Page 74 of Bones
“Sorry, shoulda realized you wouldn’t know what that means. It’s responding to people in a way thatdoesn’tmake them want to hit you.”
“Everything you say makes me want to hit you,” I said dryly, the words slipping out of my mouth and surprising me.
He looked surprised too, but he grinned. "Yeah well, that's ayouproblem.”
I rolled my eyes and went back to picking through the mint. I needed to make more tinctures to treat nausea and upset stomach. Once I had what I needed, Sam stepped up and paid. I knew Madame gave Mac some sort of stipend to purchase ingredients and tools necessary for me to work. I started small, but over time I added more things I needed, and no one ever questioned my purchases.
As we walked back to the clinic, my anxiety grew with every step. I knew Trey would be replacing Sam later and in a few hours Zip would?—
“Soareyou an angel?” Sam asked.
Nausea curdled in my stomach. “Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
I had to unclench my jaw so I could answer. “Because I don’t like it.”
“How come?”
“Just don’t,” I snapped.
“Why?”
Gods, did hewantme to hit him? I picked up my pace, but he matched my steps.
“Some girls like bein’ called ‘Angel’,” he pushed, unrelenting.
“How would you know?” I glared at him.
He clutched his chest like I’d stabbed him. “Shortcake, what are you implying?”
I ignored him.
“I’ll have you know I’m a high commodity around here.”
“Funny, seems like I’m the only person you ever talk to.”
“I talk to lots of people!” He grinned.
“Then how ’bout you go talk to one of them and leave me alone.”
“You’d miss me,” he said.
“Let’s try it and see.”
“Youwoundme!” he said dramatically. “I’m delightful!”
“You’reannoying.”
“Shortcake, you tryin’ to break my poor lil heart?”
“If your heart’s anywhere near as thick as your head, I think you’ll be fine.”
“Hey!” He sounded genuinely indignant now. “That was mean!”
I rolled my eyes, but to my surprise, I had to fight the urge to smile. He grumbled and whined about how mean I was, but for the first time in weeks, he didn't seem angry at me. It felt like a breath of air after being underwater.
We’d made it halfway back to the clinic when Trey came running around a shack and barely managed to avoid crashing into Sam.
