Page 117 of Burning Embers
My laughter starts off quiet before it transitions into a full-on belly laugh. I clutch my sides and keel over.
Ashton and Reid both stare at me in disbelief, the former looking seconds away from strangling me and the latter no doubt wondering if I lost my marbles. Silas, who moved closer to me when the boys started fighting, smirks.
“What the hell crawled up your ass and died?” I explode once my amusement finally subsides and anger takes its place.
I point an accusatory finger at Ashton, who’s still being pinned against the wall by Reid. Reid reluctantly releases his friend, as if realizing that my verbal berating will do far more damage than his fists.
Ashton brushes at his shoulders like a pompous prick attempting to remove imaginary lint. But he doesn’t respond. Hell, he doesn’t even acknowledge me, his eyes intent on his shirtsleeve.
I take a step closer to the asshole, feeling inexplicable rage rush through me.
“I have done absolutely nothing to you, yet you use every opportunity to tear me down or act like I don’texist. I tried being nice to you, Ashton, but I’m done being a fucking doormat.” Another step closer forces me to crane my neck to maintain eye contact with the prickly bastard. His brown eyes remind me of topsoil right after it rains, when the water darkens the color until it’s almost black. ”So if you want to pretend I don’t exist, then fine. I can do the same to you.”
And with that, I turn away, doing exactly as I said—pretending he doesn’t exist.
Silas’s tiny smirk has stretched into a full-blown smile that makes the skin around his good eye crinkle. He chuckles. “I knew I liked you, kid.”
Reid just gapes at me.
“Isabella, we are not done—” Ashton begins.
“I apologize for my outburst,” I tell Silas sincerely, feeling heat envelop my cheeks. “I hope this won’t impact my employment here.”
Curse my big fat mouth.
And curse Ashton.
Silas’s smile reveals sparkly white teeth. “You just got a raise.” He moves to exit the office, but just before he passes me, he clasps a hand down on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “I’ll email you the work schedule tomorrow. Why don’t you head home now, okay? Get some rest.”
My face is still hot, but I smile timidly and nod. “Yeah. Okay.”
With one last parting glance, Silas exits his office and shuts the door behind him, leaving me alone with Reid and the Ass.
I turn towards Reid. “Are you okay? After what happened with that girl? You don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable…”
Reid’s eyes soften slightly, though his lips remain compressed in a thin, unrelenting line. “I’m okay.”
His voice is gruff and raspy, reminding me of all those times Grayson talked too much and couldn’t speak right for days after.
“Isabella,” Ass-ton begins, but I ignore him and offer Reid a tentative smile.
“I suppose I’ll be seeing you around?”
He folds his arms over his chest and grunts something that could be a “yes” or a “fuck off.” It’s hard to tell with him. Just before I can leave the office, however, I hear him call my name. I turn back around to see him watching me with his brows furrowed.
“You have a ride home?”
“Hale’s across the street,” I explain.
And even if Hale wasn’t around, Jake gets off of work in about an hour.
Not that I want to hang around here any longer than necessary…
“Good,” Reid grunts. “Not safe at night.”
Ass-ton curls his hands into fists. “Isabella Martin?—”
With one last wave at Reid, I slip out of the office. Just before the door slams shut, I hear Ass-ton’s muttered cursing. The sound of it makes me smile.