'd slapped him. I followed, stepping into his space.
“I asked you—” he tried to say, his voice rough.
“Don’t. Ever.Do that again,” I hissed.
